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Does anyone know anything about H.H. Schweitzer saddles out of Matador Texas? I have two saddles inherited from my great great grandfather and great grandfather. I know one was made for my great great grandfather, and don't know where the other one came from. I posted a few pictures, they aren't the best, but at least you can see what I'm talking about. If anyone has any info on the maker I would greatly appreciate it.

Well, a bit southeast of Houston, actually, but close enough for introductions, I think. My name's RJ, I'm 32 and I'm new to the craft, having just bought my first bits and bobs from Tandy and well....Aliexpress, in November. I'd been wanting to try my hand at it properly for ages, after getting to play with a friend's tools a few years ago, and I'm glad I've taken the plunge. I started specifically because I was interested in tooling, as I like drawing and sculpting already. I've been a bit slow about getting experience at it, though, because it took me awhile to figure out how to set myself up in my apartment in such a way that my downstairs neighbor would stop smacking on her ceiling at me all the time. Justified on her part, but a bummer for me. Finally got me some granite, a good maul that doesn't require so many hard whacks, and a few towels to stuff my hollow desk to muffle the sound, and I'm plodding towards competency now. I'm in the process of making myself a messenger bag for my first bigger project, and have poked at making various small goods as well, and am enjoying all aspects immensely. Actually, I don't much enjoy dyeing, but I did just get an airbrush, so that helps (been meaning to for ages for painting gaming miniatures and terrain so adding leatherwork to the pile tipped me over the edge). It would be nice to get good enough to sell a couple things so I can buy some better stamps and stitching irons (every time I see a sinabrok on reddit I drool), but I'll have to just be happy with my gorgeous new maul for now (I just got it this week so I'm enamored lol). I'm looking forward to all that I can learn from the forum!

Hello all you fellow leather crafters. I live out her in Pearland, Texas (due south of Houston) and work in the IT field at a university. I've been married for over 30 years and have two grown daughters and my German Shepherd. And, the recent addition of a rescue doggy for the wife but thats another story. I started my journey about a year and a half after seeing a random video about how to make a leather mouse pad from Weaver Leather and Chuck Dorsett. A couple of weeks later I ran by the Tandy store and bought my starter kit. I've yet to make the mousepad but boy have I spent some money on more tools, leather and accessories. I've taken over the kitchen table (the wife has pretty much all of upstairs for her quilting, so... ) I told a friend that getting into a hobby can be as fun as expensive as you want it to be but none the less, I am having a really good time, de-stressing after work and lately, de-stressing during WFH-ing. I have two Tandy stores that are about equal distance apart (about 30 miles away) but would I would love to meet up and visit anyone else in the Houston area to just share some work, how to's and general fellowship and oh yea, coffee.

Hello, everyone! My name is Riley and I am the proprietor of Alfred Leatherworks! I've been a member of this forum since 2014, however it seems I have never formally introduced myself here. I am a disabled Air Force veteran, having spent seven years in the USAF as an intelligence analyst. Since leaving the military I have had a somewhat difficult time readjusting to civilian life, however in 2015 I began using my Post 9/11 GI Bill to work towards a business degree. In December 2018 I graduated from Texas A&M University San Antonio with my bachelors of business in business administration with a focus in marketing. My goals regarding my presence on this forum are to network, chat with other people who are as passionate about leather as me, to learn new tips and tricks, and to occasionally offer some advice and answers to other folks. I began working with leather as a small child in my father's taxidermy shop. He often had people bring in a whole deer and only ask for the antlers on a plaque back. The surplus of deerskin led to him learning to work with leather (and me getting an awesome deerskin backpack for school!), and by that I began to learn because if he was in the shop I was out there too..."helping", lol. I got in the way a lot, I'm sure, but I learned to love helping him make wallets, bags, backpacks, and all sorts of other neat things. Years later, while in the military, I found out a mentor of mine was also a saddler and I began spending a lot of time in his shop learning from him. I would never, at this point, call myself a professional saddler, but I can certainly do repair work at this point. After leaving the service I found another leather working mentor, this time specializing in leather garments, accessories, and leather quilting (apparently, a big deal in some parts of the world). I have a rather varied bit of leather crafting training, and more than a few years of "dabbling" and "hobby-crafting". As time has gone on I have chosen to try and start up a full-time leather shop as an enjoyable way to spend my day and earn some supplemental income since my disability stipend only goes so far.

Would Like to sell as lot. If interested in items, or lot minus dye/stain/paint, please contact. Will send pictures upon request. $750 OBO Will ship at buyers expense. ryan.steddum@gmail.com Tools: Tandy Leather Hand Press · Line 24 Top and Bottom Die · Tubular Rivet Die Craft Tool Pro Large Swivel, 2 blades Stylus Edge Slicker Edger Assorted edgers, stamps, weaves and shaders Craft Tool Pro 7lb Maul Wood and Poly Maul Tubular rivet hand setter Assorted hole punches Al Stohlman round knife Al Stohlman Curved knife Industrial knife w/ extra blades Adjustable V Gouge Craft Tool Skiver Craft Tool 1” hole punch Wood handle strap cutter 0-4” Craft Tool 1 ½ strap end punch Craft Tool 2” strap end punch ¾” Alphabet Stamp Set 1” Alphabet Stamp Set ¾ Number Stamp Set Poly Tool Holder Assorted Paint Brushes Package of Wool Dobbers Sewing Awl w/ assorted needles Hardware: Assorted rings and D rings 4 -1” nickel roller buckle 3 -1½” nickel roller buckle 18- ¾” nickel trigger snap 8- 1” nickel trigger snap Lot- nickel Line 24 Buttons 12- 1 ½ Black roller buckles 18- 2” Black roller buckles 6- 1” Black trigger snaps Lot- Black Line 24 Snaps Lot- Copper, Nickel, Black Tubular Rivets Spool White Wax Thread Assorted wax thread Rubber Cutting board 1 ½ft x 3ft granite piece Dye/Stain/Paint: Fiebings Dye: Light, Medium, Dark Brown, Black Tandy Antique: Light, Medium, Dark, Black, Mahogany, Saddle Tan Angulus Paint: Red, orange, blue, red, white, pink, green, yellow, black. Leather: 18sqft 12oz Red Leather Medium Brown veg tan Assorted Veg Tan pieces, various thickness

Hi! My name is Jon. I am the manager of a growing leather shop in Castroville,TX called Spartan Custom Leather. We are being blessed with an overabundance of work orders and are searching for anyone in the San Antonio, Castroville, Hondo, Lytle, Natalia area that would like to make some money making quality leather products. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Our shop number is 830-388-1907 Thank you

Spartan Custom Leather in Castroville Texas is looking for someone with leather crafting experience. Must have own tools. Get paid per order. We have a LOT of orders to make all sorts of projects.. Call Cole Wilcox :830-854-1115

I am looking for a leather guild that is close to Victoria, Texas. Please help me find one!!

Greetings everyone! My name is Paul Alfred, and I am a new member here. I took an interest in leatherworking from my father, who used to run a taxidermy shop. Often he would have extra buckskin left over and would use it to make wallets, pouches, bags, backpacks, etc. I loved watching him make these things, and I enjoyed "helping" (often it was less than helpful, I'm sure). Years later, while I was in the US Air Force, I found out that a mentor of mine was also a saddler. When I mentioned my interest in leatherworking he began taking me to his shop and showing me the ropes. I enjoyed working with him, and with the leather, and I learned much over the next three years before deployments, and life, took me away to far and distant places. I have an interest in two types of leatherworking primarily. First is Medieval and Celtic leatherworking, for use at SCA and Renaissance Festival events. I have no intention of making leather armor (cool stuff, but not my thing). Instead, I enjoy making more practical things; bags, pouches, belts, book covers, etc. I also enjoy drawing Celtic knotwork, and many of my bits of artwork are drawn for leatherworking projects. My second interest in leatherworking is for reenacting, be it Celtic/Viking (or possibly Roman) items, or American Civil War and Texas Frontier items. I am starting to learn how to do classic Western leatherwork tooling, and hope to be able to create pieces for SASS members as well (I have a few friends in the SASS who are kindly asking me to learn this, lol). As of yet, I do not have a website. I have one under construction, though it will be at least a few weeks before it is up. I do have a Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/alfredleatherworks), a Google+ (https://plus.google.com/u/1/113615960789211711186/posts), and a Twitter account (https://twitter.com/AlfredLworks). Once the website is up I'll post it here for y'all to take a look at. Also, I thought I'd post a couple pictures of me, just for fun.

Check out this awesome set of dividers I found at an Antique Mall in Mansfield, Texas! It's made by a company called Worth. I've never heard of that company before. Not sure just how old this tool is. It is about 8 inches long. It's in remarkably good condition and was only $7 bucks!! Does anyone have advice on how to preserve it? How to clean it up? It's not showing signs of rust, just a bit of pitting.