Denise

Sounds impressive, all right, and it makes sense. But do other dish soaps work as well, or is there something in those brands that is different than say, Sunlight or Palmolive?

Don Butler's Custom Cowboy Shop is just down the street from Kings. http://www.customcowboyshop.com/index.html A drive west from town into the mountains is worth the time too.

RubyRoo, Welcome to LW.net. Please tell us about learning saddlery in the UK. It is very different from North America, I'm sure. Are you an official apprentice and how does the system work?

And this is the result of harsh criticism that isn't constructive or meant for the person's best interest. Giving only praise with no advice on improvement doesn't help either. Bruce's criticism is constructive as it gives practical hints on how to improve. It gives information on what to do differently next time, while encouraging that improvement, and at the same time pointing out the positives in the work - and there are always positives! Leatherworker.net is here to encourage people in the art of leatherwork. Telling someone they did "pretty bad" with no offers to help doesn't do that. Let's all work to encourage one another. MHolzer - what kind of tape measure did you cover? How big is it, since it looks like it would be pretty small in the picture. And as for the drawing - congratulations. Getting over hurdles, doing something you aren't naturally good at, stepping out of the box, whatever you want to call it - just going for it like that deserves a .

This raises some interesting issues for people trying new saddles on horses to check for fit. 1 1/4 fingers - depending on the size of your hands - will be an inch plus. If they get it to fit "right" at the beginning, it could actually end up being, not just too low, but also too wide so the front will tip down and mess up the whole bar contact area as a result. Curious what others say about their experiences in new saddles and how they "work in" - and the fit considerations that go along with that.

Here is a link to an interesting blog post pointing out the positive aspects of how you run your business if it has to support you rather than just be a secondary income, and how you can incorporate those into your business even if it doesn't have to support you. .Lots of good things to think about there... http://www.craftmba.com/2011/08/15/business-income-mindse/#comments

I see the hover information on Internet Explorer with XP. What browers are you using whinewhine and evandailey? (Having recently redone our website, I understand the frustration of getting them to look right in everything. Information about browsers, etc. from multiple sources will help Knipper a lot!)

Thanks Blake. I've wondered that for a long time!

Blake, Why does it need to be Dawn? I have heard about Dawn being used in a number of places but have yet to hear why it is different than any other detergent. Thanks, Denise

There are three pinned topics in the Saddle Trade Resources section here: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showforum=65 that give you the low down on the different DVDs and books out there.

You have probably found the link I have below in your research, but I have it here in case you haven't. Your description seems to match the description in the link for an 1857, but I only really know what I read... I know there are people around who are very knowledgeable about the McClellan saddle and I hope they either answer you here or you find them on some Civil War re-enactment sites. But I think you are very wise to not touch it till it is checked out by someone who really knows about these saddles. (Sorry, no real knowledge here but I did want to give you the link.) http://www.militaryhorse.org/studies/mcclellan/

Mike, in looking at the saddle from the back, it doesn't look square. The seat definitely isn't square with the fork - everything is pulled to the left. And maybe it is just the angle of the picture but the cantle looks like it isn't square to the fork either - maybe the right side is down and back? There may be more problems than just bent skirts with this one.

There are a few pinned topics at the top of the Saddle Trade Resources forum under saddles and tack here. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showforum=65 There a number of saddle makers are discussing which books they like best and why, and what you can get out of the different books. Well worth a read.

Connerd. I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Things like this just can't be replaced like something from a modern maker could. Fortunately all you have learned from those pieces is still with you.

Joel, We have talked to him within the last month. He said that he is back to making them individually himself and apparently they are quite time consuming to make and he has been very busy. He said he is still making them but it is taking a while to get them out to people. I hope he will respond to you soon.

Nice to see another saddle from you, Bruce. I like the explanation of why you did what you did too. Anything that helps us all learn is good.

Precision Saddle Tree - one of the sponsors of LW.net that has an ad up top that rotates in at times - has a tree repair service. You send them the broken tree and they repair it and send it back. You'd still learn a lot taking apart the saddle and putting it back together again, which is what you have to do to repair a tree anyway.

Moved!

I read the borrowers series when I was a kid. I loved it! Thanks for bringing back the memories.

Bobby, Our loss is the gain of everyone taking your classes I'm sure. We will be at both King's and SLO's gatherings, and we'll have a booth at the show too right by the restaurant in the atrium so we're easy to find. We'll look out for you. I'm looking forward to meeting people in real life!

Here is a thread that talks about the cost of materials in a saddle, both the hand made ones built by the members of this site but also some information on factory saddles from people who do know whereof they speak. (Is that correct old English grammar??) I put it up here thinking it may give you some background information. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=21058&st=0

Have you tried Caledon Sales in Calgary? http://www.caledonleather.ca/ They carry a lot more stuff than they have on their website, and if Ken doesn't carry it, he can tell you where to get it.

Leather Monkey, I have heard nothing but good about Springfields, but if you do order from the US, make sure they send it by mail. Anything that goes by courier gets you a whopping brokerage charge to receive it. A lot of US companies know this, but not all. I don't know about Springfields. If you wanted to try a Canadian supplier, try Caledon Sales in Calgary. Ken is the guy to talk to and if he doesn't have something, he can either get it for you or tell you where to get it from. http://www.caledonleather.ca/ I don't know how much they do over the internet. Phoning is best I think.

Joel, Last I heard they were strictly available through his website in Australia.

Beautiful workmanship, as always.