Cleaning saddles

[jbird]

Whats the best way to clean a saddle dirty from dust and dirt.

I was asked to clean some saddels up real nice and what's a good price for some thing like that.

Thanks

Josh

[Randy Cornelius]

To do a surface clean and oil I charge 50.00. But really to do it right a saddle should be torn down, all the stirrup leathers removed, the rear jockies removed and the front jockies pulled up ect. sometimes I even remove the skirts and replace all the saddle strings for a complete job. That runs 125.00

Randy

[rickybobby]

Josh,

If the saddle is just dusty and dry,

• Drop the stirrups off so you have access to the fenders and can pull the leathers down a bit.
  
• Polish silver, polish brass, polish copper, if any
  
• I like to use Bentleys Saddle soap in the spray bottle or Murphys oil soap (liquid or paste) a damp sponge and a vegtable brush for scubbing caked on dirt.
  
• Clean the whole saddle seat and all, and let dry for a few hours
  
• Use Neats Foot Oil Compound, some only need one coat, dryer ones may need more, don't over oil.
  
• Let that soak in for a couple hours or overnight.
  
• I put a light coat of Fiebings Bag Kote on for a finish
  
• Clean the cinch. Brush out the hair and inspect
  

The time spent on a saddle (less dry time) is about an hour, we charge $45.00

Add 5.00 to 15.00 for breast collars, breachins, bridle, ect. they all take your time to clean (we inc. some breast collars and back cinches)

While you have it inspect the riggings for wear. Check the wool for stickers and make sure there are no nails comming out of the bars under the wool. Here in Az. it is real dry and if a nail was put in the bars they work out of the tree, maybe because the wood shrinks and drys out? I have pulled quite a few nails out that had worked their way out 1/8 to 1/4 inch and were hidden by the wool. (I do not put nails in the bar area on my saddles so I do not replace them, only remove them).

Check the stitching on the horn, around the skirts. These seam to get some wear and need some follow up sewing, If it takes you 10 minutes to sew up a horn cap that has come loose, charge them 6.00 or 7.00 (call for approval first) Folks that want to maintain their saddle will have you do it, if they don't care don't do it for free!!

Check the rear cinch keeper, the one that hooks it to the frt cinch, those are always broke, bent, mangled, replace the buckle and strap and charge them. (approval by phone first)

A lot of saddles also need a Off Billet and On Side Latigo, and/or a Cinch. Have a couple of different types in stock and people really appreciate that you are looking for safety items. If they are worn bad and they do not want to change them out, o.k. but note it on the reciept. You were the last one to touch that saddle and if one of those items breaks, they may come looking to place blame, (I am not an Lawyer or giving Legal advice, just covering my poor leather worker behind).

$45.00 saddle clean & oil

$12.00 rear cinch keeper buckle and strap replaced

$18.00 off billet

$24.00 Latigo

$12.00 sew a horn cap and frt jockey or skirt edge

It adds up quick and you make some money on your labor and a few bucks on materials (latigo and off billet, ect.)

I am amazed that people do not know much about their saddles, they use them everyday but never look at them the way we do. They rely on us to keep them in good condition and in safe working order so I try to let them know what they may need soon, next summer, next year. Then they pay attention to what is wearing and will bring it to you later to be repaired. Some get a "see you next season" for a clean and oil!! Those are the one's in good condition.

Hope this helps, I know you are building a business and these are some of the things we have done in the shop I worked in and I do with my customers.

Rick J.

[jbird]

Thanks guys that great stuff.

Rick

I am very gratefull to you, I have goten a lot of help from you thanks.

Josh

[Hennessy]

Josh,

If the saddle is just dusty and dry,

• Drop the stirrups off so you have access to the fenders and can pull the leathers down a bit.
• Polish silver, polish brass, polish copper, if any
• I like to use Bentleys Saddle soap in the spray bottle or Murphys oil soap (liquid or paste) a damp sponge and a vegtable brush for scubbing caked on dirt.
• Clean the whole saddle seat and all, and let dry for a few hours
• Use Neats Foot Oil Compound, some only need one coat, dryer ones may need more, don't over oil.
• Let that soak in for a couple hours or overnight.
• I put a light coat of Fiebings Bag Kote on for a finish
• Clean the cinch. Brush out the hair and inspect

The time spent on a saddle (less dry time) is about an hour, we charge $45.00

Add 5.00 to 15.00 for breast collars, breachins, bridle, ect. they all take your time to clean (we inc. some breast collars and back cinches)

While you have it inspect the riggings for wear. Check the wool for stickers and make sure there are no nails comming out of the bars under the wool. Here in Az. it is real dry and if a nail was put in the bars they work out of the tree, maybe because the wood shrinks and drys out? I have pulled quite a few nails out that had worked their way out 1/8 to 1/4 inch and were hidden by the wool. (I do not put nails in the bar area on my saddles so I do not replace them, only remove them).

Check the stitching on the horn, around the skirts. These seam to get some wear and need some follow up sewing, If it takes you 10 minutes to sew up a horn cap that has come loose, charge them 6.00 or 7.00 (call for approval first) Folks that want to maintain their saddle will have you do it, if they don't care don't do it for free!!

Check the rear cinch keeper, the one that hooks it to the frt cinch, those are always broke, bent, mangled, replace the buckle and strap and charge them. (approval by phone first)

A lot of saddles also need a Off Billet and On Side Latigo, and/or a Cinch. Have a couple of different types in stock and people really appreciate that you are looking for safety items. If they are worn bad and they do not want to change them out, o.k. but note it on the reciept. You were the last one to touch that saddle and if one of those items breaks, they may come looking to place blame, (I am not an Lawyer or giving Legal advice, just covering my poor leather worker behind).

$45.00 saddle clean & oil

$12.00 rear cinch keeper buckle and strap replaced

$18.00 off billet

$24.00 Latigo

$12.00 sew a horn cap and frt jockey or skirt edge

It adds up quick and you make some money on your labor and a few bucks on materials (latigo and off billet, ect.)

I am amazed that people do not know much about their saddles, they use them everyday but never look at them the way we do. They rely on us to keep them in good condition and in safe working order so I try to let them know what they may need soon, next summer, next year. Then they pay attention to what is wearing and will bring it to you later to be repaired. Some get a "see you next season" for a clean and oil!! Those are the one's in good condition.

Hope this helps, I know you are building a business and these are some of the things we have done in the shop I worked in and I do with my customers.

Rick J.rick just a note to humour ye.th nails in th bar,believe it or no a mex saddlemaker in greenville was makin me a sdl in my shop 12 mi n o grnvll almost finished and he up sides the bottom n drives two nails at back in line with cantle bar connection in th heart [he said]i ask him curiously Why did you do that his reply was billy cook told him to ever time.billy trained a slew of people here in this area toolers n saddlemakers n straphands most were wetbacks many busine'ss here are bc spinoffs how many nail'd down skirts are out there i'd say thousands ,i just pulled a bc saddle down from his first shop in abiline tx twas well made a bit heavy no nails on flat bar but one long one in valley by th frog .watch them greenville saddles eh adios peter john hennessy