felis

Can you recommend me some sites for good quality buckiles for headstalls please....

Ah great - thanks...so I am going to buy one that is in size for that.

Ron, may I ask what will the Mule Foot Stamp be for?

Hello Godfrey, I just ordered yesterday all the leather and decided to give it a try myself...but if it ends up in a total desaster - which is not so unlikely I will come back to your offer, thanks a lot

Thank you so much Ron, that is already helping me a lot (to know what tools I need) . I have ordered the leather yesterday and going to order the tools next week. I know it is not a typical first attempt project but I found that this is the way I learn best. I would not have fun doing loads and loads of small thinkgs that I wont use It does not have to be perfect - its just for me and my daughters so perfect for learning.

I bought already a few times on ebay from Japan (not leather related) and unregistered mails can take up to a month to arrive. 1 even took 1 month and a week...so I would not give up hope

Now it’s time to aks some questions I want to order tools for my very first leather project. Unfortunately I am one of those who cant just start with a simple patch….I am a learning by making mistakes person These are only for me and my daughters and do not have to be perfect so I want to give it a try. Anyway …. I found already lot of infos here on bridle making but would have some questions – general and specific to my project. I want to do 3 western bridles (or at least one…depending on how it goes) with a carved browband. So first I draw the pattern I wanted on the browband so I can see what tools I will need. (These are just first sketches….and will need some details and changes but I thought I will do for finding out the tools I will need. I first would like to buy the tools I need for cutting and carving/tooling. Because if I found that leather is not my material I don’t want to end up with all the tools Then with my next order the tools to do all the edges nicely and all the things for hand sewing and in my third order the things to add buckles and stuff and last the dye. So here is the list what I was planning to get for the carving and cutting: Hammer, Stylus, Strip and Strap Cutter, Swivel Knife and various blades and some Beveler and Background Stamps Now for the things I like to do what size of blades would be good? What do I use to cut out the brow band from the leather? Just a Rotary Cutter or Stanley Knife? What size of Beveler should I get (suppose I need to get some different) would I need any modelling tools (spoon/knife)? Next and I think most important to choose the leather. I am not sure what I should buy. I want to go for the high quality and from what I read up I should co for butt leather rather than shoulder is that correct? I would prefer something not to massive but still stable and comfortable for the horse to wear. And that is where I am stuck right now. A What thickness would I get for the headstall itself and what for the brow band….and if I buy two different thickness of leather would that look different when I dye it or would it look like wearing two different type of black socks? would I use it double sided or single side and maybe add lining and if so what would I use? Does the leather for the brow band have to have a certain thickness to be tooled? I attached a picture I found on the web with a black lining…..I kind of like the look of it…anyone an idea what was used there? I read in a few posts with a tool and material list to make a bridle that glue is needed. For what parts do I need glue? I am sure there will come more questions during the working process but I would be very happy If I could some help so I don’t buy stuff I don’t need and/or end up with a complete disaster

Thanks for all your informations and feedback it is most helpful! I think I will try both shops Would also love to try Beilier’s Manufacturing and Supply but since I am in Irland I will stick with online shops for now

I just wonder at leathercrafttools.com the pro swivel knife medium is 16.61 Euro and it looks exactely the same as the Elite Ultimate Leathercraft carving tool knife in the same size that costs at goodsjapan 32,49 .... I buy the first time. I dont want to waste my money buying too cheap...but I also dont want to waste it on buying the same quality more expansive..... does anyone have exeperience which knifes are better?

I did that but they had not replyed....or I was just unpatience They have send back an answer since so the blades from tandy will fit in there

I am in Ireland.....but I dont expect to find anyone here.....I moved from Austria to Irland 4 years ago and since then live with high postage to import as I can hardly ever find something on thas island I do buy a lot from US...even got my westernsaddle imported Ireland is very old fashioned. which I love in some way but if you try to find something..... The postage for headstall parts cant be that high ..... ...its all flat so it should not be too bad and I dont need any reins or other parts....just the headstall.

May I ask those of you who bought from goods japan......I want to buy a swivel knife (my first) an not sure where will I get different blades for it. gooda japan does not have many replacment blades for their knife.....or will any other fit in? thanks for your help

Hello, hope this is the right place to post - was not sure if it should go under the section with the horse stuff - but anyway here it goes: I am a complete Newbe to leather. Never worked with it before never payed attention to quality if I bought something - in fact I might be the nightmare customer for leather product sellers So now we got horses and I want to make a bridle ( really nice good quality) or better said - I want to make the fun part of a bridle - I would love to do the tooling (or carving) and deiying. Now as I understood if I buy a finished headstall somewhere the leather would not be any good to tool right? I would need a tooling leather or something....so I was looking and searching through the whole internet trying to find tools and leather and look into how to make it and finally came to the point where I think.....I might need help. Is there anyone out there selling or know someone who would make me this: All parts for a western bridle from good quality leather BUT not tooled and stitched (but with all holes for stitching and buckles) So I can do the tooling and dyiing and assembling myself? Why is no shop selling somethinkg like this....a diy set for bridle making. I am sure there would be plenty of crazy horse people like me willing to pay for that. Or am I missing an impotant factor that would make that not work? Something like a precut western headstall. I mean compared to an english one western headstoll are quiet simple..... So is there anyone who would do that for me and give me a price idea what I am looking at. Thanks a lot for any replies and suggestions, links and comments Sophie