Latest saddle

[mulefool]

It really looks great, congratulations on your win. I sure like how the flowers come out over the border, it really gives it a nice look. Plus just about everything else about it as well.

[RyanCope]

Ryan,

I made the holes by hand, and sewed seat on my machine. And, at this point, I'd say you need to get a few under your belt before you begin to figure out how to do an inlaid stingray seat. Keep in mind that nobody has ever shown me how to do an inlaid seat in general. This is my second stingray. The first was last month to practice for this one. I had another guy ask if I'd sewn it by hand. He looked at me as if I was either crazy or ignorant when I said that I did it on my machine. Probably the latter. My interaction with other saddlemakers, before I joined this site last Thanksgiving, was almost zero. Also, I would suggest using a thinner pan than normal, and replacing that with a peice of 3 oz. strap. There is probably a few more experienced guys on this site that could help me out with that.

Ryan Cope

[anne newkold]

sewing the Stingray, did you use a dremel to knock the tops off of the bumps along the stitch line? I have always heard that was what to do so you will not break a machine needle on them.

[greg gomersall]

Ryan I have done 20 or more inlaid seats with stingray and I know Steve Mason has done several as well ( we both did our first ones close to the same time some 12 or 15 years ago). You do not have to pre punch the holes or grind the top of the knobs off due to the fact your needle is going through the skirting before it ever hits the ray so the skirting is already supporting your needle as it goes through the ray. Just glue your inlay in using whatever method you have developed and sew it. If people want to think your loco let them, what the heck we can always blame the glue. Greg

[Bob]

Greg, I agree with you. It just doesn't make any sense to think that sewing with a large needle machine for sewing skirts that it would deflect over a stingray bump. I've not done any inlays with it. However, I can imagine that a person may have troubles with top stitching on a light duty table top. I have a pair of boots in this stuff, it's the most uncomfortable boots I've ever had. NO STRETCH AT ALL. It's brutal on my feet. I just plain don't use em.

[bruce johnson]

I sew stingray inlays on spur straps with my flatbed with no deflection either. Biggest issue I had heard from a couple motorcycle seat makers was that stingray was abrasive on jeans. I think it was before the crash that Greg said he hadn't seen problems with it. Others have since said the same. Biggest problem I have had is that sometimes the cut edge will be sharp - paper cut type injuries. A quick pass of the Dremel will smooth that up.

On another note, what is everybody using to cut it with? I have been using the "super scissors" that we used to cut pennies with. I found the $4 ones last about 3 times as long as the center aisle ones at Harbor Freight.

[greg gomersall]

I cut it with the disposable scissors as well. Greg