jonnyR Report post Posted January 19, 2009 Hi ya' all. First of - I am a newbeginner and are still fiddling around trying to get the hang off all the tooling and stuff before throwing myself at some projects I have been thinking of, but then I got an idea wich I want to share with you... I am the proud owner of a Berneese Mountain Dog or Berner Sennen (as we refer them to) and he is a big adult and we are often Cartpulling, going for long trips in the mountain side where he carrys his "saddlebags" made of kevlar and nylon designed for K9 uses. I would like to make a pair of "show off" saddlebags just for fun at shows, but I am a bit uncertain of the type of leather, thickness etc. Would 2-3 mm. do? I was thinking of a natural colored as it would be easyer to dye? Has any of you done it before and perhaps has some scetches about it? I have tons of questions about it but I and would like to hear your opinions. Jonny Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MADMAX22 Report post Posted January 19, 2009 (edited) Have not done it but I would suggest a little heavier leather. Probably 6oz if you can, this will be stronger and will keep some of the weight down. You could probably use the one you allready have for the overall design. Throw ina bunch of your own designs and such and a little bling like some conchos or some lace or something. Sounds like a really cool idea. You sure he wont mind all the extra attention he'll be getting at the shows. Ooops 2-3mm, I wanst reading corrrectly lol. Edited January 19, 2009 by MADMAX22 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gary Report post Posted January 19, 2009 Have not done it but I would suggest a little heavier leather. Probably 6oz if you can, this will be stronger and will keep some of the weight down. You could probably use the one you allready have for the overall design. Throw ina bunch of your own designs and such and a little bling like some conchos or some lace or something. Sounds like a really cool idea. You sure he wont mind all the extra attention he'll be getting at the shows. Jonny, We've got Berners too. We use commercially bought nylon saddlebags; shame on me. The youngest has just started to carry them (empty) as he's still only 20 months old. He'll get a shock when he's two, there's a cart ready for him (once I've put the wheels back on). I intend to make him a set of leather saddlebags and intend to use bag hide which is about 2.5 to 3mm thick. I'm using a modified tracking dog harness as the pattern for the straps and so on and will shamelessly copy the current bags, with a few modifications, as the main part. I am a bit concerned about how hot he'll get when he's wearing them so I may revert to a thinner, lighter, leather or adjust the pattern as I go so there are more spaces for ventilation. I think it will stir up some interest at shows when I have a sales stall. Best of luck. I'll post pictures once I get time to start making stuff again - moving house and everything is in boxes until I finish building my workshop. Gary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jonnyR Report post Posted January 19, 2009 Hi Gary, nice to see that others has Berner's as well, you'll find a picture of mine at onother place here on the forum. As for the saddlebags, I was wondering to get a hold of an old one and disect it and use it for copy. The thing I first entended to use it for was at certain shows and just for general "show off", I had not intention to use it for longer trips... I ould also think that about 3 mm would do the trick... He is 4 years old and used to cartpulling, using saddlebags and to play around in the snow... I have also though about a Chestguard with the Swiss cross or the Berneese Bear flag on it... Let me know how it turns out! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gary Report post Posted January 19, 2009 Hi Gary, nice to see that others has Berner's as well, you'll find a picture of mine at onother place here on the forum.As for the saddlebags, I was wondering to get a hold of an old one and disect it and use it for copy. The thing I first entended to use it for was at certain shows and just for general "show off", I had not intention to use it for longer trips... I ould also think that about 3 mm would do the trick... He is 4 years old and used to cartpulling, using saddlebags and to play around in the snow... I have also though about a Chestguard with the Swiss cross or the Berneese Bear flag on it... Let me know how it turns out! Jonny, They are a good crowd-puller. With saddlebags on or pulling a cart they are quite magnetic and at leats it attracts people to see what you're doing. Wish I'd known how good they were at attracting women when I was a teenager; it would have saved a fortune in fast cars, fashionable clothes and after-shave. Gary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rivermountainman Report post Posted January 20, 2009 Jonny... You could perforate the leather so as there is more Breathability?? It could be on the back and sides of thesaddlebags/pouches... I suppose you could incorporate mesh into the backsides of the pouches/bags also thats if you didnt mind man made fiber being a part of the project? What you may cut out of the center of the back piece of leather so as to incorporate the breathing pannel could possibly be used for other parts of this or another project... Small buckle straps etc etc....There could be quite a few ways of incorporating certain materials that would give you fully working saddle bags that your friend might just be happy to wear in the mountains?? Food for thought an all that Matt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
