Saddle #3 Complete

[Josh Ashman]

I've been working on this for a while now. The main saddle was done in mid February but it took me some time to button up the finishing touches. There's a post that shows the progress in the saddle construction forum. If the weather holds out we'll take it out for a ride after work and see how it sits on a horse.

Thanks for looking,

Josh

[Frank]

Josh,

Great looking saddle for #3. I need to get to work on #4 some day! The only thing I have to comment on is the tooling on the back of the cantle, on the curve; You might want to use a stop or some other tool where you ended your cuts. It leaves them wide open and they really look like they are unfinished. Other than that, you're doing a fine job.

Frank

[Josh Ashman]

Thanks Frank, that's good advice! I wish I'd have thought of that when i was stamping the cantle back. I wonder if it's worth doing now.....

Having just finished a saddle the one thing that I'm really noticing is that all of my gun leather projects seem really small and fast moving now !

Have a great day,

Josh

[Frank]

Josh,

You SHOULD be able to at least use a small stop or seeder while the cantle back is covered. Just be careful. I have made the same mistake once or twice before, usually with a holster that is finished. Last time I stuck the tip of a small anvil in the mouth of the holster just to get a decent impression. You are right on the money....holsters go a lot quicker once you have done a few saddles.

Frank

[Aurelie]

:D

as said on the other post:

fine saddle for a 3d one.....things to improve but no more/no less than all the saddle makers in the world

that's what fun in building saddles => always improvements to do!

For the "double line" : have you used a ceramic double blade?

what i do when "double lining" =>

cut the 1st line with a single blade (so that it's clean and deep as you want)

then i use the double blade and use the 1st line as a guide to draw the 2d line

that way, i have a nice even double cut

I do not know if it s the "regular" way to use that double blade but sure enough it's a way that works fine with me (better than if i used directly the double blade....it kinda "drags" otherwise )

here a pic to illustrate (sorry, i do not have a closer shot underfoot)

so i would say => keep motivated and be patient !

[Josh Ashman]

Aurelie,

I cut the first line then use it as a guide to score the 2nd line with my dividers, then i cut that line. I have a ceramic beader blade I got from Tandy's and it seemed to drag too much for me too. My bead lines usually turn out OK but the ones on the cantle back are a little rough, for what it's worth the picture makes them look worse .

Thanks for the encouraging words!

Josh,

[Aurelie]

nice to hear that i am not alone on "the dag trouble"

yes, i know pictures are vicious that way !

making things way better than what they really are.....or totally the other way around!

Just keep going!

the work worthes the trouble

keep us (or at least me) posted on your future projects!