rustyriggin

Thats a great sheath for a first project, keep it up. I know what you mean about missing the mountains, I lived on Longview/ Kelso for about 10 yrs, but Arkansas is my home now, TOO many memories up there. Welcome to the site.

I have found that Leather New put on REAL sheep skin foams up wonderful and really gets in the cracks, I usually follow that with a soft shoe brush to get the left over foam out of the tooling. I've had some pretty nasty saddles, and they all left my shop looking better than new. I also use a brass bar-b-que cleaner for a brush on rough out, one of the big ones, you can really put pressure on it, and it fits the hand pretty good. Anyway thats just how I do it.

Thats nice work for a "quickie" job. It should really set the saddle off.

I need to find some info or a pattern for a mule halter. I had a customer call me who wants one. He has a small mule and nothing fits right, so it has to be custom. I have never made one for a mule, and looking at them I saw 2 different kinds, 1 with rings, and 1 with mostly chain. I'm going to measure the mule in a couple weeks for an exact fit, but that will just leave me racking my brain on assembly. Any help will be greatly appreciated, if you happen to have a pattern, even better. Thank You. Rus

Hi Dan, Welcome! Probably the best advice I can give you is to get some Al Stohlman books from Tandy Leather, I haven't had a whole lot of luck understanding them myself, but thats probably just me. I have to be hands on to get something in my head. I have never messed with the airbrush thing, but I'm thinking about it serious enough to be pricing them. I'm sure someone on here will give you the answer you are looking for. Welcome again, Rus Rusty Riggin Saddle Repair

Great work! I love the border, it's simple but it really makes the whole look come together. Keep it up.

Brent, I don't know about lightening thread, but just a few days ago I needed black thread and didn't have time to order any so I used a bowl and black die. The only problem I had with it was the lubricant they have on it, it repelled the die for a while, but after setting in it a while it soaked in, then I just layed the thread on a old towel til it dried. It did bleed off on my fingers when I put it in my machine, but it held up great during sewing. I used it on velcro on a grand entry flag, but the leather I tested it on looked great as well. Rusty

I like the way you put the belt together, nice blend of design. Great work!

Great looking belt Robert, keep it up. Rusty

Thank you so much Bruce, you confirmed by thoughts on what to do, I guess my hang up was messing it up trying to recreate it. I'll let it set a little bit longer until my confidence level matches my ability. I'll go to the library and look up some more on James B. Frew, he seems interesting to me, I did find out he was a saddler in the 5th U.S. Calvery, and was in the indian wars of Nebraska in 1865. Thanks again for your advice it helped me a lot. Rusty

Welcome to the site, those are some beautiful sheaths, great work, and as far as info on lacing, if you can't find what you need to know from the folks on here, then it can't be done. Welcome again, Rusty

I have an old Frew saddle I found it in the barn when I got my new place, the patent on the stamp is 1903, and I know a guy that has the original stamp that was used on the saddle. So i need input on weather to redo it original or put a modern twist on it, like basketweave, and fancy rigging dee's, or keep it simple and do wooden leather wrapped rings, and smooth leather. The tree is solid, and most of the leather is there, just very dry, and brittle. The story I got was years ago this saddle was made right here in town, but there was a fire and burned the factory to the ground, and that was the end of Frew saddle co. Any input would be very appreciated. Thanks, Rusty

Hey y'all, I've been doing leather work for about 2 1/2 years. I got into it after I was diagnosed with kidney failure, had lots of free time and was going nuts! Have had a transplant, doing great! Glad to find a place where people are willing to help, the saddle makers around me THINK they hung the moon. I'll get some pics up when I slow down enough to snap some of my work. Happy to know all of you!! Rusty (Rusty Riggin Saddle Repair)