TracyMoss

Anyone know of any spur makers in colorado? Maybe someone just getting started.

I added a link to my initial post down at the bottom. Just click on Panhandle Leather Website on my initial post.

Some of you may know who this is, but I don't hear them mentioned much. I am good friends with Jim Blain Kenney, the owner, and they are good source for all kinds of leathr needs. Skirting, chap, boot material, exotics, hardware, nails, tools, etc. They are really good and can usually find whatever you need. Panhandle Leather Website They don't have it set up so you can buy anything online, but their info is there.

Where can I track down those conchos. Preferably a wholsale provider.

Dink, Do you have a storefront or are you home-based.

Bruce, A little off subject maybe, but don't you just love it when they wait till last minute to put in a large order. Especially the christmas time company orders. It makes me want to charge and after hours surcharge for the sleepless nights to get it done on time.

Kathy, I'm not sure my machine has a thread stand. The spool sits stationary and the thread runs up through an arm with holes in it, so the thread is pulled up vertically above the thread.

Jordan Here is my attempt at making a holster.

GH, They are definatley chinks, not armitas. There is a difference, atleast where I come from. Basically you just encose the thigh with leather instead of haveing straps. You do lace them and I have even put short zippers in the thigh of a few. For the big boys. Thanks anyway. RH I guess I'll jsut have to use some of my cheap uphostry hides and make some prototypes. If I come up with one I think is pretty good I'll let you know. By the way I used to live in Canyon, TX. Went to WTAMU. My wife was the head coach of the equestrian team.

N.C., I don't think that method will on on a pair of chaps or chinks. JMO I also use Stretch solution made by Sellari's or someone like that. It is pretty much a mixture of dnatured alchohol and distilled water, I believe.

I have a couple of patterns from when I worked @ Oliver's, but I am not crazy about them. I was wondering if maybe someone had a good pattern for a pair of step-through chinks ( no buckles on the thigh). I know people like to hoard patterns, but I am of the opinion that someone else gave it to me, so why not share. I do have a shotgun pattern that I designed, that seems to be well liked. Anyhow, if anyone is in the mind to share, I would be more than willing to swap, or share one of mine. Thanks TracyMoss

Try these: Infinity Stamps Big Sky Die & Tool Texas Custom Dyes Mound Tool Co. Harper Mfg. Co.

Thanks Guys, If anyone does want to attempt it and want's to know what little knowledge I have learned just PM me. It turned out so nice I didn't want to give it back to him, but all it would do is sit in the corner of my Living Room. Good conversational piece though. Oh well, too bad family doesn't pay!

Hey Luke, In my experience the two can be interchangeable. Spur, keychain

Pretty nice wedding present. I can't remember one thing I received, or at least who gave it to me. Interesting, I've never seen a padded seat put in that way. See, even I can learn something from someone else's first saddle. Good Job, you were pretty ambitious to dye that background on the first one.

Looks like it could be a puch for the buckle end of a set of dovewing or strap style spur leather.

They are a good start, I never used them myself. I hounded an old Mininite saddle maker for years growing up. He was a very valuable resource. Then I worked at a saddle shop in Texas and gained even more knowledge. I did have an old TSTI manual, for those who are not aware, this is were Jeremiah Watt went to school. The manual was never in a retail production, it was more of a class manual, not intended for public use.

Here are a few of my firsts.

Bruce, what type of leather id you use on that one, I only ask because of the color. Not trying to turn this into a which leather is best thread. Even so , I'm probably going to regret asking. Nice draw-down, I thought I would get ambitious and make my first one out of Red Oak, the S*B weighs a ton. Better isn't always better if you know what I mean.

where do you get your dummy pistols?

Seeing Don's first saddle got me interested in seeing peoples first saddles. Lets see them if you have pictures. If they are in paper format and you have a scanner add them too. Maybe we'll get to see a collection of saddles, and give some inspiration to all those first timers out there. No matter who you are, we all had to build that first one, and it wasn't always pretty. Here is a picture of my first Saddle. A 16 inch S.F. Bowman ( typical roper ) FQH, Arizona Bars, padded seat, cheyenne roll, in-skirt rigging.

Steve, Really looks nice, I especially like the oval flower center. It adds certain angle depth to the flowers position.

Don, Once again looks good, didn't mean to sound critical. The picture was just a little decieving, but I am very impressed with your workmanship. Thanks for sharing.

Pete, as for finishing on this piece, I died the background w/ Mahogany Fiebings professional oil dye. Then I applied a light coat of warm neatsfoot oil. ( I always use heated neats foot, I have an electric kettle that stays on the lowest setting full of oil.) I then applied a hearty helping of Clear Lac (LCi). Let that set for several hours or overnight, Apply Fiebings mahogany Antique Finish. Make sure to get it in alll you cuts. Wipe off excess. Make sure you get it off all the raised surfaces. Let dry for several hours. Apply a good coat of Tan-Kote. Let dry, and that s about it. The Tan-kote will thin down the antique finish so don't worry if it looks like too much. I use woolskin scraps for all my application processes.

Bruce, I have made some out of ostrich, and I did line it with some lightweight cream cow. I used to work for a leather suppler in Texas and we would sell the cream cow lining to boot makers. So, I thought it was a good fit. Also I made a pair with stingray (broken needles and profanity $&!%)! The welt was near impossible, probably would have been easier to hand stitch. That is the extent of the exotics, as for my padding I cram as much shearling trimming as I can, Its availabe & I have tons of it, unlike horse hair.