wood

Very nice. My Dad is a firefighter in Austin and I know that things like that mean a lot to guys in that situation. Good work.

I would second Fort Davis, TX. I used go camping for weeks at a time out there on my buddys land. Always said that's where I'll retire to. Nothing more frightning then watching a hugh storm roll in over the mountians knowing all you have is a two man tent sitting under a tree. Short drive to Marfa to watch the mysterious "lights" and cruise on down to Alpine for the Cowboy poetry/Westrn art show.

Thanks for all the replys. I think it may have been the too wet thing. I had roughed up the grain side and still wouldn't work great. I'll form it again tonight and let it dry then put the glue on. Thank y'all again for the help.

I just put some cement on the gullet piece for a rough out saddle and it is not bonding to the slick side of the leather. Just wondering your thoughts. Old glue?? It's only been out of the can and in the pot for a month or so. I glued some leather to the seat strainer yesterday and it bonded fine. The glue also seemed to bond ok with the tree. But when it's on the leather and I let it sit for five to ten minutes, you can just rub it with your finger and it rolls up and leaves the leather looking like nothing was ever on it. I've used Barge for a while but this is the first time this has happened. Any ideas?

" We grew up here and love it but often fanasize about moving down to Texas." Cold front blew in today in Central Texas, knocked the temp. from around 60 down to a frigid 40 degrees. Heck we may have some frost on the windows in the morning. Gotta love Texas in the winter. I'll remind myself of that when it's 110 with 90% humidity in the summer.

Thanks for the replys. The pattern on the top two a buddy of mine and I worked up a while back and the brown one is just a repeating oak leaf back to back with no stem work. I did the letters on the top ones by just cutting them in with a swivel knife, beveling down a little with a small beveler I made and matting down with a small background tool. It's a craftool, I'd have to go look at it to get the number, I'll get it later. I do a lot of lettering that way, I think it turns out pretty clean looking. The top ones just have a little neatsfoot oil and then Neat-lac. The brown one is oil dyed and neat-lac. I usually do 1 1/2" belts but these were for kids so I made them a bit thinner. They were around 1 1/4" I think. Thanks again. Later, Randy

These are some belts I did for my brother's kids for Christmas. Nothing major, just something to hold their pants up. Comments, critique always welcome. I also put some pics up in the saddle maker gallery of some fenders I did. Check them out and let me know what you think. Later

Here is some tooling I did to match an old saddle that needed some work. It's hard to see the old pattern, but I copied it and then added a little flair to it with some more depth and some more detailed decorative cuts. Will need to dye and finish these up but just wanted to see what you thought. Comments and critique always welcome. Later.

What Steve said is how a guy taught me to do it. That bottom straight line is tough, I still have a time with it. I also always look at and study other saddles. I pick out depths and lengths that are appealing to my eye and try to remember what they looked like when I get home.

I like flat plate riggings on all around ranching saddles.

"I was surprised to talk with Barry King yesterday when I called the posted number. I requested a catalog as I'm a newby and didn't realize this is a really small business (appx. $88,000 per year, 2 employees). I'm sure it is merely a labor of love as the family business is pretty good sized. My faith is renewed in American ingenuity, attention to detail and family business." I've found that a lot of the tool and makers are small business' like this. I've had a few tools and saddle hardware made by Jeremiah Watt and every time I've emailed or called, I've talked to him or his wife.

Thanks guys. I keep telling myself I'm ready to start building but I just can't seem to get myself out there and risk ruining that much leather and supplies and end up with nothing. I had a guy showing me things on a cutting saddle he was building and I picked up a few things there (then he moved to Ft. Worth so I didn't get to learn as much as I would like) and I worked in a saddle shop for about 6-8 months mostly just washing and doing repair. Then of course I have bought Stohlman, Dusty Johnson's and Bob Likewise's books and learned from all of those. I have a few old trees in the shop that were given to me but none are in good enough shape for a full saddle so I've been practicing wrapping horns, etc. But a wade saddle is what I want to "specialize" in so maybe Watt's video's will break me over the edge to bite the bullet and do it. Thanks for letting me rant a little, I guess an apprenticeship would be best but with work (my wife has made it clear leatherwork will always be a hobby and not my source of income )and family I can't see where a real good saddlemaker would let me just show up when I can and pick there mind. O'well guess I'll learn by hard knocks like the greats did. Later, Wood

Due to the response from everyone on here and my extreme love for a Wade saddle, I am currently saving up for Jeremiah's saddle making videos but I was curious if anyone had seen or has any reviews of his silver engraving, bitand spur making ones. Saddle making has always been what I learned leather work for but I've always been amazed by the guys who make there own buckles and conchos, etc. Just wondering what y'all thought about it. Also is his carving video for beginners or is it something good for all? Thanks, Wood

I agree with Greg. I have one and it does a pretty good job on normal stuff but I haven't had any luck with skirts.

Don't know if this is where this goes but I was just wondering what kind of benches and shops you guys have. I'm going to be building a new workshop and maybe a new workbench soon and I was wondering about things you've found that you like or dislike about workbenches and/or shops. I have a general layout of what I think I'm going to do but it's always good to hear from others before I may make the same mistakes. Right now I'm doing all of my work on a 5x3 ft table inside my garage so anything I build will probably be a step up. Thanks in advance, Wood

Thanks for adding these. The president's saddle is also one I love to stare at. The inlayed cross on the back cantle is a nice touch that I've always thought was cool. My last name is West, I wonder if trying to sell myself off as a distant cousin could get me an apprentice job under him? .

Don't mean to change the subject of this thread but I had mentioned Troy West. This is a pic I found of one of my favorite saddles he did.

It is actually a little too stiff right now. It needs a little more break-in time. I made it out of 8-9oz. with a 3-4oz lining so it's pretty heavy. The sleeve looking things on the inside are another strip of 8-9oz. I was thinking the extra weight on the ends like that would help keep it closed and help it lay flat when open. It will probably work alright once it's broken in.

A buddy of mine went to a monument place one day and they just happened to have a few headstones laying out back that were ordered in the wrong size for what they needed. They gave him 3 of them for $25 and thankfully I came to mind when he was giving them away. Never know what you might find pulling into those places and asking.

Here are a couple of pics of a photo album I did for myself. As always, there are a few things I would have done different but it's good for now. Comments, critique welcome. I'm always looking for ways to improve and there seem to be several of you on here I could learn from. Thanks, Wood

I know this is an old post but I just wanted to add that I believe Chester Hape is the best. His tooling quality is what I strive for, needless to say I have a long way to go. Also, Troy West at West Bros. Saddlery has some phenominal work. Just putting in my two cents. Later.

Simply beautiful.

Thanks for all the replys. This was a fun one to do mainly because of the size and also because I didn't have to design it . I'll post more as I get stuff done and if I can figure out how to shrink them a little. That pic was almost 1.5M. So I could only put the one up. I figure it out with time I reckon. Thanks again, Wood

Just found this site the other day and I have been on it ever since. Just wanted to say thanks for putting it together and show my lastest work. It's a design by Clint Fay (I think that's who did it) out of the sheridan style book. My wife's grandfather loved the design so I made him a clock for his office. Hopefully I attached it correctly. Good to meet y'all. Take care, Wood