Skirt Plugs

[jwwright]

I think there was some discussion about this prior to the crash, maybe............

I am interested in how other saddle makers plug skirts. Do you plug the whole length of the skirt up to the bars? Lighter plugs, or no plugs in the middle under the rider leg area? What is the durability aspect? Although I have not torn down and / or repaired any saddles older than say 30years, it is my understanding that some of the older ones were not plugged in the middle. J Watt, I believe, advocated that either some where I read, or on his dvd series. JW

[Steve Brewer]

I use full plugs.I think leaving them out under your leg will cause more wear on your skirts.

Steve

[greg gomersall]

JW I plug all the way accross but I split my plugs down pretty thin under the leg area. If your tree bars come to a very thin edge and your skirting leather is prime stock through the entire skirt you really would not need to use plugs at all, Alot of the old hamley's I have worked on were this way but with the cattle being slaughtered at under 2 years now instead of 4 or 5 we would probably need 4 sides to follow those constructionm techniques. Greg

[Alan Bell]

Does anyone plug the skirts in such a way that it could compensate for using Arizona bars? There is a discussion on another board and someone uses primarily Arizona bars but says the way they plug the skirts eliminates the need for bar risers or the groove in the bar for the stirrup leather.

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

[Cowboy Crafts Online]

Alan,

I was just thinking why would they use Arizona Bars to then just build up a stirrup groove with leather.

Ashley

[Fpotter]

Alan,

I was just thinking why would they use Arizona Bars to then just build up a stirrup groove with leather.

Ashley

Because they think that the AZ bar is superior in strength, not sure why ( this is one of those single rig double rig deals)

[Echo4V]

For those of us who don't build saddles as a day job can someone explain what is meant by plugging skirts? Better yet does someone have pictures of this?

David