Elton Joorisity

Greg, sounds like the oak leaf phase I went through when I started out on my own. Went through the same phases with San Carlos and barbed wire borders.

Doug, I repaired one a few years back and they had cut the synthetic sheepskin about 3/4" smaller all the way around, stitched a 3/4" strip of chap to the outside edge of the shearling. Glued it all together and then stitched through the outside and the chap strip. Make any sense?

Thanks Bruce. I'm glad to be home today. Gettin lots done down in the shop. Supposed to get into the 90's today and let me tell you how nice it is to be able to have my shop in our basement where it is actually pretty cool. Happy Canada Day to all the other Cannucks on here as well!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone know any maker(s) of proportionate and true to form half sized wade trees? I have seen a few other half sized trees and they just didn't look like true Wades.

Gremlin, sorry bout that. I use 3/8 or 1/2 inch foam depending on my supplier's stock at the time.

Oh no here we go... I won't give you a tongue lashing Kate allthough some would. Call them "clowns" if you wish, just not to one's face. They prefer "bullfighters" or "cowboy protection". The Barrel Man is usually a clown both in nature and appearance. I mean you've got to be GOOFY to get in those barrels!! The inside of the barrel is padded and has rope handles and a "floor" to anchor yourself. I can speak from experience when I say that that little bit of padding and those handles don't mean much when a bull hits your barrel when you are half asleep and you bite through your tongue!!!!!!!!! Not much else is worn by the Barrel Man aka Clown other than baggies and makeup. Bullfighters outer apparel depends on the guy wearing it. Underneath though you will find a chest protector and some sort of protective shorts. I fought bulls off and on and I used short hockey pants. (Yes I know that those of you who have met me wonder how a big outta shape guy could get around bulls but I assure you that I USED to be in shape) Some guys wore Lacrosse shorts. Other than that, the odd knee brace or ankle brace is not uncommon. I think I've blabbed on enough. If you want another discussion, I also raise bucking bulls.

Kate, Pick up men are the guys who help get the cowboys off of and away from bucking horses at a rodeo. The pick up men also remove the flank strap and ensure that the livestock is removed from the rodeo arena safely. They are padded because when you are riding in this close to a bucking horse, you are bound to get kicked and even bit from time to time. Shin guards are also worn underneath for extra protection.

My flat bed is a Nakajima 280L. It will sew around 1/2" and barely snort. I think the fact that it has a verticle bobbin helps in how well it pulls a stitch.

Those are pretty sweet!! I know a few barrel racers that I could market those to.

Shoulda said "Swamp Donkey" in my last reply but no big deal.

Skip, first of all thanks for the compliments. I do a lot of halters and flanks up here. Second of all the site is www.lowyusa.com I used to buy my trips there but they only ship UPS and the brokerage fees were cuttin in to my profit margin a littlle too deep so now I get them from D.J. Associates in Arkansas. Bruce, "Swap Donkey" is a common term for a moose up here. I dunno if it's embarassing, I own one that's WAY UGLIER!!! No matter though, he's handier than pockets on a shirt!

After attending Sheridan I started greasing my strings with Pappy's Premium Dubbin. A saddle maker there was using it on his roo strings and it made a big difference in getting things to lay together smoothly. I will mention that it does darken them a fair bit though which I don't see as a problem.

I didn't have much time to get these done either. Stock contractors are notorious for rush orders. Matter of fact I had one call me about a month ago to order 6 bronc flanks and he wanted them done for that following weekend!!!!!!!!!!! Luckily with the pick up chaps I was able to find 2 red upholstery hides at my local Tandy/Leather Factory. They also had the white and the leather I lined them with in stock too.

I honestly thought about doing half these halters for left hand delivery and the other half for right hand delivery but then I thought that it would just lead to a bunch of confused bronc riders!!! I have had requests for a buckle on both sides in the past too. Another thing I'll mention is that John already had a set of halters from a year ago from another maker. They were made for USA type broncs and didn't fit Canadian bred feather footed swell rippin snake stompers very well!!!!!!!!!! These halters are made to fit "Swamp Donkeys" as John puts it.

The #999WL buckles will be my standard for bronc halters and flanks from now on. Saves a lot of time by not having to punch slots for the tongues. I just wish they made the 1 3/4" in stainless. Maybe if we all beg for them it will happen. As well I really like the #3610 loop and ring. I always used to use a ring and a carriage bolt on the throat to chin connector and HATED the looks of it!!!!!!!!!!!!

The process is long and drawn out. Pick up chaps are not only padded but fully lined as well. It's basically two pairs of chaps with some high density foam sandwiched in between. I just used 4 oz chap with a 3oz lining. The white overlays and brands are 3 oz as well. The tops and scrolls are 8 oz firm white chrome tanned.

See why I go through so many of Weaver's 999WL buckles now Bob? I've orderred a lot more of them since we got that first batch.

As you might be able to tell this stock contractor keeps me pretty busy. These are the chaps I built for his pick up men. If anyone has ever built these they will appreciate how much work goes into them!!

Here's a bronc halter order that I did for a stock contractor friend of mine from Montana. The "Let's Play" halter will be adorning the Montana Circuit Finals Bareback Horse of the year who is coincidentally named Let's Play. He requests nylon goods all of the time because it's easier for him to take them to the carwash to pressure wash them clean if they get muddy.

Looks good Bob.

$45.00 plus shipping

We're currently waiting on our shipment of cocobolo so I can't give a date.

You're close but not dead on. Bob Douglas is Vandy Douglas' dad. Vandy owns Sheridan Leather Outfitters and sells a lot of her dad's tools there.

Hide Crafters in Texas carries some higher end but still extremely affordable stamps.

I too use McMillen common edgers and LOVE them. They are easy to sharpen and if you wreck them you can replace them for $6...yep that's right folks. $6 for commons and $13 or so for bisonettes. I'm pretty sure they are still in business. I orderred mine a couple years ago and they were still operating.