gtwister09

Steve, Here is some places for you to look at. This is what I have in my files. Several people that I know picked theirs up from Beilers. I acquired mine from Bob Dellis (no idea where je acquired them from). I am assuming that you are wanting to clinch tacks as well so these are all metal loop irons. If you aren't intending on using them as clinching plates you can make them out of wood, plexiglass, HDPE or other such materials. Beilers Mfg. & Supply 3025 Irishtown Rd. Ronks, Pa. 17572 (717) 768-0174 McMilllen Tool Company R. R. 2 Box 416 Sunrise Beach, MO 65079 573-374-7880 I also found a website in the UK a few years back. Bowstock Loop Irons You may also catch some with Dan's Big Tool Sale (Proleptic Shop Talk) or Bob Douglas....might be hit or miss at auction or the possibility of Bob having acquired some. Hope that helps. Regards, Ben

Nice as always. Regards, Ben

To add to Paul's comment, I have used shelf liner for thin leather every once in a while. I have only had to use this technique a couple of times with chap leather that tended to move a lot when trying to cut fringe. It was a trick that a older saddlemaker/chapmaker showed me more than 30 years ago. Regards, Ben

Elton, Very nice clean work! It is certainly one that she should be more than happy to wear. Good design work. Regards, Ben

Rod/Denise, Somehow I missed this one. It is always interesting to see unique trees. Regards, Ben

Gentlemen, Thanks for the replies. Regards, Ben

Elton, They are great looking chaps as always. Regards, Ben

For those that use "bags" or leather weights to hold down their carving or use them for other purposes like saddle seat construction, what weights and sizes do you use? What materials are you using for fill in them (steel shot, lead shot, ceramic/deburr material, chunks of steel or other metal, etc). The reason I am asking about material is that I recently was talking with an older saddleamker who had his weights for more than 45 years and was having to get rid of them due to lead contamination. He found this out because one of his younger great-granddaughters (1-1/2 yrs old) was diagnosed with lead poisoning after being in his shop. He didn't think that he had any lead paint because the house and workshop were only 5-6 years old so they went on a diagnostic mission doing lead smack tests and found his old leather weights were "high". [No I don't know actual levels of contamination and he couldn't remember them]. An interesting note --- He said that the lead shot bags registered significantly higher than the leather covered lead brick he had. I told him that would be a normal reaction because the shot would rub against itself and create fine dust over time. He picked up some smaller used ceramic vibratory deburr media to create new weights so that made me think what other unique ideas do people use for filling their leather weights. I have seen leather covered granite, steel and lead. I have seen numerous sizes of bags from a pound to 30-40 pounds. Even seen a couple with zippers but they complained of black marks on their leather all the time. I've seen hot dog shaped ones, some triangles, rectangles and so forth. Some were tooled but most of them were not. Any pictures you would like to share would be great. Here's one my son made for my Dad a few years back. It was made of many layers of leather. All the center sections were punched with a large punch to allow steel shot to be used. One side of it it had a brand and the other side was stamped with a basketweave. The picture shows them partially completed and the inset shows one stitched up and just prior to having the sides cleaned up. These were a pain trying to stitch through 1-1/2" of material....even for just two of them. Personally I wouldn't recommend making them like this. Last but not least which are your preferred ones and why? Size/Design Weight Material[External/Fill] Purpose used for Preferred Regards, Ben

I have to agree with Elton's comments about work and getting paid for what work is done...as well as Bill's bargrounders. "Best tools for the buck" or "most bang for the buck" is a two edged sword. Sometimes it gets you the "best" tool and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes the best is subjective based on many variables which include style, preferences, skill level, fit, finish and so forth. Sometimes the best IS NOT the most expensive and sometimes IT IS. Money spent is not the only indicator of the best. Sometimes you buy the "best bang for the buck" only to find out later that you like the quality of the other tool. (Count me here on a number of purchases - It wound up costing me even more money in the long run). I tend to look at people's detailed tooling a whole lot more and when I see something that stands out then I generally ask who's tool they are using. Several of the people on the board can attest to my asking them what they consider the best quality of certain tools. Some wigglers, bargrounders, bevelers, flower centers and such are some of the latest ones that I changed around based on some tooling that I have seen. Utilize the expereince of the some of the more experienced toolers and you will almost always be well served in your tool purchases. Regards, Ben

Clair gave you a great book and web resource. You can find his website here. James Acord He has cases for rods, reels, fly fishing rigs and other items as well. Regards, Ben

Casey, Which handpiece? Any upgrades to the SC? Regards, Ben

Casey, Who's gear are you using for engraving? Regards, Ben

This was on their web site ... Due to some server issues online ordering is temporarily unavailable. However, the catalog is viewable online and we are taking orders over the phone. Please call Ron at 817-878-5797 and he will get your order shipped to you immediately. We apologize for this inconvenience and hope to have the cart functioning again soon.

Joker, Really neat design idea with the reticle for this theme bag. Regards, Ben

Denise, They are as stated database files but more importantly they are actually a thumbnail cache of your pictures. These allow it to preview quickly. These started showing up after we did the show hidden files to fix one of your other issues. Regards, Ben

Peter actually used to sell a modified Henley for lighter leathers. I bought a couple of the blades when he first came out with them many years ago. They work very well on lighter leathers. I am "poor" on blades and knives. The only one that I don't have at this time is Paul's. I have at least one of each of these....King, Tandy, Tandy Pro, Smith, Beard, Osborne, Russell, Henley and some unknown makers. I have blades likewise from all of the these guys as well as Peter, some ceramics including some beader and hair blades. One of these days I will have to give Paul a shot. Most people are really singing his praises. The anodized aluminum is a neat marketing deal for the barrels. I would strongly suggest that you try various knifes out. I have fairly large hands but I generally use a shorter smaller diameter knife. This is more of a carry over from drafting than anything else. I likewise don't use large diameter pens either. If you search some of the older threads you will find some information on helping you select the right height and diameter (or at least get you close to selecting the proper height and diameter for you). Regards, Ben

Bob, I have to agree wholeheartedly with Darcy. However Darcy I know what Bob is talking about.... In talking with a large number of saddlemakers I have personally heard a few saddlemakers make such statements about toolers. Their actions certainly were in line with treating them as second class citizens. Of course on the other side of the argument, there are a bunch of them that look at work like Bob's and others and they are like the rest of us who are in awe and admire their designs, details, depths, flows and execution. Darcy's statement about looking at fine work is so true. My wife accuses me of appreciating way too many things like leather, (all matters of cowboy gear), wood, furniture, engraving and the list goes on. I admire and study these things for the things that Darcy talked about designs, attention to detail, flow and how they can be used across different disciplines. As I have shared with Bob on more than one occasion, he has no reason to feel like a second class citizen. Now off my soap box and rant... Regards, Ben

Steve, GREAT saddle as usual. There is some great design elements mixed in this one...like Darcy said. I had to laugh about Bruce's addition to the thread.... Regards, Ben

Darcy, WOW! Now those are some taps! Great details all around...including the fork and horn area. Ditto to the quality of workmanship and details. Regards, Ben

Ed, I like the mini mauls. They are a very neat idea. Regards, Ben

Ed, Great mauls and stand. Regards, Ben

Not sure why you didn't include the references for people to look at.... Found them and included them below. This gives the cost and other specs. The specification state that it is a 120V DC motor that runs through the microcontroller at 110VAC. Here's the link for the video and some technical specifications. MC - SCR [sailrite] Regards, Ben

Not Gary but I made these for quite some time 10+ years ago. I used 5/16" and 3/8" drill rod with epoxy. I also tried some lag screws but these tended to have a little wobble (Most likely because they were a little off center). Mark your center line and drill the hole for the drill rod (make slightly larger to accommodate the epoxy). Epoxy the drill rod into the wood and let cure. Use a drill chuck in your lathe on one end and a live center on the other end. Then turn your burnisher. This should produce a burnisher with little to no wobble. Regards, Ben

Troy, The ones that I have seen have a piece of formed lexan or something similar that essentially gives a portion of the bag it's shape (near where the leather is riveted to the piston on this design). Essentially it forms a bottom and a back for the bag...eliminating any sag that might occur. The other one I saw used aluminum piston tops and aluminum sheet formed....then they welded it together and then covered it with leather. Regards, Ben

Deb, I finally found the pattern packs after years of asking the questions across numerous groups , leather magazines and individuals ($$$$). Unfortunately the roundup is not part of the 4 picture packs. The year that the Stohlman Museum opened we went there in July. I took a bunch of pictures and shared them with Johanna. They can be found here. Stohllman Gallery Regards, Ben