rdb

Welcome novice! There are several ways to go about learning. One would be to attend one of the statecommunity schools that offer classes. Some are full fledged saddle schools, some are just classes. Find a saddler around you who might take on an apprentice. Free work for training is a hard offer for a saddler to let go, I would think. Some saddleries offer 4-6 week courses to people who want to learn. They are usually more expensive than any school, but they are a quick way to put a saddle together, and learn if you even like the job. A place near Missouri, on a quick GOOGLE search was this one: http://www.petescustomsaddles.com/school.html Anyways, I'm sure more knowledgble people will chime in, but good luck with your search, and make sure you keep everyone here up to snuff on your progress.

Welcome Chris. Glad to see another new shiny face around here. Sounds like You are turning Germany into a little piece of home. Can't wait to see pix of your stuff. That picture you showed looks like it should be carved into a piece of leather right quick!

think vacuum seal!

They are the same line 24s everyone else gets from tandy and elsewhere. basic 24s.I have a bag of them too. They have always been finicky, always will be. Hit them too hard, or too soft, and there's nothing but trouble. The only way they work perfectly is with the correct weight leather, and the right smack, and twist. One of the hand setters, or machine setters is the way to go. They put the right goldilocks set to them. There are heavier versions, which give better results by hand. I don't know if zacks carries them or not.

I have done a little research on it for some projects I had in mind. It was a bit pricey to experiment with at the time for me. As far as I know, it is not poured. I have seen extruded pipe, etc, so at least a molten form can be used, but in general, I have seen it as a cloth type, which you bond to the next layer, similar to a fiberglass cloth buildup over a mold. It is VERY stiff, not flexible when built up like this. My concern would be the ability to nail into, not sure if you can. If you can't, then drilling holes to tack to would be a pain, I would think, just don't know for sure. It seems the lightness of the finished product, and the durability would be well worth a tree maker to explore, though.

Happy Birthday Freak! Make sure you demand Chocolate Double Fudge Devils Food Layer Cake....mmmmm!

Way back when, in some tree discussion, I suggested that carbon fiber would be the newest advancement. Since I know very little about saddles and such, I was rightfully ignored. There are still problems with it, I'm sure...like how easy is it to nail into, etc. A saddler can adjust, but if he or she needs three hands to make a saddle, that might be a detriment. Johanna is absolutely correct, I don't know any riders who have been run over by a truck, and since many old wooden treed saddles are still around, I would think this demo speaks only to relative strength, not viability. From everything (or what little I know..lol) I have learned here, it's not so much how or what the tree is made of, but the skill of the maker, and their ability to design and build the correct fitting, and viable product. But I'm still amazed at modern science and it's ability to create some fascinating things.

Does anyone over there NOT have one of your bracers yet?...lol I like the flames on the edge. Mine always come out too rounded

That's pretty funny Windy!...ding dong There are a couple variety of bells with different fastening methods. The ones I have only have a hole at the base..perfect for 1/8 rivets. The "authentic" kind have a pushed out tab/flange/whatchamacallit on the base. Traditionally they were attached with a small piece of wire that slipped under the the tab of the bell, and got bent behind the strap. I think they would probably sound best if wired properly, because they have a less restricted attachment than a rivet set tight...dunno for sure, but that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.

First off, Welcome! Obviously you've looked around before posting, and it sure looks like you've learned a lot! For first holsters, those look great. The pros will jump in, I'm sure, but in my eyes you done good.

Not showing off here, just thought I'ld make a few of these up to try at the flea market. I saw a few bags of bells ( 1" and less ) at zack's and thought hmmmm. I just pop riveted them on to the straps. Most of this leather stock were scrap cutoffs from belt straps and such. Bells were around 15 cents, I think. I'm hoping to sell a few at $20-25, maybe more or less, we'll see. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea if you are going to do any shows over the next few weeks to add some of these to the inventory. You could make them fancier, or even simpler with no buckles, etc. Weaver gets some good wholesale money for these, and the suggested retail is around $40 (with bigger bells-1.5") I know I think they are festive, maybe some of your customers might too.

Thanks Art, always very useful information...appreciate it. Thanks to JerryZ too. You made me look closer at my pully wheel. It has a round leather belt, but after looking at it, it has a v groove...woohah. Mine must be one of those industrial ones set up for the vee. Now just have to find a motor. cityclip, hope yours is the same, although both steveh and Luke say it will work anyways, but here's Gates Rubber in case: http://www.gates.com/

There's also these... http://www.klendasaddlery.com/patterns.htm

I'm always glad to see the Artisan guys. I wish more suppliers came on the board. Jerry, maybe you could help cityclip and me with our question about round flywheel to vbelt conversions. Also do you have any returned servos that you have refurbished or some similar type deal we could use to hook these 30-15s up.

I've been looking for a servo for my 30-15 also...palming the flywheel is not my cup of tea. I got mine for $75, with two home machines thrown in. I did see a consew servo on ebay for $119...that's the best price I've seen new, but, I sure would feel better getting used for $50, if there be such an animal Artisan's servo was about $225, I think. I can't afford another new leather machine yet like the artisans mentioned. I have the 3000, but need a machine I don't have to keep readjusting for smaller projects. For the time being my 30-15 should work. Luke's vbelt suggestion makes me happy, now I'll keep looking for the cheap servo. I also have a Adler 30-1, which works okay, but I am still waiting for a part from Adler...that reminds me, I should call them. MY leather jacket will be the one I experiment putting patches on...lol New machines are wonderful, but there's nothing wrong with old machines. They fill the niches, and have survived the test of time. Do I want the Ferrari?...Of course. But the old mini pickup gets me around for now.

Sure.. 9oz bullhide. with garment leather backing (reversed to suede side), both from Zack White's Black oil dye brushed on with a paintbrush near the carving edges. After the black, I used Tan oil dye mixed into neatsfoot, brushed that on with a dauber. Sealed with Atom Wax, then went over the carving with Hi-Liter, then another coat of atom Wax. Hope that helps

Nice looking rig Randy. Looks like it will stay in the pocket without having the big hunk of wing I see in some pocket holsters.

If that's "going in the right direction", I must be lost...lol! Real nice job on the lettering, the ropework, and the wood grain (best I've seen)..

I'm not sure what a dixon "screw creaser" looks like, but I just use a small propane torch to heat my push bevelers. Heating maybe a bad word. Actually, just a little more than "warm to the touch" is how hot I make it. I've seen videos on you tube of Italian box makers that have some sort of hot plate they put their burnishing iron tools on, warm the tool, then apply. Too hot, and it burns the leather, which is what you don't want. Just right, and you have a good looking, more permanent crease. I'm not sure, but I think it's a dying part of the trade. I seldom see anyone do it anymore. Too bad production is more important now.

I am sometimes amazed at the direction of Topic Threads! A simple and practical way to carry things becomes a Nanny State/Homeland security issue. "We have nothing to Fear, except Fear itself". Celticleather, that's a wonderful little bag. I wish I had the patience to try something like these two bags, hopefully I'll develop some. When I was a "suit", this holster bag would have been perfect to carry all the computer repair gear I had to carry, and not look like the nerd I was....lol. Fanny packs have gone the same way as a golfer's plaid twofers..lol. The "man" purse is a tough market to crack. Men disguise their "purses" as napsacks, backbacks, satchels, whatever...

First off...Welcome to the Forum. Your enthusiasm and talent will be appreciated here. All those things you want to learn will be found here also, along with many friendships. Great looking site, and straps you have going there! You wont have any problems selling those! Don't forget to show pix of anything new to us...We love pictures!

Someone came up with a good idea here. Holster -like, concealed, carries everything...I don't know if it will ever take off, but at least they are trying: http://www.eholster.com/egashho.html Anyone want to try it in leather?

Cool site Hedy!. Welcome to the best place on the net. You;ll find plenty of skull lovers here. Make sure you take the time to read as much as you can here, and get used to the way Johanna has the furniture laid out. I'm sure there will be lots more people say hi!

Pretty cool, now just bring that to your shows, and invite customers to play you.....

ArtS..when it crashed, I backed up...backed up and slammed the chair into the wall.I have 3 servers, 3 very old laptops, and half a dozen old desktops. I've been so sick of computers as a business, I haven't even started any of them up in two years. It felt good up until the crash. At least I didn't break any of your machines...hehehe. There was a time I was in charge of 30,000 users and 3000 Servers spread all around the country, you'ld think I would have done all this by instinct...but noooooo.