Mulesaw

Hahahaha. Good idea :-)

Thanks, I had originally planned to do the project on board, but since they changed the quarantine rules, I decided that it was a great way to pass the time in the hotel room. Brgds Jonas

Thanks, The worst part is the smell of contact glue, but there is a decent extraction from the bathroom, so I apply the glue on the table, then put the parts out into the bathroom, wait for five minutes, press them together, and leave them a bit to let the smell disappear before marking and sewing. Once it it time to call it a day, all the glued parts go back into the bathroom so I don't get a headache while sleeping due to sniffing glue :-)

I'll be following along here. I have had the same idea about buying an old saddle. I actually had one maybe ten years ago that I just threw away (not a western saddle though), but at that time it never occurred to me to keep it for learning purposes. Regarding about getting the saddle back to riding use, I have to admit that I know absolutely nothing about western style saddles. For European saddles, I would say that as long as the padding under the saddle is renewed and not hard as a rock anymore, then the saddle can be used. But I don't know if there is padding under a western saddle? Brgds Jonas

Due to the Norwegian Covid regulations, I have to stay in quarantine for 10 days after arrival in Norway. The company I work for have arranged for a hotel room in Bergen, and there is not much to be done about the situation. But due to a bit of planning ahead, I had bought various buckles and rings etc. and precut some leather at home and brought with me. So I am hope to make a breast plate for my sons horse while I am stuck out here. The working conditions are not optimal, but it sure beats watching TV or surfing the net. I got inspired by the Dyon anatomic breastplate, and I started out by measuring a bit on the actual horse and making a sketch. I still try to become better at making a nice looking stitching, but I haven't got a stitching clamp out here, so it is a bit difficult to draw the right hand thread and the left hand thread up or down. But I think it will end up looking OK. I have a small starter kit from Tandy with a marking wheel, and I have ground an old screwdriver to make an edge beveller. The knives I think are old fruit knives that are sharpened but they are sharp and that is the main thing for me. Before marking out for the holes, I glue the parts together with contact glue, and then I mark out and us a small awl before sewing it all together. Work station and place for eating breakfast, lunch and dinner. I brought a piece of plywood with me to avoid getting in trouble for cutting in the table. Nice and tidy workspace.. The main parts of the breastplate. for some reason the picture is upside down.

Looking really good. I like that even the belt strap gets stamped. Brgds Jonas

Thanks toxo When I worked in the offshore supply fleet I used to bring a small woodworking tool set with me, but now I'm on a different type of ship, and leatherwork is more suited for that, I am currently in a quarantine hotel in Norway for 10 days, and I am working on a breastplate for my sons horse.

After following this forum for a couple of years, I decided that I'd better sign up for it myself. My primary interest in leatherworking is horse tack, since we have a couple of horses at home, and our oldest son is a skilled competition jumper. I bought an old Singer patcher sewing machine, to be able to replace the zippers in riding boots, and I have made it a very small side hustle to do this for the local riding community. Being so happy with that machine I bought another Singer patcher but with a long arm, and that one I use for repairing horse rugs (horse blankets / stable sheets). A good thing about leatherworking as I see it, is that you can get a long way with just a little bit of equipment, which is great if you want to be able to bring your hobby with for e.g holidays or travels. I work as a chief engineer on a ship, so I like to be able to bring some sort of hobby project with me to do on board in my spare time. And a small box with a bit of tools and needles etc. and some precut leather will allow me to make something to keep my hands busy. Brgds Jonas