Latest Work/Show Saddle (Reiner)

[Shelly]

Here are a few pix of a reining saddle I made for myself -8" BW fork, 3" oval cantle, 16" finished seat...Just a border/basket (basket has my brand in center), Inlaid seat with kangaroo buckstitching, simple fork cover with pinking, and a Twist/Wrap on the fenders...I dyed the edges also, but don't usually...always seem to 'slip' with the darn applicator at least once - in a place that you can't ignore!! I try to trim 1/4" extra of the corner of my rear jockeys when I plan to fully stamp with basket, etc - usually, the full stamping stretches the leather just enough for it to be even with the skirt line - this one is even on the right, but the left side didn't stretch as it should have...hence, the line isn't exactly even - had to decide if I wanted it tight, or a little off...I choose tight...not really 'happy' with it, but, rides good, so I suppose I can live with it...and do better on the next one!

[Steve Brewer]

Shelly,Looks good to me.Like the border and basket stamp,Should ride good.

Steve

[Shelly]

Shelly,Looks good to me.Like the border and basket stamp,Should ride good.

Steve

Thanks Steve,

I value your opinion - as well as the rest of you that make a living building saddles - question: I've thought that if I fit the backhousings as if it were a RO/SO, and attach to a backing such as heavy illustration board, then stamp...might this stop the excess stretch and therefore make it fit afterward, as I had it fit originally?? My worry about this would be the tacky stuff on the back of the leather...?

[westtxcowboy1979]

I see your from the big city lol. I like to use scotch blue painters tap to help.

[Steve Brewer]

Thanks Steve,

I value your opinion - as well as the rest of you that make a living building saddles - question: I've thought that if I fit the backhousings as if it were a RO/SO, and attach to a backing such as heavy illustration board, then stamp...might this stop the excess stretch and therefore make it fit afterward, as I had it fit originally?? My worry about this would be the tacky stuff on the back of the leather...?

Shelly i use wide plastic shipping tape to stop some of the Stretch

[ArtS]

Beautiful job Shelly!

Art

[Shelly]

I see your from the big city lol. I like to use scotch blue painters tap to help.

I've never tried the blue painters tape...have used the 3" wide clear package tape, but I hate it, just because it wants to roll up on the edges and stick to the sides, making it hard to take off later...I suppose it can all be a pain of one sort or another...just depends on which thing you dislike the most...!

[Shelly]

I've never tried the blue painters tape...have used the 3" wide clear package tape, but I hate it, just because it wants to roll up on the edges and stick to the sides, making it hard to take off later...I suppose it can all be a pain of one sort or another...just depends on which thing you dislike the most...!

I assume you've visited or driven thru the 'great big town of Mineral Wells!' My shop is just 4 miles North of town, on Hwy 281 - Chris Cox's place is 4 miles further North, on the East side of 281, we are on the West side...we have 80 acres here, a horse training operation, and my saddleshop is located at the end of our indoor arena, just as you come in the gate off the highway...doors open, ya'll are welcome to visit if in the area!

[bruce johnson]

I've never tried the blue painters tape...have used the 3" wide clear package tape, but I hate it, just because it wants to roll up on the edges and stick to the sides, making it hard to take off later...I suppose it can all be a pain of one sort or another...just depends on which thing you dislike the most...!

Shelly,

The saddle looks good and the edges are really nice.

I leave my packing tape long as I apply it, turn the piece over, and then use one of the 45 mm rotary cutters to trim it flush. On the inside curves I use a little hook blade knife to trim. If you don't press it if it flips up, it will peel back pretty easily. I made the mistake of using some label tape once. That stuff has an adhesive to hold rockets together. It sticks to everything and won't let go. It peeled the leather off the back.

[ccpowell]

Very nice looking saddle- I really like the seat pocket, it looks like a really comfortable ride! I wish I could get my edges to look that nice,

Chuck

[Shelly]

Very nice looking saddle- I really like the seat pocket, it looks like a really comfortable ride! I wish I could get my edges to look that nice,

Chuck

Hi

Thanks - my method - On skirts, I edge the bottom with a #4 edger, the top with a #3 edger, then sand the edges with a rotary table sander - this one has large round sanding bands, and they oscillate up and down, while spinning. Once the edges are sanded, I will wet the edge with a dilluted tragacanth solution, and rub with doubled/stitched canvas rub rag - rub until you feel it heat up, and the edge starts to get glassy and shiney looking. I redo any areas that look like it's needed. If you don't want to use tragacanth, you can wet with warm water, and use a block of glycerin saddle soap, rub the edges with the soap, then the rag, and the same deal, wait for the heat, and darker, shiney look. You may be sore after an extended session of rubbing edges...! I never mind helping anyone that wants to come hang out at my shop - I usually put them to work - rubbing edges! (and sweeping the floor!)

[ccpowell]

Thank you for the tips- visiting your shop reminds me of visiting Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital after my freshman year in vet school- they said hello, then put me to work recovering race horses from anesthesia. It was pretty much "get in this padded stall with drunk horses and try to keep them down as long as possible, then help them stand up without getting killed!" I would be happy to rub edges and sweep floors, especially if I got to learn something along the way ,

Chuck

Hi

Thanks - my method - On skirts, I edge the bottom with a #4 edger, the top with a #3 edger, then sand the edges with a rotary table sander - this one has large round sanding bands, and they oscillate up and down, while spinning. Once the edges are sanded, I will wet the edge with a dilluted tragacanth solution, and rub with doubled/stitched canvas rub rag - rub until you feel it heat up, and the edge starts to get glassy and shiney looking. I redo any areas that look like it's needed. If you don't want to use tragacanth, you can wet with warm water, and use a block of glycerin saddle soap, rub the edges with the soap, then the rag, and the same deal, wait for the heat, and darker, shiney look. You may be sore after an extended session of rubbing edges...! I never mind helping anyone that wants to come hang out at my shop - I usually put them to work - rubbing edges! (and sweeping the floor!)