rcsaddles

Look on page 447 of the Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding bu Bruce Greant. Figures 8 through 13 should be the braid you are looking at. I use this to put my saddle skirts together behind the cantle. If done right, you can braid both top and bottom. Takes a little more time but says more about the work you do. Joe

Welcome aboard. I would be interested in talking with you about your pack saddles. I have a good friend that packs in to the "Bob" and the Scapegoat regularly. I have made him three mule saddles over the past five years. He, like you keeps things fairly traditional but likes to try new things to save weight in the mountains. I think I will try to get you and him hooked up. If you would, send me a pm with your contact information so I can call you. I live in Lewistown, MT. If you are in central Montana, we should not be too far apart. I have another friend in the area that wants me to work on a pack saddle so I might just pass that work on to you who would know more than I would on that. I am in Oregon at the moment looking at heading back on Tuesday but not being home until Thursday night. Have a great new year and I will look forward to chating with you in the future. Joe

Tosch, I will be in contact later about the pictures. I appreciate the offer. I will get the saddle after Christmas and have more info to post here. Thansk again, Joe

Hey Randy, The only sadle shop in Lewistown now and then, is Roger Hollowell at Big Dry Saddlery. He and I send work back and forth to each other. He doesn't do any tarp or canvas and I send him stuff I don't have time to do because of a "paying" job that gets in the way of leatherwork. There are many saddle makers in Montana. I have a friend that is always looking for the "perfect saddle" so he picks up brochures and such from makers and brings them to me asking about each. We sit down and talk about the pros and cons of the saddles they show and they way they make them. He challenges me with ideas and really makes me think. This guy has the first saddle I made and loves it. He rides mules and hunts places like the Scape Goat Wilderness and the Bob Marshall Wilderness. These places will test your stamina and well as your animals and equipment. I'm looking forward to my next trip into the "Bob". Joe

It all looks very good. Is that a XXXX Stubby holder? I haven't thought about XXXX for a long time. You don't see it here, only Fosters. Keep up the good work. Joe

I had a guy come to me asking me if I can reproduce a saddle that is about 80 years old. He says it has a Helena tree and was built in Fort Benton, MT. I forget the maker. So, anyone ever heard of a Helena tree? I have not seen the saddle yet and will not have time to get together with the guy until well after Christmas but thought I would get the ball rolling. I know I will get a few comments and appreciate everyone's input. I also know there are some tree makers that lurk around here also. I will be contacting all I can about making this tree in the future. Thanks for any info and when I can, I will get a couple pictures and post them for all to see. Joe

Roger Hollowell who owns Big Dry Saddlery and Rod Bailey. Bailey works out of his shop at home and Roger has a shop at Main and 1st. I was living in Bozeman when I took Dale's class. Only 15 miles away so I was able to drive to class. Helped out since the boys were 6 and 2. Jake, where do you live in Nebraska? I was raised at Mason City. My folks still ranch there. Been about a year since I have been there and probably won't make it for another year. Justin, we might have to try to get together sometime. I go to Roundup three times a month for work and end up in Billings sometimes for a week at a time. PM me and maybe we can set up a meeting.

Hi all. I have been using this forum for almost a year now and figure it is time to introduce myself. Sorry, no pictures today but when I figure out how to get them posted, I will. I attended saddle building school in Belgrade, MT, the Montana Horseman Saddle Building School. Since then I have made seven saddles, five of which were mule saddles. I have a full time job that gets in the way of the leatherwork but in this area, we have two saddle builders and they are not very busy. I was blessed with the way everything worked out to go to school, found all the equipment I needed and have done well with the work I get. I named my business Rugged Cross Saddlery because of the way God blessed me. I actually started braiding when I was in Australia in 1988. In 1993 I met Mary Fields, from the Bruce Grant books, while living in Oregon and she taught me to make and braid rawhide. I think I actually prefer braiding but very much enjoy all aspects of leatherwork. Last January I was able to take a week and travel to Kansas to have Bill Gomer teach me about leather carving. I have been doing a little carving mut not like I want to. My family consists of my wife of 18 years, and two boys, 10 and 6. We live in Lewistown, Montana having moved here about three years ago. Not positive if this is our final destination or if the Lord is going to move us again. We built a house a couple of years ago and have about seven acres. No animals at this time but hopefully one day. I believe I have rambled on enough and will work on figuring out how to post the pictures. God Bless, Joe Boyles Rugged Cross Saddlery

I know I have not posted much here. I will do an into when I get this done. I had a guy come to me asking me if I can reproduce a saddle that is about 80 years old. He says it has a Helena tree and was built in Fort Benton, MT. I forget the maker. So, anyone ever heard of a Helena tree? I have not seen the saddle yet and will not have time to get together with the guy until well after Christmas but thought I would get the ball rolling. I know I will get a few comments and appreciate everyone's input. I also know there are some tree makers that lurk around here also. I will be contacting all I can about making this tree in the future. Thanks for a ny info and when I can, I will get a couple pictures and post them for all to see. Joe

Hey Tom, Looks great. Call it a birth mark, beauty mark whatever you can and maybe you will start a new trend. By the picture it does not show up much. I am amazed at the way you contimue to push yourself to learn new techniques and other aspects of the leatherworking trade. The braiding seems to have come along nicely and now this. What do you do in your spare time? Hope you have a great Christmas Joe

Looking good Tom, You just gotta love the Bruce Grant books. I have it and that is how I met Mary Fields. I used to live about 20 miles from her in Oregon. As far as I know, she still lives by herself at about 86, no electricity, no running water, used to dig the pit for the outhouse by hand, and uses a wood cook stove. What a great lady. She taught me all I know about rawhide. You have done an excellent job if you are learning from the book. I usually need someone to show me a couple of times before I can follow the instructions. Keep up the good work. Oh, by the way, when I met Mary in 1993, she had braided 90 riatas and told me she could teach me all the mistakes about rawhide. Joe

I would recommend Ron Edwards' books Advanced Leatherwork volume 1 and 2. Publisher iis The Rams Skull Press in Australia. I believe you can google it and order on line. I think I paid around $126.00 for the two books and worth every penny. They cover Round Knots and Braids in Volume 2 and Flat Plaits in Volume 1. Joe

I am wondering if anyone here braids bull ropes. I have never made one and would like all the info I can find about making them. I know a few guys here that ride so I am hoping to maybe break into the market for them and supply ropes for their adventures. If anyone has any information such as a pattern, lenght, even a supplier for the material to braid them out of I would really appreciate knowing. Thanks all, Joe

I have an old Osborne #89 that looks a lot like your 133. I was told by someone at Osborne that it is a "pinch dog" that was used to stamp on harness. I believe he said on the traces but don't quote me on that. He said it was not in their 1898 catalogue so he was not able to give me an idea when it was made. Sorry I could not help more. I e-mailed them and sent pictures so you may be able to do the same and get the info you are looking for. Joe

A very big thank you to all those involved in this. Jim, that is a beautiful feather. Johanna, thanks for taking the pictures and posting them. I think I shall try one of these feathers in my spare time (whatever that is). Joe

rickeyfro I ment to mention that I am willing to share any patters I have with anyone that wants. The only catch is that you then should be willing to help others out when you can. Just pm me and I will be happy to help out. Joe

Bree is right. No one knows what you can do like you do and no one will promote what you do. I always had a problem with "blowing my own horn" in an interview until someone on an interview panel told me I would have had the job if I would have said more about the work I had done. She knew me from the current job and was on the interview board. Said she could not ask "leading" questions. Ended up I am in a better position because I did not get the job. Anyway, promote yourself. Pat yourself on the back in an interview. Have fun telling people what you have done. Dress up a little and relax for an interview. I've spent a lot of time on both sides of the table. With over 10 years in law enforcement, it seems like I was there at least once a year or more. Wish yo uthe best in the future and keep up the beautiful work. Joe

Send me a pm with your address and I will send you some paper patterns of the three or four patterns I have. You can pick what you like. Joe

Thanks Bree, I am going to have to print out somne of this to keep in my handy dandy notebook on my bench. I try to have things readily available while I am working. I especially like the time sheet to help with pricing your work. I tink I will incorporate that into my pricing. You know, that is where most of us fall short. Once again, thanks. Joe

The masks look great. Everyone seems to find what they are good at and you seem to have definately found your niche. Keep showing us pictures of your work. Joe

When I cut soft leather such as chap leather or suede, I use a rotary cutter. I bought it at a sewing store. I run it along my straight edge just like I would my utility knife.

There is a product called Indian Tan Latigo that Weaver Leather sells. I think Sheridan Leather does also. Joe

I'm thinking you might try cutting lace from leather with a little more body than suede. I learned to cut lace with rawhide and it is a little stiff when I cut my lace and that is much easier than leather that is very soft and flexible. The hardest thing for me to learn was that no matter how well I thought I was doing, go slow. I have a lot of pieces of lace that are not long enough for the project they were started for. Practice!!!!!!!!!!! Joe

I called Herb Bork one day for a saddle horn. I had the broken one in front of me while on the phone. I made the measurements he asked for while talking with him. A week later and less than $20.00, I had a new horn in hand. It fit perfectly on the saddle I was repairing. I would highly recommend Herb on this project. Joe

I have the problem of undercharging. I used to work for a guy, in another line of work, that told me if you don't add 40% to the price of your material, you are not making money. I do agree that you need to charge what the market will bear. Where I live, no one will pay the price custom work is worth. Go to Bozman, MT and the tourists and locals will pay the price. Does not seem to make sense but that is the way it works. Sad but true, there is not a set formula to figure prices on anything these days. Look at the gas stations. Why do the supply trucks fill at the same refinery and the stations next door to each other charge a different price? I think many people don't sell items because we don't price them high enough and people wonder what is wrong with it. If you take something like braiding, should you charge an hourly fee? If the demand is high, you should be able to charge just like a mechanic and make $40 to $60 an hour for the labor. We have to have a building, tools and overhead. I just think we need to look at other "skilled" jobs and consider all the factors. Something I am trying not to do is apologize for my prices. I got a bill the other day and there was a fuel surcharge on it and the delicery was only 1 .5 miles one way. Do we add for shipping on the leather we have to order in to make a product? Also if we have to drive to the post office or shipping center, do you add your time and fuel expense to the price? I know this got a little scattered but I am trying to get folks thinking about every aspect of the business and what other business use to figure their cost. Joe