CWR

I charge about the same as Joel. That's just for the cleaning and oiling. If there are any repairs that's extra. I don't get alot in just for cleaning but if I do I take the jockeys off, pull the stirrup leathers out and take off all the conchos, latigo hangers and such as that off. That's probably to cheap but it gets them in the shop and I'm hungry. Sounds like you are working for cowboys, if you are and you do them a good job and treat them right they'll be back. In my little shop if you make a living with a saddle you go to the front of the line. Hope this helps a little, CW

I relined and restrung a corriente saddle the other day. I was somewhat surprised to find that the skirt plugs were made out of some kind of plastic masonite looking stuff. I replugged it and sved the plugs to show him when he came to get the saddle. He probably paid me more than the saddle was worth. What I can never get over is the nails sticking through the tree and all the staples they shoot into them. CW

Thanks Bob.

Harvey, Where can you get the book? Will Bob just be marketing it privately? Thanks, CW

Harvey, They get those prices because they are collectible. Any thing that is collectible is worth whatever someone is willing to give for it. Also those prices aren't that much higher than Bob Beard's. Bob has a pretty long waiting list from what I've heard. CW

Thanks Bruce. He makes all my days. You wouldn't believe how many maverick bulls he's caught since yesterday. Brownie will live out his days right here. CW

I finally got my little boy mounted. I made his saddle for Christmas but he didn't have anything to ride til yesterday. A good friend of ours gave us Brownie. Brownie raised his two boys and James said he would sure like to see him raise one more. Brownie emigrated from Mexico about twenty years ago. we are sure glad to have him. CW

How do people live without green chilis?

Matt, The skirts go on top. You want your top stitches showing. Your cobra 4 will breeze through this. Its what its made for. I relined alot of saddles stitching by hand before I saved enough money to get a sewing machine. It really improved my hand stitching but its not fun. Good luck, CW

r Thanks Jeff. Thats kinda what I had in mind but I wanted to check before I went to smearing stuff on the tree. I'm pretty sure that this is from the rawhide being scored when the slots were cut. I can't make the tree move, but I will go over it real good again before I put it back together. Hope your getting some rain. cw

I'm back needing some advice. I've got a saddle in the shop for repair. When I took it down I noticed that the rawhide is torn where the stirrup leather slot was cut. Is there anyway to patch that that will give it some strength? The bar is not broken and the tear is on the top side. Thanks, CW

Thanks fellers. You confirmed my thoughts on this. You're right on that Jeff. Ever one that I tear down and put back leaves me knowing a little more. Still got a ways to go. Thanks for the replies, CW

I'm sure the stitching doesn't go through the backside. I was thinking the same thing but I was able to slide a modeling spoon under the binding in the back.

I got a saddle in the shop for some minor repairs. It is a well made custom saddle. As I was going over it, I thought man that is the best hidden stitch I have ever seen on a cantle binding. I took a closer look and realized that there was no slit in the back. The binding is sewn through the front and the filler and cantle leathers but does not go through the back of the binding. My thoughts are that the maker fit the binding and let it dry then dampened it enough to flip the back up and sew it. Then glued the back down and let it dry again. My questions are, Do you think this is a good practice? And if you have done one like this what is your method? Thanks, CW

Thanks everyone. Jeff, you explained why the top holes were pulled out so much. I kinda like these too. I may start keeping some on hand. CW

I had a guy bring this saddle into the shop for new leathers and a swell cover. I have never seen any buckles like these. If you can't tell from the pictures they have a hook on the top and a stud on the bottom and the holes are on 1 5/8 centers. He wanted to put them back on, so he must like them. The original maker did not put a keeper on and he asked that I add them. I would think that they would be necessary to keep the stud from popping out of the bottom hole. The old leathers were were pretty pulled out where the hook fit. I don't know if this is due to the smaller size of the hook or just age and wear because this saddle is a user. Anyone have any experience with them? Who makes them? CW

That's a fine looking rig JW. It'd make Bob Marrs proud. Thanks for showing it. CW

Jeff, I just replaced one and I I used cloud crepe from Panhandle Leather. A sheet about 18X36 is $10.25. Its a 1/4 inch thick and was real easy to work withand is pretty firm. It was the first one I have done so I can't compare it to anything but for ten bucks you might want to give it a try. Thanks, CW

I am interested in your splitter if you get a price established. Thanks, CW

Buy a good round knife and some decent edgers. It doesn't matter if you tool or not, we all have to cut out leather. Good luck, CW

Pretty Cool Bob. Is putting in that metal lace tricky? I had a guy call wanting me replace one like that and I don't have any idea where to start. Really nice saddle. She oughta be tickled. CW

Bob, Thanks for the compliments and critiques. You are right. One of those tacks almost shows. The problem was more of when I covered the swells. That tack is too high up and to make matters worse I missed a lick with my hammer and put a hammer mark even higher. I thought I had it covered and when my seat leather dried it shrunk some and that hammer mark was awful close to the edge. Bruce, A guy brought me his little girls saddle to build some taps and it had stirrup leathers that were like that but the just had regular buckles on them. I thought about doing some that way or using some Superior's. He makes me smile every day. We are sure proud of him. Thanks CW.

Leatherrookie, Thank you so much. God has richly blessed us. I saw the rope can you made for your boy. It is beautiful. We are in Alpine, the home of college rodeo. If you ever get down there to the rodeo let me know. We can talk shop and watch some good rodeo. God Bless, CW

Thank you all for the kind words. Billy it is pretty cool to build one for your kids. Merry Christmas, CW