okiwen

Ron lives right here in town. Great person all the way around. His saddle stand is really good. Once you get past the initial cost it's well worth the hassle saved. By the by, he also has a very clean Landis 16 for sale.

I can get replacement blades here at the Home Depot. I am sure Lowes would have it too.

A picture of the deer antler?? Thanks.

I was so hoping that I would find my answer this afternoon. Have I made an error? I this not the place that I read about the die maker?

I give up. My google-foo has failed me. Last week or so someone posted that they had a die made for $30 and the handle for $25. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Please help me with the link. I need a die (of my badge) made for a reasonable cost. TIA Kevin

Very nice looking tree. I look forward to seeing the glassed ones and reading feedback.

Boy, this should be a good thread. I can't wait to see all of the opinions. Perhaps some contact info too. I hope the aspiring tree makers a reading as well because I just saw a rawhide tree that failed nearly all those criteria above.

Thank you to all three of you. I do have an interest in learning to make trees but it's not in the cards for a while. I don't have the extensive background that Rod has. I just see the bottleneck and think they are kinda cool in there own right. Great to read the insight you ALL have. Kevin

Well, I for one have thought the same thing. I found that there was absolutly no one to learn from in my area and I don't have the luxury of moving. But wouldn't it be a great skill to learn. I am sure that you have over simplified it some at least or there would be better makers even among those that make trees now. I think that if there were more people willing to teach at a high level then some young people starting out in life would love to learn.

As far as using rawhide from the 'Ol U.S. of A., That is very good and patriotic, but there are still only a few great tree makers left and the backlog is getting pretty long. If there were more good tree craftsmen and quality rawhide for them to use then I bet there would not be such a push to the synthetic. There is a bottleneck at the tree level. I have been trying to learn all I can about ordering and sizing trees and I can't wait the nine months to see if I was right or wrong. That makes for a learning curve that is quite long. I also don't see me getting of some of these tree makers list for quite a while. Not while there are people that turn out great saddles as fast as one or more a week are around. I hate to learn on less than the best I can find, but there is obviously a reason there are nine months to a year wait on good trees. Frustrated in the learning, Kevin Some replies to this post have been moved to the "Why aren't there more tree-makers?" thread to help with continutity.

Thanks so much. I'll do that. I really hope that the thread get put back. I was planning on using it often.

I read with great interest the thread on the fitting guides designed by the makers from Austrailia. Since the melt down I've not been able to find a contact. If anyone can re post all that I'd be greatful. I would like to learn to do the fitting the best way I can. Thanks in advance. Kevin