steveh

There should be a model number stamped in brass on the front of the base of the machine, Thiis would identify the type of machine it is and its capabilities. Just by looking at the picture I might guess that it is along arm walking foot machine.Art on this forum might know. steve

great job, looks very refined and balanced,professional work.

Look real nice Ted, what are the demesions of the tree?What type of leather did you use?What type of finish did you use?, looks highlighted or antiqued. steve

nice design, lighting and layout looks great. the roll around is a neat idea.please post the tree shop when you get it set up. thanks, steve

Gary, What do you think of those dennis lane tree fitting card system? How does the tree maker like using is it guide line? Thanks, Steve

Nice saddle Gary , thanks for sharing. Steve

* Don Butler and Chuck Smith, "Saddle Pattern Class" Sept 29, 30 and 0ct 1, At the MPEC center in Witchata Falls TX. * Leather Stamping class held on Thursday Oct 2. call 760-749-5355 or email olsmothie@sbcglobal.net *These classes are held before the annual Boots and Saddle Makers Trade show held on oct 3 and 4.

September issue, page 124

You may try bob douglas in Sheridan, 307-737-2222, he deals in older hard to find leather tools.

You need to look at the home page index, it is very well catagorized, if you go to the saddle index, there is a sub catagory restoration and repair.

Remove the skirts from the tree,remove the old lace, cut some new lace, roo,or latigo, relace using the existing holes, pull the lace up tight, you want it tight.Bruce Grants book has methods for flat applicade braide, and the gaucho weaver, which is found on the better quality saddles.

The Carving sure looks like J Watts work. But I imagine he would have marked his work .Maybe it was somene that apprentised under them?

You can replace the old leather belts, with automotive or air conditioning composite fiber belts, bring the leather belt with you to auto parts or hardware store, to get the right size, they come in different widths, so select one the fits width of your machine pulley.

try standard rivet company, www.standardrivet.com , rapid feed presses

I made one from 5-6 chap leather about 10 inch diameter, filled it with number 8 shot.

Most of the old razor stop I have seen are about 4 to 6 oz leather. If you cut straps off a hide they be pliable enough already. You may want to case them a bit and take a slicker over the strap to compress the fibers a little.Lightly edge the edges as well. The color is achieved by age sunlight, and the carbon steel razors being stropped on the strap, with some rouge.

Jon, excellent work, tooling and craftmanship look great. Nice color, is that neatsfoot oil and sunshine? Steve

Very nice work. What is viewfoil film with your circle pattern on it , all about?Please explain. steve

You can sharpen the bottom by stopping it on leather strop loaded with jewelers rouge. pull it towards you and polish the edge, plus about inch or so back ,as a polished tool helps it glide thru the leather. to sharpen the the inside of the top portion, you can cut leather circles about inch in diameter from thick skirting leather like 1/4 thick, put a small hole in the center and put it on a dremel mandrel and load the disk with rouge and polish the inside. These french edgers are delicate tools , I would stay a way from a bench grinder as the can overheat and ruin the tool.Hope that helps.

Bruce , Or anyone that has constuctive input on the use of a basket stamp on a center line , with the angles going in opposit directions , that forms a a sharp point where the two converge. Often seen on horn caps, cantel seats, and cantel backs.How do you find the correct angle for the stamp, Since there are so many sizes of basketstamp? Thank You, Steve

Professional work, rugged design, very functional, quality leather and hardware. Personalized with tooling and brands.excellent stitching. top notch work. Steve

Jon, Thanks for sharing the rigging fixture with the forum. It looks like it has alot of merit. Are the end supports under the base cut 90 egrees? Do the four bolts that protrude serve as a reference point on the outer edge of the bar for alighnment? Do you adjust or back them out when the skirts are blocked to the bars? Thank you, Steve

Troys hidden stitch on the cantel back is a neat technique. Does anyone have methods or comments on exposed stitching on the back of cantels? I really admire clean stitching that matches the front.

the teflon coating in the glue pot is what keeps the glue from sticking, I believe they are designed for the contact type cements, as the glue gets exposed to atmosphere is sets up thick, and you can add thinner to bring it back to a workable form. I may be wrong but I dont think the glue pots work real well the white based glues.

Jon, That is a really neat tree repair.The bar repair looks like you glued a hardwood plug thru the bar? Is photo #3 been fiberglassed? How did you repair the fork and the cantel? Thanks, Steve