BarrelPony

Hello, I'm looking for a trusted saddle maker to make me a quality custom saddle. I'm looking for a tough ranch saddle with swells, roughout seat and round skirt. Preferably on the lighter side, but heavy duty. I'm 17 and only work part time so I'm trying to not pay much more than $1,000-$1,500. Any ideas of someone who could make me something like that in my price range? Thanks in advance!

Hey there everyone, thanks again so much for all your great input and help! I think I've decided on this stuff. I feel that from what you all have said 28 sq. ft. should be enough. I agree with Big Sioux Saddlery that a seam does cheapen an otherwise good pair of chaps. Hopefully I can make them out of one piece if I do go with that leather. We will see how this goes, I will keep this active and post a picture of the finished chaps when I get them done! Thanks again!

Hello everyone and thanks for your replies. How does this Hollow Ground one look? I am also pretty confused about getting one that will for sure fit my knife. It's not a size fits all, correct? In reply to shtoink, yes, thank you for making sure I know how to properly prepare the leather. I am aware that is an important step. I dampen the leather thoroughly, and when it starts to dry around the edges I begin.

Hi there everyone. I am just getting into leather work, and really want to start tooling. I bought a pretty cheap swivel knife with a set of stamps, and have found it extremely difficult to cut with. I have to push on it very hard to get a cut, and it gets stuck and drags. It also doesn't leave a very wide V cut as it should. I have sharpened it very well but to no avail. I think the blade is just cheap. So my question is, what is a good blade for floral carvings? I was looking at the Barry King ones because I heard they were good. I don't know much about the different kinds though, and what thickness should I be looking for? Also, not sure what will work with my knife, the blade I currently have is held in with a set screw. Not sure if the size of the piece that goes into the barrel can be different or anything. Thanks so much in advance! I'm excited to get into tooling, and have a lot of projects I want to start, but it's hard when I can't get my swivel knife to cut.

Hi everyone, and thanks for your input and photos. If I did go with the 22 sq. ft. and it wasn't enough, I could always do a seam in the leg right?

Hey there everyone, thanks so much for all the great help! I found a pretty good deal I think from The Leather Guy, it's 22 sq. ft. (62"x37") of 5 1/2 ounce oil tanned. Here is the link to the listing: The Leather Guy Would that be enough to make a pair with fringe? Thanks!

Thanks so much everyone! It sounds like I will need a side then. Any recommendations of a good place to get cheap sides? I kind of wanted to keep this project at $100 or less. By the way, would a side be enough to put some fringe on them as well? Also, what is your preferred thickness for chaps? I don't want a super heavy pair, but I also don't want them to be thin. I was thinking maybe 4-5 oz?

Thanks a lot for the replies everyone! I really liked some stuff I found from Water House Leather, but it's only 15 sq. ft. Would that not be enough? (As long as I don't cut two legs that is!)

Hello, I am looking into making my first pair of chaps. I'm trying to figure out how much leather I'm going to need. Is there any way for me to get an estimate of how much leather I will need to make myself a pair of the (#34) Arizona chaps from Klenda Saddelry? (http://www.klendasaddlery.com/chaps.htm) My measurements are as follows: Hip: 34" Upper Thigh: 20" Mid Thigh: 17" Knee: 13" Calf: 12" Outer Leg: 38" Thanks so much for your help!

Thanks so much for your help Dwight! I do have an awl, so I will use that. I will get those round spots and rimsets. Thanks again!

Hey guys! I'm going to be putting round spots and crystals on a bronc halter and I need your help. I don't have a rivet setter, or a round spot setter, or anything of that sort to help me with this job. I don't know if I'll be doing this sort of thing ever again, so I don't want to buy a setter when I may never use it again. So, my question is, can I set round spots in leather by simply poking holes, pressing the round spots legs in those holes, then using something metal to press the legs in on the underside of the leather? I'm also thinking of doing the same thing with rim sets around flat back crystals. Will this work? Will it be sturdy enough? Here are the round spots and rim sets I am looking at: Round Spots: http://springfieldleather.com/37420/Spot%2CRound%2CNp%2C3-16%22%2C50pk/ Rim Sets: http://springfieldleather.com/30889/RimSet%2C20ss%2CSilver/ I could use crystal rivets like these: http://springfieldleather.com/34077/Rivet%2CCry%2CClear%2C7mm%2C10pk/ I have a snap setter kit that might work for those, but I have no idea. What do you all think? Is my best bet to get flat backs with rim sets and try to set them by hand? Another question I have is, will the legs of the round spots and rim sets be long enough to go through 3 1/2 OZ. leather? Thanks in advance!

Thanks Halitech! That's a good idea.

Hello! I am currently working on making a bronc halter like the ones below. But I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out how to do the leather cut out windows for the gator and hair on hide parts. It's just like a sandwich, right? A bottom piece, and then a top piece with cut out windows, and then another kind of leather to fill the space? What I can't seem to figure out, is whether there are 3 pieces stacked on top of each other or not. Are the gator and hair on hide pieces cut in the exact shape we see, or is there more sandwiched between the other two pieces? Sorry if that doesn't make sense! I'm not quite sure myself. Thanks in advance!

Thanks for the reply Bob! Is vegetable tanned skirting different then just vegetable tanned leather?

Thanks! Since you seem to know a lot about tack, what thickness and kind of leather do you recommend for a headstall, and do you line yours with latigo?

Thanks so much for the reply Equiplay Saddlery! How thick of latigo do you use? For the straps, wouldn't you want to go with a thinner leather so it buckles and bends easy? I really like the belt blanks idea, I will look into doing that. Do they make latigo leather belt blanks? Where do you buy your veg tan and latigo leather? Thanks again for the reply!

Any thoughts?

Hello there! I'm looking into making myself a breastcollar. The problem is, I don't want to make any more then at the most two. What cut is the best to be long enough to make a few, without buying the whole cow? I don't want to buy a lot of leather I might not use! What kind of leather do you guys recommend using? I was thinking saddle skirting, as it sounds durable. Is 10-12 oz. good? Also, would I want to use a different kind of leather on the back, like latigo (I've heard that's what some people do as it is sweat resistant), or could I get away with just backing it with what ever I decide to use on the front? What about the straps, I would think they would have to be made of a thinner more flexible leather, but I'm not sure. I can't think of any more questions now. Thanks so much in advance!

Thank you so much for detailed reply pnj! That leather looks perfect for what I want to do. Thanks so much for the tip, I will be buying some as well as a a chisel from there. Also thanks for pointing me toward that pattern, it looks a lot like the one I am trying to make, I will look into getting it. Any dyeing tips? I will be using Fiebings Saddle Tan. Do you recommend diluting it with water? I've never dyed that way, but I have heard it works well. Oh, and what finisher do you use? I have Angelus matte, that I use for my leather painting. Thanks again!

Hello, I am looking to make a birthday gift for my brother who is a pilot. I stumbled across a listing on etsy I really like. It's a Field Notes cover that doubles as a wallet and passport holder: https://www.etsy.com/listing/160501114/field-notes-cover-wallet-horween-latigo?ref=cat_gallery_12&from_reg=2&joined=contact-seller&box=1 (Scroll down to see the listing once you click on the link.) I'm new to leather for the most part, so I have a few questions. The leather used in the etsy listing is 2 to 2.5 mm in thickness. I found 3 pieces of 4 to 5 oz vegetable tanned leather online for around $20.00. Each piece averages about 2.5 to 3 feet. Is that a good deal for that much leather, and will it suit my project well? I'm also looking into getting a 6 prong chisel for my stitches. What mm should I get for this kind of a project, and what kind and size of thread should I buy? I have some waxed thread, but have no idea what size it is. And finally, any pattern making tips? Thanks in advance for your help!