Randy Cornelius

Acording to the book, United States Military Saddles, 1812-1943 you have an 1868. The leather skirt was added in 1868 and then removed in the 1869 modle.

Cowboy Hall of Fame, Oklahoma, City Rodeo Hall of Fame, Colorado Springs, Co. Springfield Leather in Springfield, Mo if you want to shop leather. All 3 in a days drive of each other.

I live just south of Kansas City if you ever get up this way.

The Weldwood works better than most others because it has smaller molecules than most cememt. Also I buy it by the gallon, use a bottle and when it gets a little thick just pour in some more from the gallon can. Don't ever use thinners in cememt, it will change the molecular stucture and it will not work as good.

I keep a folder with all my reciepts and another for invoices which I use software to keep track. I also keep a book in my vehicle to write down all the milage for trips that are tax deductable. Seems to work for me.

I posted pictures of my shop back in 2008 when i was working out of my basement. I thought I would post pictures of my new shop that I built a year later.

When I do these, I have a pattern for the rawhide, of course soak it good in warm water. I like to use latigo to lace them, but have used rawhide lace too, just depends on what the customer wants. When the rawhide is ready wrap it around the stirrup and then trim to fit. Then punch #6 holes for the lacing, use 1/2 lace. Be sure to work out any wrinkles before it drys. Then after they are dry come back with a clear laquer finish. I use a simi gloss polyurathane finish, water based. Seems to hold up well to the elements. RC

also those dies that are used in the factory made tools wear out, the first tool impressions maybe good but as the production run continues the quality goes down as the die wears. Grap a handfull of the same basket stamp tools at a store and look at each one, you can tell the difference.

PM me, would be glad to do it for you, done it for a couple others on here.

I simply make a purse with a compartment inside. Some I attach a regular holster, some just the pocket so they can put any size, within reason pistol or revolver with a velco closure. I have never been able to figure out how to attach pictures.

check for a burr on the hook

The acrylic pain is very durable, top coat not really needed. I have some wallets and purses out there that I used acrylic paint on that have held up really well. I feel your pain, that black bleeding over is a bummer, you can try sealing it before you use the acrylic paint. RC

If you are ever through Sheridan, stop by his shop and say hi, he will take the time and show you around and tell you all the tools and equipment he uses to make his tools. He has a complete machine shop that does other things besides stamping tools. He is truely one of the good guys of the leather field. RC

Here is a few pictures of my shop, added some equipment since this was taken but at least it looks cleaner than it is right now. Randy

Cut a couple tennis balls in half and lay them on the table then place your marble on top of them, will reduce the noise a lot.

When making the keeper it's self I connect the two ends using a brass staple that I get from weaver leather. It is a heavy duty type that has a larger head and then just poke a couple holes with my lace plyers and then insert the staple and bend the ends over. As far as instalation I like mine to float or not be sewed or rivited in. Randy

I agree that if you are not going to be carving or tooling leather the starter kit may not be the answer. If you want to make a set of suspenders you can start by ordering a couple belt blanks, hardware, rivits etc to get started. You will need a rivit setter and some cutting tools, maybe an edger etc. Invest wisely as you start and maybe look for some good used tools on ebay or elsewhere. If you call Springfield Leather and tell them what you are wanting they will cut you just about any size piece of leather for a project also will be very helpful with a tool list or purchase. Randy

I am going to post an inquiry that was posted on another forum in the hopes this person can find a lost work of art of the family. I hope this is okay, if not you can take it down. Just trying to help this person.I do not know this person or have any other connection. Here is the post: Hello, I am contacting you as a start on how I might spread the word and locate a treasured work of art I helped my father tool as a child. The picture is about a 3-5 foot picture of the Last Supper, signed by Robert (Bob) Tennes. It was tooled around 1969-70 as I recall. My father became disoriented later in life and our family believes he may have traded the picture for room and board in South Texas before we were able to locate him and bring him home for medical attention.This trade most likely occured in the early to mid 1990's. At the time I made several phone calls to southern towns in an attempt to locate and buy the picture back; however I had no luck tracking it down. I am now hoping the internet may be of use in finding it. I have several of his pictures, however this is my most treasured. Any help or direction in this matter would be greatly appreciated, please feel free to forward this to any contacts you have that may help me in this matter. Sincerely, Valerie Tennes Rimmer val.rimmer@icloud.com ;

You make want to check out ebay for some of the older Craftool sets that are marked "Craftool USA" these are the older tools which are much better quality than the new Tandy tools. I have a lot of the older Craftools as well as Barry King.

I think you knocked this one out of the park, I really like the design, compact and not a lot of fluff. Clean lines and just a nice saddle, I may have to copy some of your work if you don't mind. Randy

Nothing like the smell of Neat Lac early in the mornings!!!. But it works great! But I do use a lot of Resolene and Tan Kote as a final finish. Used the Bee Natural stuff and it works Okay but have had some problems with it being plotchy esp if you let a drop hit the leather, found that if you put it on heavy at first you get better results but the stuff is expensive compaired to other finishes. I suggest that someone starting out experiment with different products and see what works best on the type of leather they use. I had more problems with finish with other grades of leather. But since I started using HO for just about everything the finishes have became more consistant. I think if you buy what ever leather is on sale or cheeper you will have more problems as the finish, dye and oils will react differently with different brands/manufatur of leather. Just my thoughts. Randy

Weaver leather or King Rope in Sheridan Wy

First thing, try changing the needle, then if that don't help I would take the shuttle apart and clean it real good and look for pieces of thread that may be binding it up. Also check the shuttle hook for a burr. Turn it over by hand and see if there is a spot that it feels like it is binding, That may be a piece of thread hung up in the shuttle. Oil it up real good. See if that helps.

It is some type of edger for the crome tan leather they are using for the bags. Looks like it could have some type of liquid on it to slick the edges.

It is a great little tool for the money, I am surprised they don't go to some of the shows and demostrate, maybe they have been to Sheridan, I don't know since it's been several years since I've been there. I looked at the lacemaster but thought it was way over priced for what it does. RC