Doug Mclean

If you try the oxaltic acid make sure you do the whole piece, not just where the mold is. When you use this stuff it changes the way the leather will take a finish or oil. Not sure what it is you are working on, but it is worth a try. If you don't have a source for this let me know and I can send you a small amount it doesn't take very much. Good Luck

When I finish a saddle or any new piece made out of regular skirting leather I use exaltic acid to wash the leather. After that is dry (overnight). One generous coat of pure neatsfoot and then rub in some Ray Holes saddle butter as a finish. Maybe there is some new ideas out there that I haven't heard. D McLean

In trying to make a point I wasn't careful about my choice of words. I don't care if you replace U.S.A with Canada in my comment. The idea is still the same. My apoligies to the members north of the border no offense intended.

In starting this I would like to say how much good this web site is for people in the leather industry. My hat is off to who ever it was that started the ball rolling. I have enjoyed everyone's ideas on this saddle tree issue as we go along there have been some good comments all the way around. This is how I look at the whole thing. I like new things as well as the next guy (faster, better, cheaper, etc.) There are some real fine people out there making a living building rawhide covered saddle trees and hopefully that will keep going for some time to come. The rawhide comes from a cow that was raised here in the good old U.S.A. When you get to thinking about it maybe progress aint progress. I think the cowboy way of life is under enough stress. If it aint broke don't fix it!!!!

Thank you for your quick response to my ?? I looked at the web site and it looks like it would do everything I would need to do. If you were building a tree to these spec. how much do you allow for blanket and skirt thickness?

This was brought up in a conversation and I would like to know more about it. Is this a machine or a service? It sounds like something a maker would like to do for an older horse that was already performing at an event to help keep them fresh and going strong. I have always been convinced that a rope horses longevity depended on the shape of his or her back as well as all of the other conformation points. How do I get involved with this equimeasure and how many $$$ are we talking about?

What is an equimeasure? There are some other reasons for having all of the different riggin positions. Next time you get to see some old time pictures pay attention to the conformation of the horses. In the Montana area a lot of the old time ranch horses were more of a Thoroughbred body type. Some of them weren't the greatest for conformation with the angle of the front shoulders being steeper than most horses today. My point is with the withers more over the front legs that sweet spot for the cinch and the tree probabably worked out better in the 3/4 position than it does today. The other thing you didn' t see many breastcollars in the early pictures not sure that was the reason. From my own personal experience I have felt like my breastcollar tended to pull my saddle to the front when I didn't have my cinch real tight. But by the same token it also kept me out of trouble when riding in some rough country. Is this equimeasure something new?

Thanks for the information. You can sure find a lot more items you want with the right words.

What's is the best search description for finding tools and machinery on e-bay. Just curious what everyone else has had success with. Sometimes one word makes a big difference to a computer. (Computers don't have cowboy logic but they do have a sense of humor.)

Bruce I'm interested in knowing more about these skivers. How wide is the knife on the Landis and also the new bell knife skiver you are talking about. What kind of $$$$. Thanks DMac

I'd like to thank sheathmaker for the buckles. This is going to make the deal right on this saddle. If anyone else has some of these laying around I know this customer would be interested in having some extra. Thanks again.

Coming from a cold climate. I can tell you I have worked on saddles from some of the old time makers that never saw the inside of a heated tack room and with a little care they last for ever. Lack of care is what causes leather to break down or the fact that it wasn't anygood in the first place.

I appreciate that very much let me know how much and I will send you the money for the buckles and shipping. DMac

These buckles are one piece with two horizontal pins for adjustment. They were designed for a 3" stirrup leather on a Western saddle. One of my customers purchased some of these out an ad placed in the Western Horseman magazine in 2005. He would like to have them put on a new saddle that I am building for him and we are having trouble finding a source.

This is an older Union Lockstitch machine on a home made iron stand. Designed for saddle work. It is tall so you can stand up to the machine and sew. Would sell this machine or trade for other items. Let me know if you are interested. I used this machine when I was in the saddle business years ago to make saddles and strap goods. I am only part time now and have replaced it with newer Adler. I would sell for 750.00 or trade for something of equal value.

This is the first time on this site for me. I'm a part time saddle maker from Miles City, MT. Looking for some quickchange buckles for 3" stirrup leathers called Fast Buckle. They are a two prong buckle with the prongs horizontal from each other. A customer has requested these on a new saddle and I'm having trouble finding a source. I would appreciate some ideas. Thanks DMac