All leather ground seat

[BuckhornBrand]

Steve,

Thanks for the answer. I don't think I've been taking enough off the bottom layers, then I can't take enough off the top layer to make up for it.

Thanks again for your great posting, Chuck

[steve mason]

Steve;

I did not notice in your photos, do you put any nails in your strainer or top ground seat?

thanks much

Steve

[Steve Brewer]

Steve;

I did not notice in your photos, do you put any nails in your strainer or top ground seat?

thanks much

Steve

Steve I nail after I cut my Stirrup slots.On top of my Ground seat,Around the cantle and accross the forks.

Steve

[JerryLevine]

Steve,

Thanks for taking the time to do this! Seeing pictures like this makes all the difference to understanding. I'm curious now to read if others have variations on your method. Seems the groundseat could be something every saddle maker does differently...

I'm about to build a saddle for use in England (That's the original one, not 'New....), where the weather is usually very damp. I had intended to put in an all-leather groundseat and mentioned it to a renowned saddle maker who advised me that an all-leather ground seat was great for people living in hot, dry climates, but that the arch usually created in an all-leather groundseat was likely to collapse in a humid/damp climate.

It seems that your method, Steve, doesn't rely on creating an arch in the damp leather and then letting it 'set'. The risers seem to do the job.

Anyone got any comments on that?

All the best,

Jerry

[Steve Brewer]

I'm about to build a saddle for use in England (That's the original one, not 'New....), where the weather is usually very damp. I had intended to put in an all-leather groundseat and mentioned it to a renowned saddle maker who advised me that an all-leather ground seat was great for people living in hot, dry climates, but that the arch usually created in an all-leather groundseat was likely to collapse in a humid/damp climate.

It seems that your method, Steve, doesn't rely on creating an arch in the damp leather and then letting it 'set'. The risers seem to do the job.

Anyone got any comments on that?

All the best,

Jerry

Jerry,Every piece you put down is glued with Barge or a simular glue,that makes them pretty waterproff.I have sent some saddles to Queensland ,Australia,I hear it pretty humid there and they held up good.

[Cowboy316]

Howdy Steve

just a quick question on starting an all leather ground seat do i need to put the gullet in first and then the ground seat

and if so ive already go the first pieces cut for the ground seat and took a pic and wonder what ya thought

thanks

Cowboy316

[horsewreck]

Cowboy 316, I think most saddlers cover the gullet first thing. As far as the ground seat goes I put down the piece that bridges the gap between the bars before I put on any lifts, plugs or other smaller pieces. No bigger than those two piece are that you have on, I think I would pull them off and do the gullet cover then the piece that bridges the gap between the length of the bars. I hope this is of some help to you..... Jeff

[Billy H]

Steve,

First off- I would like to THANK YOU for your posting on a all leather ground seat. I made my little girl a pony saddle with your method and it turned out great.

I do have a dumb question though- why do we need risers, I know it must be obvious, some times I am a little slow.

One more question- After you cut the stirrup slots, does this make the ground seat weeker at that area of the ground seat?

Thankyou again for all your postings I have really enjoyed them. Billy

[jwwright]

just bumping this thread back up.............there were a couple folks that posed questions for Steve that I don't think he saw. JW

[Steve Brewer]

Tim you can put the gullet cover in first or after your ground seat is installed

Billy,I use risers to help make a rise for my strainer piece,You don't have to put them in.The stirrup slots shouldn't weaken the seat at all.If you are worried about it you can hand sew the back of the hand hole and that will keep it from moving