Flower, Border, and Roughout Saddle

[RWB]

Here is a saddle that I just finished up. As always my skin is pretty thick, so go ahead and fire away. Again Bob Park, Keith Seidel, or anyone, please tell me how to improve my stamping and construction. I think I have improved my stamping since those taps. But I'm finding that it is tougher for me to cut a circle that flows to the right, like this one does, as opposed to one that flows to the left. I don't know why that is, but my circles aren't as round going to the right. I appreciate it.

Thanks

Ross Brunk

Northern Range Cowboy Gear

[CLH]

Here is a saddle that I just finished up. As always my skin is pretty thick, so go ahead and fire away. Again Bob Park, Keith Seidel, or anyone, please tell me how to improve my stamping and construction. I think I have improved my stamping since those taps. But I'm finding that it is tougher for me to cut a circle that flows to the right, like this one does, as opposed to one that flows to the left. I don't know why that is, but my circles aren't as round going to the right. I appreciate it.

Thanks

Ross Brunk

Northern Range Cowboy Gear

Hello RWB, everything is looking better. Looks like you're getting a little more comfortable with your work. Some thing that has helped me,From Clint Fay and from J. Watt is this, lightly scribe 2 concintric circles,about 3/16" apart. Than cut your out side of your circle first,ignore the inside lines until you're completly done on the out side. Remember to bring your leaf lines to the outside circle only,make them long and flowing. Than start at your flower stem and do your inside lines,again bringing your lines into the inside circle,long and flowing. You'll find by cutting like this your circles will be pretty and your stems even. After a while ,a hundred saddles'you'll only have to draw 1 circle. Hope that helps,Clint Haverty

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

Ross, when you take the time to do good work with pride, you deserve to have good results! Keep up the good work!

Bob

[hidepounder]

Ross....I think you did a great job on this. I love the dyed graduated circles in the border and the dyed flower center. Lots of neat stuff here!

Bobby

[gtwister09]

Ross,

I too like those graduated circles [alot]. The first time that I saw one of those graduated circle/beaded line/sunburst combination was on a Slim Green saddle. The graduated circles were in the corners of a square skirt/jockeys, seat. center of cheyenne roll and on the fenders. Very simple and clean but an added touch. You have incorporated them into your design nicely as well.

Regards,

Ben

[TimKleffner]

Ross,

I sure like that saddle. I like your combination of roughout and smooth. I'm with Bob, I like those graduated circles. Give it a nice look.

Keep up the good work

Happy tooling

Tim

[RWB]

Thanks for all the kind comments, I appreciate them. Don't be afraid to tell me what you don't like about it.

Ross

[TimKleffner]

Laughing.... Ross you missed a decorative cut! L o L snort snort .. my side hurts now

Great work

Tim

[mulefool]

Sounds like it's unanimous on those graduated circles. Really nice look overall. Did you use hole punches for the outlines of those circles? Chris

[GAP]

Here is a saddle that I just finished up. As always my skin is pretty thick, so go ahead and fire away. Again Bob Park, Keith Seidel, or anyone, please tell me how to improve my stamping and construction. I think I have improved my stamping since those taps. But I'm finding that it is tougher for me to cut a circle that flows to the right, like this one does, as opposed to one that flows to the left. I don't know why that is, but my circles aren't as round going to the right. I appreciate it.

Thanks

Ross Brunk

Northern Range Cowboy Gear

You asked for a critique, I'll try to offer one.

The lines and balance on your saddle show lots of good things, as well as the mechanics show from the pictures. I like it and would be glad to throw a leg across it.

I'm on dial up and pictures can take forever to download... but on the rear jockeys, I would like to see the area below the top leaf broken up by something and backgrounded. It would be easy to insert a stob or something to break up that area???

Decorative cuts is something I have continually struggled with! On your leaves, I would use more of a lazy S with diminishing cuts below that. Your Deco cuts just need a little more finesse, as mine do! All of my cuts I try to start with a sharp hook, then tapering to a gentle curve and diminishing. It's a challenge, as to where to place them, cuz I don't like to get into shaded areas much.

Most of what I've learned was by askiing for a mentor to critique my work... and my work still isn't up to snuff. Don't want anyone to think I'm being critical, just offering a perspective.

I'll try to get some stuff up, and you or anyone can critique it. I've always been open to suggestions. There's a couple of saddle pictures posted in a" homemade drawdown stand".

I too, liked the graduated circles and placement of them, I hadn't seen that done before! .......Lot's of stuff I havn't seen, and this site is an eye opener for sure! I just keep saying WOW!

Maybe we all have had a hard side with cuts?? I don't know, but I still have a harder time with cuts coming from my left, and I say a lot of "well... cheet"...

I Don't know if any of us ever reach that pinnacle where we are totally satisfied with our work. Hope I don't.

Just living and learning....

Edited January 20, 2010 by GAP