Swell Struggle

[stef73433]

I'm trying to cover the swells following Dusty Johnson method. I'm struggling on the back side, next to hand hold, can't get that area smooth, without leather wanting to overlap itself.like I have to much leather there, but yet not sure how to cut it away without ruining it.

Any tips or tricks?

[Josh Ashman]

It's been a while since I watched the Dusty Johnson video but I was pretty sure he showed how to cut the back side to fit in the hand hole. The Stohlman books show a more involved process but they both accomplish about the same thing. Once it's cut then push as much leather as possible into the gullet then hold the head of your hammer and use the handle to pound it down. Form, push and sweat it down as close as you can get it and then start tacking it down. The first saddle I built had an association swell and I didn't split the swell cover. It took some doing but after many hours and some cussing it was done. Saddles 2 and 3 were on slick forks which are quite a bit easier. If your barrel racing saddle has leg cuts or much of a swell you may need to consider splitting the cover and putting in a welt or lacing it.

There's my 2 cents, good luck!

Josh

[stef73433]

Thanks.I watched the video how he cut it but still didn't seem to work.I think I had too thick of leather for the swell, tomorrow I'm tryinga thinner piece.thanks for input

[oltoot]

It isn't necessarily the thickness that matters but the firmness, cut the swell cover from the belly with the gullet up in the firmer part. Getting that transition in the piece. And you can also skive the handhole area just a tiny bit and taking that first layer off will soften the piece a little.