Saddlemaking- Opinions on Instruction

[David Genadek]

I think it is high time this industry steels concepts and terms from other industries and applies them with the foundational knowledge of the craft.

David Genadek

[Ron]

I appreciate all the thought put into these relies. The insight and the information will be very helpful. Thanks again, Ron

[gtwister09]

I think it is high time this industry steels concepts and terms from other industries and applies them with the foundational knowledge of the craft.

David Genadek

Amen to that David. Something that is near and dear to my heart. Using the many industries and careers to further another. Leading people or an industry through change is always difficult even though change is inevitable.

Regards,

Ben

[YRsaddles]

What I meant by the comment about not wanting to be known as a hand tooler...I that I would rather to be known a a saddle maker than a hand tooler..make sense? I'm a fairly good hand tooler, but its just decoration. With all the pieces of junk they sale in tack stores. I'd rather folks come to me for saddle that fits and is made right..than have folks come buy art. and I think you got me confused with another Dave

Dave

Edited January 13, 2008 by YRsaddles

[Chuck]

I have been surfing the net for information on saddle making schools and instructional books on making saddles. I would appreciate your thoughts on this subject for someone who has no prior experience. Thanks , Ron

After reading all the replies and being a self taught nut I think a good way to learn is find an older hand built saddle that is in need of repair and tear it down to the tree. I did this when I started 20 years ago and learned a lot from it. When you get tore down build it back the way it was. In the mean time build your library, because now you will be able to know a lot more abut what it is the book or saddle builder is trying to tell you. Just another idea. Chuck

[gtwister09]

What I meant by the comment about not wanting to be known as a hand tooler...I that I would rather to be known a a saddle maker than a hand tooler..make sense? I'm a fairly good hand tooler, but its just decoration. With all the pieces of junk they sale in tack stores. I'd rather folks come to me for saddle that fits and is made right..than have folks come buy art. and I think you got me confused with another Dave

Dave

Got it exactly. You want to be known for the function (i.e. great fit and made well - not just for nice tooling). The point that I was trying to make about Jim L's knife was the the carving was extremely nice but the stitching wasn't up to the same standard and the knife fell out of the sheath too easily. In this case a portion of the art form - carving was great but the function was less than desirable.

Likewise don't have you confused with another Dave.

Regards,

Ben

[YRsaddles]

sorry Ben, I must have misunderstood your post. I went back and looked at that knife sheath thread. some one also named Dave was talking about Jim's work and I thought you might have confused him with me when you posted that thread the day...sorry about the confusion..my fault

Dave

[ryan]

I have all the Stohlman books and Bill Gomers Video. I guess I have Dusty Johnson's book on saddle making too. I was planning on getting Cheaney's roping saddle video next but was suprised to see few people referring to it on this thread. I am interested in Watt's video series too but isn't it geared more towards wades? Also, I have almost finished my first saddle; nothing fancy just a border tooled roper, I have a solid knowledge of saddle construction and have rebuilt quite a few now. Would I benefit from Harwoods video? I would anticipate most of my orders being ropers and pleasure saddles up here, although I really want to make a wade eventually!!

Thanks in advance

[paris3200]

No one has recommend going to a saddle maker or school for instruction. Would it not be better for a beginner to get some solid instruction instead of trying to work their way through books and videos?

Jason

[bruce johnson]

Ryan,

The Cheaney videos are good. Especially basic about tools and equipment needed. They are a bit redundant from one to the next, but you could take any one set and get most of the basics. Jeremiah's are geared toward making a Wade, as is Bill Gomer's, and Dale Harwood's. So are several of the books. The basics are still there. The only thing they don't show is doing welted fork covers. Everything else pretty much transfers directly over. The post horns also give you some options for covering horns that a metal horn doesn't. Jeremiah's set tells you a lot of the "whys" the others don't. Harry Adams' book takes you through building a Wade, and drawing up your cutting patters based on the tree and not cookie cutter shapes. The second section covers a lot of variations like welted swells, different riggings, horn coverings, etc.

Jason,

There are a lot of schools for sure. I would agree that personal instruction is the way to fly too. I think that the OP related that they had little background. I think you need to have some "book knowledge" before going in. I also think you need some background in using a saddle too. That will give you a foundation for what is being explained and demonstrated. Everybody does it differently. You have to pick and choose what works for you from everybody. Kind of like learning surgery, you don't pick up a scalpel and go to cutting. Likewise you don't read and look at videos and they turn you loose on the public. With a bit of a knowledge base, and then practical instruction and supervision, things go better.

One thing for sure is I wouldn't go into a school and say "That's not how _____ ________ did it in the video or book". You are there to learn another way of skinning the cat. When you get home, try new methods, and then pick what works for you.