saddles

Does anybody have a source for a #3 tube rivet? Weaver used to carry them. Their number was 103. Masts old number was 37006. Any leads would be appreciated! Thanks!

We've been using Bowden trees for over 15 years now. Their quality has never been better. Have a Timberline we ordered for a customer. Pretty to look at, but it doesn't fit anything we have tried it on and that's been well over 50 horses. Bowden has done some extreme custom work for us over the years, like a formfitter with an 18" swell and a Double J horn.....just my opinion here...

Update! We shipped the saddle USPS in a box that we have built to ship our saddles in. I had to cut it down about 2 inches height wise to fit their shipping specs. We wrapped the saddle in 2 layers of open cell foam. I ran 3 rows of duct tape around the box just to be safe. We shipped on March 28th and it was delivered on April 3rd. Total cost was $191.80. I could only insure it for $650 though. Made it there just fine! Thanks for all the advice!

Okay, problem solved! Thanks Mike, you were absolutely right. I CAN ship it through the post office for $183.40. Far cry from the 600 and something UPS wanted or the $200 extra baggage fee the airline wanted! Thanks for all the input everyone!

Box dimesions are 29x20x20. They weigh 6 pounds and are rated to 250 pounds. Thanks Mike! I'll try and recalulate.

I have my own UPS account, so that's where I got the quote from. I went online for the FedEx one. The saddle weighs 40 pounds with the box. We have our saddle boxes built for us, so I am pretty confident it will survive the trip. For what they want I could damn near buy it it's own plane ticket! I may have to send it as extra baggage with a fella heading over there. @Mike-it is going to Buhler, Switzerland.

I need to ship a saddle to Switzerland. Any suggestions on how to get it there? UPS and FedEx are both around $650. Anyone have experience with UPS freight?? Post office won't touch it.

We have ours built. They are 29 x 19 x 19 1/2 which works well for UPS OS1 requirements.They are a 275 test with double flaps. If you are shipping saddles you need good boxes!

That's one of the problems she is having. This is one of the biggest PoSs I've ever seen. Thanks for the link Denise. I don't think we can really help her out but it will make for an interesting discussion on my FB page! And you are absolutely right, theory and reality definitely don't even come close to meshing here!

I was wondering if anyone has ever worked with the Steele Equi-Fit Flexible tree. Can you put a fiberglass ground seat in them? Can you attach the rubber ground seat any better? The way it is now the stirrup leathers have close to 8 inches of travel. We are trying to figure out a way to put blocks in there at least. Any suggestions? Lacey

Denise this is some of the best advice I've seen here yet! Thanks for posting!

I have a question. Will the Neat-lac or Clearlac turn grey after awhile? I've cleaned several that have this dirty, grey look to them that can not be cleaned unless you remove the finish. Is this another product?

But if it was a Leddy you would think it would be marked. I have a Leddy sitting here in my office from the mid 40's, and it's marked everywhere!! I too think it might be a Buford, I've seen a couple and they looked just like that one.

We use Triple C latigo for reins and latigos and Salz for strings and laces. The Triple C edges and rubs very well. The Salz is very strong but it takes a lot more to finish it. Weaver has Triple C and I think Montana Leather might as well. You can get Salz from Harvey J. Boutin & Sons in Califorina. We've also used the Thoroughbred latigo, but it was a little stretchy for my liking and a little harder to finish as well. Hope that helps a little, I have phone numbers if you need them!

Thanks guys! I'll give him a call then.

Thanks Bob. I've got his catalog, but near as I can tell he doesn't make barb wire ones. We already use his basket stamps and you're right, they are very well made! Lacey

Hey does anybody know where to get some good quality barb wire stamps? Not the little ones, but the bigger saddle stamps. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Yes! If this is Morgan's out of Ellsworth Nebraska. We (Y-L Saddlery) bought the saddle part of their outfit when they sold out to Weaver Leather. As far as I know they, and we, have always used Bowden trees. You can contact Veldon Morgan at 605-745-4040 if you'd like more info on it. Lacey

Castille Soap works well too. Lacey

This is a bit uncalled for, Keith is also a very well respected saddle maker. Everyone has different ways and different reasons for doing things the way they do. A little respect please... Lacey

You're absolutely right about that! Lacey

Hey Denise, I wish I could remember or find the info around here. Some of them it's virtually impossible to find a phone number at all as they only sell to very large manufacturing outfits. I can describe them though, we had to hunt one down last summer to replace the tree in a little junker barrel racer. The only reason we found it was because Ralide themselves gave us like three different places to call. We figured it mainly from the number on the tree, which was not a Ralide number. Also the horn was braided which they do not do. We've had to do small repairs on several others as well. The biggest tip off is the material the tree is made out of. It is not the same as a true Ralide tree. The horn placement and type is another. Hope that helps a little! Lacey

Are you sure this is off a Ralide brand tree, or is it a knock off? By the pictures of the horns I'm seeing in my catalog there's no way, unless it's pretty old, that it is a Ralide. There are several companies out there that are using various brands of injected molded trees, somehow the Ralide company gets to take the blame for all of them. Lacey

Everyone's entitled to their opinion...