DJ1935

I bought a half size saddle tree a couple of years ago with the intention of making it up. Somehow I never quite plucked up the courage to start on it, the instructions - or lack of - which came with it didnt help alot either. However when I bought a set of Stohlman's Encyclopedia of Saddle Making books things seemed much clearer. So for the Christmas Holidays I set forth and started on my "Busmans Holiday" making my saddle. I figured making a half sized saddle would be cheaper, if I made a hash of it at least the material cost was less! , and easier - NOT! During a censored , muttering episode whilst sewing the cantle binding my Husband, who'd been hiding at the rear of the workshop, was heard to say "it would have been easier to make a full size one" ! This point had already dawned on me somewhat earlier. However some 200 hours later here it is. The hours also included making up the patterns which I did from the Stohlman books, having given up on the originals. I really enjoyed the experience and now understand the saddle making process much more. I will have to make another sometime as Hubby has claimed this one. Will make up the cinches and a set of saddle bags when I get time. DJ

Just before Christmas my non-leather working Husband was comtemplating what could be done with the off cuts of some bags I was making. This is what he came up with and he was pretty pleased with himself until we got an order for 300 of them! With Hubby on the press cutting out the leather and felts for the backing I sewed, heat stamped and glued. We got them done in three days. 96 metres of sewing round and round and round!

Is anyone using one of the new Pearson #6 shuttles as sold by Aaron Martin, in their machine? Would appreciate an honest opinion please PM me if you like. Thanks.

Hi Russ It depends on what you are going to use the machine for. We have a #6 and also bought a new 441 Clone last year. The Pearson will still out -sew the 441 when it comes to the real heavy stuff whereas the 441 is handy for the long haul repetitive work. And yes, the 441's are not all created equal - do your homework first!!

The Saddler who owned this gear was the last "Master" Saddler in our area. He definately was repacking and relining saddles as part of his work. I emailed "Mr Dixon" and sent a photo of the pliers, to date havent had the decency of a reply. DJ

What size copper rivets are you setting?

Amongst an array of old Saddlery tools I bought from an Estate was this unsual Collar Palm. It was rusted and the pin worn so my Husband bead blasted it and replaced the pin. When it was polished the makers name was revealed - Dixon. It is a great tool for hand stitching. The ends of the pliers have a half circle cut out the end, the same as a normal Collar Palm does, and can be used the same way or you can pull the needle with the pliers jaws which are smooth. I have never seen a tool like this, does anyone have any idea of its age? Also with the tools was a serious rolling pin covered in felt. I assume this was used for rolling leather after or during glueing. Although someone suggested it would be a good thing to keep by the back door! On one end is stamped Noris Walzen. On the other end it has Botcher & Renner, Nurnberg. Any infomation on this would be helpful .

Must have stirred something up as I too got a reply - hopefully my order is on its way - I live in hope! Their website is definately difficult to order off and yes, when you eventually get it done it comes up as a Server Error. Unfortunately from this end I would have to get up in the middle of the night to phone them. Then wait in the queue, whilst paying for an International toll call, for someone to answer. I get really grumpy if I dont get my eight hours sleep so this option is not a good one. Thanks for your help everyone. DJ

Can someone please tell me how I get an order to Ohio Travel Bag. Sounds simple enough I know. I have an account but cant seem to get their shopping cart to work from this end of the earth. I have sent an order by email previously and eventually got the order landed here. However this time I sent the order and have got no where. No answers to my emails, nothing. Are they on the same planet as the rest of us or do they have so much business that they dont want any more? Most frustrating! Is there another supplier of bag hardware? DJ

I have ordered quite alot from Weavers this year and have had no problems with them at all. Their website is easy to order from and they send the orders out quick, I usually get it delivered to our shed door within five days of ordering. I cant get stuff delivered here from the South Island that quick!! The postage is cheaper than in New Zealand. I got 50 two inch Stainless steel rings a month or so ago. They cost $40USD to FedEx here. Unfortunately I misunderstood the measuring and they turned out to be too big so I was going to send them back. New Zealand Post wanted $100NZD to send so I kept them and reordered - still worked out cheaper! I ordered some books from Tandy in Fort Worth last month. They hadnt turned up three weeks after ordering so I emailed Tandy to see where it had got to. Apparently "someone" had sent it to Australia, along with another order I had made a week later. I cannot fathom out why they would have sent it to Australia as I had typed my address correctly on the order form and no where did it mention Australia! I am still waiting for the books which I especially ordered in plenty of time for a Birthday present - doesnt look like they'll arrive on time now. Sounds like "someone" needs a Geography lesson as New Zealand hasnt been connected to Australia for about 350 Million years when it seperated from the "red country" and floated out into the Pacific! DJ:Holysheep:

Thankyou Steven and Yuman. I appreciate your comments. We have moved our Accounting to another firm. I would not have felt comfortable being in a closed office with the last one and my Husband sure wasnt happy with the prospect either! We decided it was time to move on, a new "beginning" with new ideas. Is it the economy "helping" the Leather business's to gain? Or are people finally realising buying cheap imported rubbish doesnt pay? Probably a bit of both. Long may it continue!! Best wishes Donna

I was looking forward to today - our once a year review with the Accountant to see how the business has done. I am now upset, annoyed and unsure of what to do. The meeting went ok but when we were leaving and shaking hands our Accountant put his arm around me. As I found this uncomfortable I ducked but was in the doorway so couldnt move sideways. As I straightened up I was being kissed on the head!! I quickly moved away as my Husband, who had seen all this taking place, moved forward to "shake" the Accountants hand. I'm not sure how hard he "shook" it or if he made any other contact but as I turned around our Accountant wasnt looking very happy and nor was my Husband! We have had this Accountant for about twenty years and have no contact with him other than for business. Right now I dont feel like I can go back to the office - I dont like being slobbered on and dont think I would be comfortable there again. What do you think? Was this acceptable behaviour for a professional? The good news is that we doubled our turnover - despite being in a recession. I wish I could celebrate, I just dont feel up to it right now. Cheers Donna

I have a WW1 Artillery Sword Scabbard to recover. What little is left of the original leather looks to be pigskin, the wooden core is in need of gluing at the bottom but ok elsewhere. Can someone give me some directions in tackling this job. Thanks DJ

This knife turned up in the mail last week. A beautiful piece of work by Peter at Shark Knives. My job was to make a sheath to match. After much head scratching I came up with this. Peter's sheaths are always plain but this one was so big it needed something to break it up a bit so I set to with the meandering cross stamp. Wasnt til I had finished it that I realised the pattern resembled the natural growth on the Antler.

Thanks Tim, I have their Website but there is no email address on it. When I click on the "Contact Us" all I get is a window saying something is not properly installed. Most frustrating! I really dont fancy getting up in the middle of the night to phone them - I like my sleep.

Does anyone have an email address for Hasco Industrial Supply in Wyoming? Thanks.

Hi, those Crossdraws are pretty much the same as your standard sheath to make. Make sure you know wether your Buddy is left or Right handed and spend time getting the pattern fitting right. Most of the guys here prefer the blade upwards as it is easier to place the knife back in the sheath that way up. The buckle was a new one on me but my client insisted on it - he spends alot of time running through the forest and didnt want to lose his $300 knife! I guess a bit of time fiddling with a buckle outweighs hours of crawling on the forest floor looking for your knife. Good luck with your sheath. Thanks DJ

Well actually four days work! I'm starting to dream about Knife Sheaths, will be nice to make some belts for a change. DJ

Thank you John. Al, there's no such thing as a daft question. What I did was folded a strap of wet 1" bridle leather lengthwise. Sewed it on the trusty old #6 Pearson with the round rein attatchment on (this cuts a grove top and bottom and sets the stitches down into the leather). After stitching take off the edges with a #3 edger and throughly soap the leather. Then placing the strap in the rounder where it fits comfortably set to and pull it back and forth, gradually working down the holes until you have a nicely polished round piece of leather in which you cannot see the stitching. You end up with a strong piece of leather AND you get an upper body work out as well! DJ

Hi John You were right with your advice. After much searching to no avail, my Husband tired of the constant muttering about Rein Rounders set to and made one. This is the Mother of all Rein Rounders! The holes start at 3/4" and descend in 1/32"s. It took about a week to make, most of it taken up with polishing the holes. It bolts to the end of my bench and initial "test drives" have proved it to be most functional. The cost in materials was minimal and the cost of taking the "Boss" to lunch was a lot less than getting a Rounder freighted here.

Hi Jon Thank you, a photo would be great. Any idea of the weight of the Rounder? DJ

Thank you for your replies. John, you hit the nail on the head in your first Paragraph. The Saddlery shop opened about two years ago and I have done their repair work and a small amount of making bits and pieces for that time. I have my own small leather work business which doesnt compete with the shop as I'm doing different stuff and have customers not likely to visit the shop. To be fair to the shop I havent advertised in our area at all. As the shop is struggling I have done all the repair work for a very minimal rate so they could add a bit on and be competitive in the market - it usually costs me to do it - and I usually pick up and deliver to the shop for nothing as well. I thought this would help them build up a cliental and thus help us both in the long run. I am beginning to think generosity has been mistaken for stupidity. In two years I can count on one hand the number of referals I've had directly from the shop, with very little monetary gain, in fact one guy cost me the price of a side of special leather and a set of punches which were cut down for a job only to have the guy disapear into the sunset, never to be seen again! The out of the blue statement about me having to pay for referals came as a bit of a shock as I had never heard of it before and your comments have been most helpful and will be useful in making a descision of what to say when I next see the owner. Thank you DJ

This one came out of the blue today. Just wondering what other people think. A retail Saddle shop owner - who cannot do the vast majority of their own repairs or new work - has on the (very) odd occaision referred someone to me to get some new leather item made. All repairs have gone through the shop but who "owns" the referals? Should I pay the shop a percentage of the cost of the items I make from referred customers - as was suggested today? Your thoughts please. DJ