Ground Seat Tools

[Mechanical Cowgirl]

I'm starting my first saddle, it's a wade tree and I received some advice from a local-ish saddle maker on how to make my patterns for the ground seat but I'm stuck on the tools. So far I have two pieces in and I've shaped them with a round knife, hoof rasp, and a grinder with a wire wheel... I know I don't have the proper tools, so, where can I find some good skivers for working the ground seat? I have the little skiver from Tandy and we are just not getting along at all, not sure if there is a way to modify it so it doesn't gouge chunks out? The grider works pretty well, but not for the edges :-) And it sure makes a mess my whole shop is covered in leather dust and I get glared at by the cat and dog when I use it. I'd like to know what to buy and where to buy it.

Thanks!

[dirtclod]

I use cabinet scrapers when i get to final shapeing. Their a little slower but work great i think. http://www.grizzly.com/products/6-pc-Scraper-Set/H5568

[jsmith]

Get your self a skife or safty beveler and a couple of pakages of extra blades. They are inexpensive and do a very good job on alot of your skiving. Tandy,Weaver and most other suppliers have them.

Jeff

[jwwright]

As Jeff suggested, my primary tool for ground seat work is a potato peeler style , safety skife. I do use a round knife for the initial skiving of the edges of my ground work pieces prior to gluing them in. JW

[Mechanical Cowgirl]

As Jeff suggested, my primary tool for ground seat work is a potato peeler style , safety skife. I do use a round knife for the initial skiving of the edges of my ground work pieces prior to gluing them in. JW

Thanks! Off to Tandy...

[Kevin]

I've seen a guy use a cake icing spreader that was sharpened and did a good job. I've seen several finish up with a sanding disk on a drill, but that sure makes a mess.

I work with Slim Berg, he used to build the bronc saddles for Barstow Pro Rodeo, and all he uses is a Skife.

Kevin

[Blake]

rasp, and a grinder with a wire wheel. And it sure makes a mess my whole shop is covered in leather dust and I get glared at by the cat and dog when I use it. I'd like to know what to buy and where to buy it.

Thanks!

Just a note of caution, Leather dust is a carcinogenic and can lead to a condition similar to "Black Lung" so use a mask or other reasonable protection.

Blake

[Mechanical Cowgirl]

Just a note of caution, Leather dust is a carcinogenic and can lead to a condition similar to "Black Lung" so use a mask or other reasonable protection.

Blake

Ah, good to know. I would have never guessed that.

[mlapaglia]

Oops

Edited September 2, 2013 by mlapaglia

[Mjolnir131]

Just a note of caution, Leather dust is a carcinogenic and can lead to a condition similar to "Black Lung" so use a mask or other reasonable protection.

Blake

This is a must for anytime your using something that makes dust, you don't know what it will do to you and it maybe something we don't discover for many years down the road.