Rudegal Report post Posted October 19, 2023 Hello, I have a sewing and leather shop, so not a leather newbie but starting to take apart saddles for cleaning. I was given this old Tex Tan and decided to pull it apart even further to learn more about saddle making. So many issues... 1. Padding has formed into this weird shape making a "thigh groove." I have another old Tex Tan in the shop with the same issue and now that I have opened this up and done more research, I see what it is supposed to look like. I also see that cutting saddles have evolved with less build up in front in order to allow for more movement by the rider. However, they have high cantles and long skinny horns. So the question is, should I build the seat front back up with new padding, or can I put it back together flat or with a 1/4" pad all the way through. I'd like to replace the actual suede seat, but there is a one-piece seat/jockeys so maybe I can even get away with just a smooth leather seat. 2. As soon as I got the tooled leather wet to clean, what I believe is a finish or seal turned foggy. I used a soft bristle brush and it peels away like a glue or acrylic seal like Mod Podge or Elmers glue. However, it doesn't lift out of the deep and small parts of tooling. It is a huge PITA! I am using my fingernail and toothpicks to get pieces off. Against my better judgement, I have experimented with Isopropyl Alcohol and Acetone. Even if either of those dilute the residue, it will not just wipe or brush away and I still have to go in and pick it out. My question is what is it and how do I remove it? 3. Additionally the glue used is just disgusting and chunky. I have had to scrape it off with a razor. I had a headache this morning and made sure to ventilate the shop today, but I'm pretty sure it was because of the saddle and likely the glue. Where the seat pad was built up in the front, I rubbed it clean with my fingers and a magic eraser, but it is still slightly sticky. Is there anything I can use to remove the sticky? 4. Anything else I should know about these old Tex Tan's? The other one doesn't fit any modern horse, but this one is wider and has a really interesting skirt and cantle cut. It may be less worth restoration and more a learning process for me without purchasing all new materials to build a saddle. Thank you so much for your help! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Goldshot Ron Report post Posted October 20, 2023 If these are not client saddles, their value is basically as a learning experience on how to repair a saddle like this if you even have a customer that wants such a saddle repaired. I would not spend the money or time to repair them. Techniques in construction and design have changed since these saddles were built. It has been my experience that only a few people appreciate old saddles enough to buy one after you repair it. They were built for the showring, and not as a pleasure or ranch saddle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bruce johnson Report post Posted October 20, 2023 I've already written and deleted two replies and here is version three. I am answering the questions out of order. 2. the whitish finish. After maybe 50 years and who knows what it was treated with during it's life - could be petrified Saddle Lac or who knows what. Pretty much any solvent will be hard on the leather. Might be some sort of acrylic too 3. Since you didn't mention the glue looks like crystallized tree sap, might not be dextrine but again who knows what they used back then. Not drying and still sticky could be some reaction of solvent glue and foam or just rubber cement residue. 4. Anything else to know about these old TexTans? I'm maybe a little biased. One of the higher points of my younger life was when I was 14 and made enough money from a summer job to buy a used Price McLaughlin saddle and I never had to ride that damn TexTan Imperial saddle on the "form fitter" tree again. Not everyone in my family shared my enthusiasm for the upgrade but they were not the ones riding it. Later on I was in college and working for a trainer I bought two Billy Cook BW tree cutting saddles. They weren't much happy about that either. My candid thoughts are there isn't much helpful to learn from this saddle. I don't meant to sound hard, but this saddle is dated and old and built to price point with production techniques. The seat won't be right without pulling the guts out of whatever groundseat there is but then afterwards the seat likely wont stretch down into place. That cantle is nearly impossible to sew back without a ton of experience. How decent will the rigging be after this many years? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
