Taking The "slick" Out Of A Slick Seat Western Saddle

[Go2Tex]

The problem:

The western saddle "slick" seat usually becomes very slick with use and some riders complain and seek a more secure seat.

Besides sanding or finger carving, has anyone tried anything else with any degree of success?

Is there a product, that can be applied to the seat after construction to reduce the slipperiness that does not alter the appearance too much?

[mike59]

The problem: The western saddle "slick" seat usually becomes very slick with use and some riders complain and seek a more secure seat. Besides sanding or finger carving, has anyone tried anything else with any degree of success? Is there a product, that can be applied to the seat after construction to reduce the slipperiness that does not alter the appearance too much?

Dang it Tex,....I can think 'a several ways to, 'Take the "Slick" out of the seat of a Western Saddle", or just about any other saddle fer that matter. One sure way to do it fer good would be a well placed ball from a .44 cal. at close range. Another less permanent method would be a fair sized loop in a four-plait riata, tied off fast to high-post dally horn attached to a high spirited cayuse headed the other direction. Either one works fairly pronto, and without any argument, and that ole' "slick" won't know what for! Now, all seriousness aside, why would some hand order a slick seat saddle in the first place, and then whine about it later? If I was you, I'd see this as a marketing opportunity, an' suggest to those hard-to-please folks, that they have you install an in-layed, friction- guaranteed seat plug, such as a, 'Quill-on' porcupine hide,.......problem solved. On the other hand, if money's an issue fer 'em, just peel the label off a 4 oz. can a contact cement, tell 'em it's an old family recipe, all natural, slick-seat- modifier, developed generations ago in the Old Country, and get yerseff a tidy profit. I hope this gives ya' some fodder ta' chew on, And for the Good Lord's sake, please don't take offense.<BR> <BR>Mike Edited April 22, 2010 by mike59

[Dusty Leather]

Dang it Tex,....I can think 'a several ways to, 'Take the "Slick" out of the seat of a Western Saddle", or just about any other saddle fer that matter. One sure way to do it fer good would be a well placed ball from a .44 cal. at close range. Another less permanent method would be a fair sized loop in a four-plait riata, tied off fast to high-post dally horn attached to a high spirited cayuse headed the other direction. Either one works fairly pronto, and without any argument, and that ole' "slick" won't know what for! Now, all seriousness aside, why would some hand order a slick seat saddle in the first place, and then whine about it later? If I was you, I'd see this as a marketing opportunity, an' suggest to those hard-to-please folks, that they have you install an in-layed, friction- guaranteed seat plug, such as a, 'Quill-on' porcupine hide,.......problem solved. On the other hand, if money's an issue fer 'em, just peel the label off a 4 oz. can a contact cement, tell 'em it's an old family recipe, all natural, slick-seat- modifier, developed generations ago in the Old Country, and get yerseff a tidy profit. I hope this gives ya' some fodder ta' chew on, And for the Good Lord's sake, please don't take offense.<BR> <BR>Mike

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!! That is just bout the answer I was going to give but you mist one there Pard, take that old slick cak and through it up on a strawberry roan, then have the complainer just jump up on him in a choya forest. Now hand one way or the other when and if he gets back up in his wood he will be just about as stuck as a fella can get.

Now seriously in the past 15 + years we have turned out quite a few saddles most slick seat and I have never ever heard of such a complaint. If any thing a slick seat starts to truly conform with age. I have one old saddle I have had for 8 or years that actually has an imprint of my chap buckle on the seat. ( I dare say that is from to much sittin a lookin instead of spittin and workin. But that does not change the fact that out of all my years I have never heard such a thing. Not hack'n on you just havin a spot of fun........ but it is true

[Go2Tex]

Thanks for the ideas there, Pard. I'll take it under advisement. Now, anybody else have any serious ideas?

[Dusty Leather]

Oh come on we didn't mean to get you upset. On a serious note there is one way you could do this. Most leather comes from the tannery with a little coating on it this can be seen easily with low end leather. Use some de-glazer on the seat. make sure you clean it several times with the de-glazer. You will need to oil the seat again. I just tried it on a piece of scrap to see if I could come up with something for you. I'll keep trying to see what else I can come up with.

[Go2Tex]

Oh come on we didn't mean to get you upset. ......

I ain't upset. Why would I be upset over a little comic relief? I am known to engage in it myself from time to time.

[bruce johnson]

Thanks for the ideas there, Pard. I'll take it under advisement. Now, anybody else have any serious ideas?

First off, Brent you need to post a picture. We don't see enough pictures of your work. Glad to see you have wintered well.

As far as the seat, other than the buffing you suggested, I am not sure of much else to do. I have seen a couple slick seats where they outlined a smooth out seat in the shape where you'd lay an inlay. There was a bead line around it to make it look like it belonged there and then buffed inside that line. It looked pretty cool I thought. When it burnishes up and slicks, just buff it again. A bronc saddle maker told me they get more mileage out of swells by making them smooth out and buffing than roughout.

[Dusty Leather]

Brent,

Just got off your site, good Lord man your a maker and that aint no BS. Even on the high end leather you are using, I would still try the de-glazer idea. I used a piece of W&C to try it out on. Can I ask why you don't want to fine sand? Man you are a heck of a saddle man.

[Go2Tex]

Brent,

Just got off your site, good Lord man your a maker and that aint no BS. Even on the high end leather you are using, I would still try the de-glazer idea. I used a piece of W&C to try it out on. Can I ask why you don't want to fine sand? Man you are a heck of a saddle man.

Thanks. Much appreciate the compliments. I'm looking for something a customer could apply to their saddle to give it more grip. I would do as you suggest if I had it available, but it's not local.

[Go2Tex]

First off, Brent you need to post a picture. We don't see enough pictures of your work. Glad to see you have wintered well.

As far as the seat, other than the buffing you suggested, I am not sure of much else to do. I have seen a couple slick seats where they outlined a smooth out seat in the shape where you'd lay an inlay. There was a bead line around it to make it look like it belonged there and then buffed inside that line. It looked pretty cool I thought. When it burnishes up and slicks, just buff it again. A bronc saddle maker told me they get more mileage out of swells by making them smooth out and buffing than roughout.

Hey Bruce, yep we wintered well. Can't say as much for our citrus trees. Lost my lime tree. I was growing real partial to those tree ripened limes for my gin tonics and tacos. It's deader than hell now though.

I did a seat with the bead and sanded it until it was like velvet. Worked real nice but took a lot of work.