getting started

[David Genadek]

Bev,

You lucky dog your near one of the best restuarants in the country, Casablanca.

You can get a hold of me after the Holidays. I don't sell tools and there are no places around here that would have the quality of tools you would need to get a saddle done. The Leather Guy in St Charles has a good supply of leather though and is starting to get into other supplies. Other than that it is Tandy which is really a Fundametalist Christian organization (or at least has been in the past) that focuses on camps and Boy Scouts so as a rule thier tools are not suitable for real leather work although you can get by with thier stamps for tooling. As a rule their hand tools are worthless. But I can get you in touch with the people that make functional tools.

For the purpose of clarity you don't make a Bridle you make a headstall and riens, it becomes a bridle when you add the bit. Although the peices are small it is not a product you would want to use scrap for. I can explain enough to you when you are here to give you a beginning point and I certainly have enough scrap that you can use to practice with.

I will look forward to hearing form you.

David Genadek

[BevJones]

Thanks Dave,

I will be in touch after the holidays. Oh....I have a bit that I plan to put in the headstall.....so I could call it a bridle, yes? (don't expect an answer to that one) Met some horse people from Winona today that know of you. Said your real nice and do beautiful work. Looking forward to meeting you. Have a nice holiday!

Bev

[David Genadek]

Bev,

No you can't call it a bridle until the riens are on there too. Sorry one of the pet peaves around here. Living with a horse trainer I have learned that we leather people can be a bit sloppy with our terminology. I get corrected often.

David Genadek

[rdb]

You are mighty lucky Bev!!

If only this forum was around 35 years ago.....

[bruce johnson]

Bev,

There are several other suppliers of leather tools besides Tandy. We have have a few threads going in the saddle section, leather tools, and suppliers sections which discuss different tools. There is also a section in resources in the saddle section discussing the DVDs and instructionals. I would expect that you don't have a resale number. Weavers are wholesale only. Others have a website and you could look at them to get a bit of an idea of tools and price ranges. Jeremiah Watt (www.ranch2arena.com) has stamps, tools, and DVDs. Ron Edmonds (www.ronstools.com) are good. Hidecrafter sell tools. Siegel of California (www.siegelofca) sells leather and tools. They have Osborne as well as other French and English made tools. Other tool makers and sellers are Wayne Jueschke (Elko, NV), he makes stamps, mauls, and knives. Barry King (Sheridan WY) makes stamps, mauls, and cutting tools. Bob Douglas (Sheridan WY) sells old tools - stands behind them.

My thoughts are that unless you have unlimited time to sit there and money to buy duplicates or possibly used up or incomplete equipment - avoid ebay. Buy outright what you need. Ebay is the place to buy entry level sets that often sell for more than new. Also a place to buy collectible or obscure tools you may not need early on. It pays to know what you are bidding on there. There are tool collectors, who are just that - collectors and traders, not leather people. Leather tools are the hot thing right now. They are running on anything with Gomph, HF Osborne, Rose, and the other oldtime makers. A lot of these are good, useable tools and were designed correctly, but theses folks collect, show, and trade among themselves. They are not users, and will pay more than the useful value.

[BevJones]

Bruce,

Thanks for the info I will plan on reading up and visiting the sites you recommended. I'm really happy now that I did not win anything on ebay!

Bev

[cjf]

Welcome, You will get a great insight on saddle making by learning the anatomy of horses and also humans . I believe the saddle is to horse and rider as to what cartilage is to joints .This site will help with everything from saddle tree construction and rigging style and position, to myths and folklore. Good luck and don't be afraid to ask ANY questions.