Mike Craw Report post Posted September 14, 2011 Hey Guys! I've been messing with leather for more than 30 years now, but it's all been veg tanned saddle skirting. Now I have a former student who wants me to make her Mom a special bridle for her horse, and the idea I came up with requires some tooling. My question, to those of you who routinely use bridle leather is, can it be tooled or should I make it out of saddle strapping? Thanks for the input! Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
terrymac Report post Posted September 14, 2011 Mike, My guess is bridle leather has a fair amount of oil in it, and I would question its ability to do much tooling on. Why not just use veg tan? I am just finishing up a headstall that I have tooled with a stingray inlay. I used 8 to 9 oz. veg tan, and then lined it with 4 to 5 oz veg tan. Total weight somewhere around 12 ozs. After tooling I applied Bee's Natural Saddle oil and finsihed with antique paste and good old fashioned Neatlac. I can't believe this headstall won't last for a long time, and it is stout enough I wouldn't be afraid to use it as bronc halter. That stingray is some tough stuff and when sewn in between the layers of vegtan, makes it awfully strong. Hope this helps, just an idea. Terry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Report post Posted September 15, 2011 Real English bridle leather the answer is no. I used to get French bridle leather and it was a little tough, but I tooled that a lot, but I haven't seen any of that in twenty years. I have read that Wickett & Craig are trying to reproduce some leather that Scholze used to make and that was really dense but toolable, whether that has come about or not I don't know. Good luck, Kevin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Craw Report post Posted September 15, 2011 Thanks to both of you for the quick replies! Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lurker Report post Posted September 20, 2011 Real English bridle the answer is no. Some (all?) North American "English" bridle, yes. I'm currently stamping a western headstall (basket weave) out of some of Weaver's "Chahin" bridle leather. Despite seemingly not taking on much water for casing, it's stamping crisper than any skirting/tooling leather I've ever used. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
horsewreck Report post Posted September 21, 2011 Regular bridle, western bridle, and bridle are names associated with dryer leathers (less oil). English, even if not true english bridle has more oil in it than bridle. Harness has very high oil and tallow content. English and harness are not suitable for stamping. Reg. bridle will stamp somewhat but I always use skirting, and strap leather for fancy headstall and such because it has no oil added to it at the tannery. You can tool it up then oil it as needed...... Jeff Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnBarton Report post Posted May 4, 2014 Can always depend on Leather Worker.net members to have the right answer! Thank you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nate186 Report post Posted September 10, 2019 To resurrect an old thread, I have tooled W&C bridle leather successfully, because I'm new and didn't know you couldn't. But my question is if it will take an antique finish or not. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
