BondoBobCustomSaddles

Just to reiterate, like Sioux said a "GOOD KNIFE". Can't stress this point enough. High quality blade yields nice smooth exact cuts. Get the best knife you can afford and keep it scary sharp, go slow, and keep your fingers out of the way! Bob

Bruce, I am surprised at you! Last year, you sent me to Gages Steak House in Guthrie, when I was on my trip to Oklahoma City, and really, it was the best steak I have ever had in the U.S. And still is. Also as for best repeatable steak in my back yard, I make a basting sauce that I learned from an old Italian father of a friend of mine, over 40 years ago, and still use it today. No matter what steak I put it on, and how it is cooked, rare, medium, well, and so on, it gets raves, personally I like mine done "Pittsburg". I use a table spoon of butter, a teaspoon of garlic salt, a teaspoon of worsterchire sauce, a teaspoon of soy sauce, and two table spoons of lemon juice melted all together in a cup. Brush it on as desired while cooking. No marinate, or anything else, no need for steak sauce after, just this mixture. Never had one that wasn't mouth watering good, in fact, just thinking about it, I'm going out and get a couple of steaks for the grille today! Oh Yea, and have a good Memorial Day and Thank You to all of the servicemen for their service on this holiday, especially those that gave the ultimate sacrifice so we could be free. Bob

I personally like the look and feel of a double belt. That said, if not careful, you can overdo it. I like to run my belt blanks through my skiver and thin them down to 6/7 oz. that makes a nice heavy, but not too heavy belt, and if you like to dress them up by finger carving them on the inside, it leaves you with a nice flexable , heavy belt that will last and last. At the buckle end, I use the back/inside blank to go up to the bar on the buckle and glue and stitch it there. The outside blank then folds over, and I use either Chicago screws, (two) or snaps to fasten, that way the customer can change buckles if desired. Also like Chief, on the "hole" I skive the last 7" or 8" down to 1/2 thickness before glue and stitch, for a nicer feel. On doubled straps where extreme strength is required like, stirrup leathers and chinch billets I use doubled 6/7 oz. with some woven nylon belting sand-witched in the middle. Being woven it allows the glue to permeate through to the other side and therefore gives a good bond. Oh yes, and when you do that, be sure to use a hot poker to sear the nylon in each of the adjustment holes and the cut off end. Hope that helps. Bob

Lucky, you are well on your way. I not only ride flesh and blood horses, but; iron horses too. I can tell you , you are getting into an area that you can make a good amount of money at, once your name gets out there. Perhaps it would help if you picked up another old seat in not so good condition, and completely recovered it to show your ability. The owner of that seat, might even be interested in buying it. At the very least hanging on the wall in a custom shop, will get you some attention, and that's is how it gets started. Just a thought. Bob

Yep, like I said earlier, absolutely first rate! Bob

While I do not use any of the finishes with acrylic (plastic) in them for that very reason, they give a sealed gloss finish, that has a "plastic" feel to them. Now there are those that swear by them and that is their choice. My customers like that real leather feel soft with a little gloss. It wears well, however; you do need to reapply once and a while. On the up side it does not seal the leather so it can be oiled or saddle soaped if you are of a mind. Bob

Troy's advice is solid. I often get water on parts of a saddle when I am working on another part or am forming a piece. It is common, I use a nice wet cloth and wipe it over the whole piece and let it dry evenly to get rid of the marks. Works well, you might try it. As for the rest of the posts, as soon as I read Dirkba's comment I thought to myself this is going to go south in a hurry! Just sayin' while probably not meant that way, it did sound condescending. I would have probably taken offence by it myself. Bob

I am also intrigued with these trees. Only a guess, but; since so many of the oldest saddles I've seen were made on compound trees, and the seat shaped differently. While looking at these, the shape of the seat and style suggest later style, I wonder if these are forms for forming seat leather for English and trail type saddles. I would be interested in what you come up with. Bob

Absolutely first rate Anne! I usually look at others work through the mindset of, would I really like to have and use that for myself. In your case, all I can say is, one of these days, I will have to break down and get some of your work! Really Nice and Classy! Bob

Hey Rock, looks like you have spent some time riding before you decided to make your own saddle. I have always felt that to be a good saddle maker you had to first understand what works and what doesn't with a horse. Nice job, keep up the good work, you have a future in saddlemaking. Bob

Josh you have done a really nice job on this one. I especially like the look of your tooling and border, it sets it off just right. Bob

I use Tan-Kote as the final finish on my saddles, unless the customer requests something different. It give a nice soft feel, with some gloss if buffed. Bob

Nice job Chief. Bob

Try Conchos.com in your browser. They have a very large assortment of various style. Bob

Jazzman, the journey never ends, and you make a lot of good friends along the way! God Bless! Bob

No apologies required between friends. Bob

Jazzman, this wasn't my post, it was Ferg's, and like him, I enjoyed it. It reminds me of a time when people liked a good story that had some moral to it. Guess, like Ferg, I am just getting long in the tooth. I prefer the old days and old morals. Thanks' again to Ferg for posting it. Bob

Well like Mr. Nightlinger once said "If it isn't true, it should be!". Thanks for sharing Ferg. Bob

I am sure he is pleased with it. Nice work. Bob

From time to time, I receive request for these notes. Since the last time my printer died and had to get a new one, that has scanning capabilities. I recently received another request, and the idea came to me, that I should just scan and post so here goes. I am able to open them on the preview page so hopefully they come out so you can read them. Enjoy, Bob IMG.pdf IMG_0001.pdf

So here goes, this is an on going question that comes up a lot. There are many answers to the question that will result in many varying ways, from good to frustrating. As I see it, when someone copies your work, whether with or without permission, it is the most sincere form of complimenting you. Since there is no real way to exact vengeance on them, the only thing you can do is, first make sure that your product/work is better than theirs, after all, it's your idea isn't it? You should be able to make it better, and stay ahead of them, then make sure that their customer base knows that theirs is a copy and won't be quite as good as the originator's product. If you are still not satisfied be sure to take out an add in whatever publication they use , Thank them for the compliment of using your design, and let the customer base know that there is product available from the original source. That is if you are the original source, and didn't copy the design from someone else! At the end of the day you can spend your time trying to get them to stop, (won't work) or making more stuff. Just sayin", Bob

Very nice, I am sure you wife is really pleased. Bob

Nice job Bob. I really like the way the pattern blends in with the style of the conchos and buckle. Those conchos and buckle appear to be very old and nice. All together, they look great. Bob

Very nice, old time work! Bob

I got a piece of advice from an old time black powder gun maker over 40 years ago, and it has stuck with me, and served me well. Basically what he said is " find someone whose work you admire and ask him what it is he does to achieve whatever it is that you are impressed with". He may have added a few colorful words in there that I didn't put in, but; basically that is what he said. As it relates to this subject, I have been impressed with the work of artisans like Bruce, Al, Keith, Bobby and Cary. That by it's self is a testament to why I use products like neatsfoot oil, lexol, ev olive oil, and all the others. At the end of the day, the results they give, reassure me that the advice I got way back then, was solid. Thanks Bruce, for taking the time to write what I have been thinking for a long time but; just didn't have the time to comment on. Bob