Aurelie Report post Posted November 2, 2011 Hello guys! I know some of you will think that i am totally crazy (and i know some around , here do think so) but i've been taught that you learn from your error and even more in saddle making I like having fun and challenging myself so here is the thing: May 2012 , i have planned to go to Sheridan Leather Show At 1st it was to meet suppliers, see really nice saddles and meet some friends and i came out with the following idea : in for a penny, in for a pound => i have to pay plane ticket for myself so why not for a saddle i would have built for the contest??? :D i am a rookie, i am totally aware of this i do not aim a price but i go for fun and in order to learn even more about saddle making i started this thread because i know at some point i will need some advices Here what i ve planned to do : - saddle tree is a Timberline 6 1/2" Old mexico (might be easier to deal with than the last Sid Special i ve done ) - in skirt saddle - straight cantle => here i guess i will ask you some advice (the binding just scare me off) - in laid seat => never done that i ve searched on the forum some info on that and found some but any additionnal advice is welcomed - fork cover : i wanted to try a "slick" one (without welt) i am not sure it's possible , i guess it's "borderline" regarding the shape of the swell so either to help me or to make fun of me you can keep tuned anyway i will really appreciate your advices Thanks Aurelie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aurelie Report post Posted November 2, 2011 Oh! i forgot to ask : about oil the saddle when it's finished last week i had the opportunity to see a beauty of art from Pedro Pedrini with a nice shine as if it was several years old oiled how can i do that? i usually apply several coat of olive oil that darken the leather and i finish with a coat of Skidmore's but the result is not so "fine" as this Pedrini saddle Does it exist other oil or specific products that help to reach that shiny look? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kseidel Report post Posted November 2, 2011 Oh! i forgot to ask : about oil the saddle when it's finished last week i had the opportunity to see a beauty of art from Pedro Pedrini with a nice shine as if it was several years old oiled how can i do that? i usually apply several coat of olive oil that darken the leather and i finish with a coat of Skidmore's but the result is not so "fine" as this Pedrini saddle Does it exist other oil or specific products that help to reach that shiny look? You must have been to the TCAA show in Oklahoma City. I was there also. Pedro's saddle had an antiqued finish. It is achieved with oil for depth and a resist then antique then a topcoat of tankote or lacquer. Good luck on your saddle. Keith Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aurelie Report post Posted November 2, 2011 No Keith, it was not in the USA but here in France There were 2 saddles : 1 for Reinning with a crocodile in laid seat and 1 more simple for cutting but i guess it was something like the same process you mentionned! noting that in a corner of my head Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
compound Report post Posted November 2, 2011 (edited) Aurelie I think you NOT crazy with your plan visit Sheridan show. I worked(for Frinta saddlery) on saddle for this show in 2005year and this year i eas on Art of Cowboy Makers show in Loveland Colorado with my personal saddle. Hope next year i visit again this show. Is very axpensive trip for me but i had occasion meet a real Masters crafters and their work. These experiences are priceless Martin Edited November 2, 2011 by compound Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aurelie Report post Posted November 3, 2011 ..... Is very axpensive trip for me but i had occasion meet a real Masters crafters and their work. These experiences are priceless Martin You bet! Better make the trip worthes the money! but i really thing that i have more to gain than to lose in this "experience" some saddle makers i met last week here in France told me it was a waste of time and money (i bet they are just jealous, scared that by any chance i do better than what they ve done in the past......héhéhé ) only 1 told me to go and that would be the best way to learn . troubles here in France : most people do not like competition, they won't "share" their ways of doing something for fear that newcomers come around and do better than themselves (totally stupid way of thinking in my mind...) and furthermore, in their mind , a girl can't do as good as a guy (even more stupid!) So imagine what they can think about a girl building western saddles! when i went into Montana to learn how to build saddles , it lasted 6 INTENSIVES weeks ...no time for kidding around! (and if it could have lasted a bit more i could have learnt even more...) when i came back in France some people just replied to me : "Were there nice those vacations???" and they were just not taking my motives seriously so just for all thoses things, i want to build a "decent" saddle (regarding the high level of saddle building in the USA) to prove : 1st : to them that I am a girl and i can do as good as anyone 2d : to have fun myself and be proud of what i am able to accomplish => that one will be the hardest because i always find a lot of "defects" or things i could have done better on all the saddles i have done So time will tell! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aurelie Report post Posted November 4, 2011 And here the "soap opera" is starting!!! Get your seat belt buckled , i guess some are in for a good laugh! 1st , the pictures, then the story AND the questions! The gullet: A real pain in the butt to set on the tree! and it 's usually something easy and fast to do! It took me 1H and an extra set of hands and i got a kick in the butt from my Hubby because i started swearing like a truck driver (as usual when things do not go the way i like...) AhAhA ....in French and in English : 1 whole sentence without any verbs FYI Here what happened: i prepared it the same way as usually but i felt the leather stiffer than usually At this stage, i became kinda suspicious..... I have 3 drum dyed hides in black H et O Grade A i inspected the 3 of them to see where to find the best part for the Fork cover and the gullet I took it from the most stretchy belly part of all those hides but those hides seems to be really more stiff than natural color ones even saturated and skived the way it should be , i had a hell of a time to stretch it on the swell so i was wondering : - Drum dyed hides are more stiff than natural ones? - Do the dye "harden" the fibers in a way? or Did i end up with a bad "batch" of hides? Have you encountered that kind of troubles? and what's the way to deal with it? Skive the leather? Case it? and now i am "all scared out" about the fork cover!!! If it's too stiff...gonna be even more than hellish to set on the Fork!! Any advise? any opinion on the subject?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
compound Report post Posted November 4, 2011 So... Generally natural hides are better for wet shape and tooling than dyed hides. Is better use nat. hides on saddle parts and dye it after processing and tooling ...i think Martin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kseidel Report post Posted November 5, 2011 Dyed leather is usually a bit harder than natural, but not so much that it should cause you that much trouble! Where you cut it out of the hide is most important. Gullet covers are best cut from the front leg part of the belly. It does not need to be great... it is just a gullet cover. Swell covers work best when cut from the belly just in front of the rear flank and as low as possible on the hide. You should have no trouble with the swell even with dyed leather. You can always welt the swell. Keith Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aurelie Report post Posted November 5, 2011 Dyed leather is usually a bit harder than natural, but not so much that it should cause you that much trouble! Where you cut it out of the hide is most important. Gullet covers are best cut from the front leg part of the belly. It does not need to be great... it is just a gullet cover. Swell covers work best when cut from the belly just in front of the rear flank and as low as possible on the hide. You should have no trouble with the swell even with dyed leather. You can always welt the swell. Keith :D Cool! that's exactly where i took my parts! i guess i was just not prepared psycholocally to encounter leather stiffer than usual As for the fork cover, i guess that i am going to "play safe" and directly do a welt Not that i am not a gambler but i am limited with my Hides cannot afford to wreck 3 fork covers and 2 seats.....(and odds are that i am going to wreck at least 1 seat .... So better be safe than sorry! Anyway : Thanks a lot for the help! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mrs Barry Hicks Report post Posted November 6, 2011 Hey keep this thread going! I'd love to see how you're coming along. Being a fellow female I'm always supportive of seeing women succeed! Good luck and remember to smile when you curse like a trucker! That way your doing it with grace! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aurelie Report post Posted November 15, 2011 Horn neck = ok it come out rather nice and did not "bother" me as i expected Ground seat almost finished Top yoke cut out and i just have to glue it down took it from a part where leather should be rather thick and firm....and turned out way less firm and thick that what i can have encountered on my other hides..... that black leather really boggles me! i will let you know how it turns out.... scientific test in process about glue here in France, i have a hell of a time to find a cement glue that works good for that one....and i found a new kind of glue that i have to try Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aurelie Report post Posted December 11, 2011 Geez ! it"s harder and harder to get time to work on that saddle with a baby underfoot...but i will be done....one way or another!!! Here i am...i finally finished my ground seat : ..and i have laid down on the hides my patterns 2 hides and 1/3 of a third one for saddle, breast collar and back cinch... i think i can improve that next time next step : cutting the parts and getting those skirts nice and square with the rigging dee Keep tuned! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
King's X Report post Posted December 11, 2011 Aurelie You go girl! I am hobby leathercrafter and I usually go to show for several purposes. One to meet new friends and/or rekindle past relationships and two is to go shopping! I do not compete as of yet for many reasons, but when I feel ready, I hope to put as much effort and desire that you have shown in your new endeavour. Best luck and most of all, enjoy! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aurelie Report post Posted December 14, 2011 not too bad not perfect but not too bad Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aurelie Report post Posted December 19, 2011 Okay Guys, Between 2 milk bottles, hellish screamings and a dog acting like under steroids...i managed to make nice edges on stirrups straps, fenders and billets.... Usually "peanuts" thing to do but right now it's almost a miracle Let's say that some days i would rather stay in bed.... but anyway, day after tomorrow, hubby is on vacations so he gonna babysit while i work on that saddle and give a extra pair of hands when needed!! So i really hope that before next year , fork cover , back cantle and fenders will be on! (crossing fingers ) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aurelie Report post Posted December 21, 2011 I guess that nothing will come easily with that saddle.... I had planned to sew it with black waxed thread 4 Oz (sewing by hand) i bought it from Weaver - Brand Tejas I usually use artificial sinew - natural - 8 Oz from the same company which works really good and here what kind of troubles i have with the black one : all the wax stays outside and it is really NOT NICE Lucky me i have tried 1st on the Back cinch i brushed it with a sotf brush and it's better: This can work on the back cinch without trouble because of the rough out But i won't dare do it on the skirt! it will scratch the leather! Now i am a bit frustrated 'cause i wanted black stitches....but regarding the ugly result i am wondering if i am going to use the natural artificial sinew (kinda yellowish) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kseidel Report post Posted December 21, 2011 Your thread just has too much wax on it. Strip off the wax before stitching. It should work out fine. Keith Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aurelie Report post Posted December 22, 2011 so simple ! Thx Keith! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gtwister09 Report post Posted December 22, 2011 Aurelie, Keith is correct. Have you tried using a paper bag or burlap to rub your thread before you use it? If you use burlap make sure that you don't mix colors. Regards, Ben Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aurelie Report post Posted December 22, 2011 Aurelie, Keith is correct. Have you tried using a paper bag or burlap to rub your thread before you use it? If you use burlap make sure that you don't mix colors. Regards, Ben no i haven't did not know i had to do this , since the waxed i usually use does not react this way but now i know what to do thanks to you guys! thx a lot! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wyldflower Report post Posted December 28, 2011 (edited) Aurelie, I am enjoying your posts and am inspired by your dedication - keep up the good work! Dixie Edited December 28, 2011 by wyldflower Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aurelie Report post Posted December 28, 2011 Thx Dixie! Wait until i have finished that saddle Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aurelie Report post Posted December 28, 2011 1st fitting of the fork cover = ok soon to be the 2d , maybe 3d (crossing fingers not to wreck something along the way) then glueing the fork cover Al Stohlman's encyclopedias under foot and since we love to gamble with my dear assistant (aka Greg my hubby) , we mixed that with my own usual way to fit a fork cover......we will see if that works nice So far so good as American guys use to say.... but to be honest, i am starting to think that we are TOTALLY crazy! I knew i was crazy...but so does Greg because he encourages me to do crazy things...and i go along with that! Not only, i am going to bring my third saddle to a terrific contest BUT i am trying some new things i have NEVER done before...... TOTALLY INSANE! here some pictures Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aurelie Report post Posted January 8, 2012 Here i am Fork cover laced Here on the pic, the edges are not dyed in black but it's done and tonight when Charlotte will be sleeping , and not possibility to wake up right in the middle of the process, we will put on the fork cover..... crossing finger not to wreck the front : lip frog planed and it's a first! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
