Elton Joorisity

Steve, I do most of my filigree with a few old craft tool veiners that I have sharpened up. The rest of the areas I do with a hobby knife and round drive punches. Thanks to everyone for the comments. I like the colors too. They are something original at least.

Just finished these up a couple days ago. This is the first time that I have ever built a set for the customer to give as a gift...I just hope that he likes the colors that his girlfriend picked!!

I'd just rather not build them at all!

No Brent, your eyes are not deceiving you. I filligree about 98% of my rodeo chaps. The reason that I am swearing off making hair on's is that they always are a pain to glue overlays to. Those chaps also cost me money because I ended up blowing the hook out of my machine.

Looks pretty shiney Jeremiah. Welcome aboard!!

Sounds to me like you were looking in all the wrong places to find a saddle that fit!?!?!

I have the same question...why not use a full sized filler and nail it down?? I can honestly see that whole wrap getting torn loose over time or even quicker dallied to something stout.

That device is called a profile guage and you should be able to find one at most hardware and/or woodworking supply stores.

You'd better check out Barry's website. His knives aren't that expensive. We're talking $45 here.

No, it was a hadlock that a friend of mine got through another friend.

I have flanks and halters there. JS rodeo's Black Market and Black Knight will be sporting them. Apparently there's a pair of my chaps in a Montana Silversmith's add in the NHSRA Times. I'm also waiting on a call back from Clay Lanham for his new chap order.

I saw a tree two weeks ago that I wouldn't put on a rocking horse!

I have to chime in here. I build saddles for working cowboys and I use Rod and Denise's trees along with custom trees from other makers. First of all, these trees FIT. I don't ever micro-fit a horse, especially with customers like mine that have a string of 3 to 15 horses. We find trees that will fit them all on a good average. Second of all, they are TOUGH. One of my customers raises bucking bulls and he has roped quite a few out of his saddle already. Back to fit for a second, one of my customers roped a cow and never botherred to tighten his cinch before he roped her, well they got done and he stepped off and pulled his latigo about four or five inches away from his horse. Sounds to me like they fit. My kind of customers are asking for custom trees and I know that this may not be true in your case and that's why we are all entitled to our opinions. Sorry if I rambled on about nothing.

Thank you to each and every one of you that sent me birthday wishes. I did take the day off from my carpentry job...to help a friend vaccinate about 40 head of waspy, snot slinging braymer cross calves, brand his yearling (snottier) heifers, brand his coming two yr old bucking bulls and test 8 of my young bucking bulls for TB, Brucellosis and Trich so that we can send them off to Montana. That was a harder day than I would ever have at my real job!! Candace made me lobster, garlic mashed potatoes and creamed cauliflower for supper and then of course cake and ice cream for dessert!!! All in all it was a WONDERFUL 32nd birthday!!

I wonderred that myself when I saw it. It is an awfully odd shaped yoke though!!

Dbarleather!! I have four of Daryl's stamps so far and I am 100% completely satisfied!!!!

I am quitting building ropes because of a lack of time. I am concentrating on building saddles and gear more now than ever. I promised two guys ropes and I told them that they would be the last two I will build...for a while anyways.

I have a full spool and a part spool of rope if you want to buy it. It is 5/8 tan polypro. I would throw in my lacing awls if you wish. I have braided ropes for 12 years but I only have two left to build in my career.

You can buy any of Barry's tools directly from him. His # is 307 672 5657. I'm pretty sure that he is leaving for Las Vegas soon but he will have someone in the shop to take orders. As for the McMillen tools, you can also buy directly from them. I will see if I can hunt up the # in my shop. Bieler's Supply also sell a lot of McMillen hand tools.

I am a hardcore McMillen common edger fan. They cut great, are easy to sharpen and cost less than $10 a piece!!

Call Sheridan Leather. I have one here that they sent me a year or so ago that is awesome. 307 674 6679. Tell them I sent ya

Shop Talk is a great magazine. The advertisers are great reputable companies that can cater to every sector of the leather trades. Hard to find tools and supplies are advertised in most every issue. The annual "Big Book" is worth its weight in gold in my mind. It lists suppliers for pretty much any thing needed or wanted for anyone's leather shop.

It is a sole shave. They made them with straight and curved blades. Don't ask me why they did though.

Art, Thankyou. I'm sorry but I shipped those halters about 3 months ago. The inside of the nosebands are pretty boring. Simple latigo lining.

Hidemechanic, did you use "t" nuts on the backside of the nosebands for the screws to thread into??