Members CCCustomTack Posted May 25, 2015 Members Report Posted May 25, 2015 (edited) I am in dior need of some knowledge.... Last night my husband & I bought a diamond in the rough. It was a pre= 1980 Original Billy Cook MAKER Greenville, TX 15" cutting saddle. I was BEYOND excited for this find & couldn't wait to clean it up! So today i went to it with soap & water, a sponge, & a tooth brush to get into the floral tooling... the dirt was really deep in there & still wasn't come out so i talked to my friend who has restored a couple older saddle & she said power wash it.... i was a little hesitant but i took her word for it... My husband power washed it on LOW in a fan setting on the washer & now in some spots it looks like the finish has literally been taking off... she reassures me this is normal & i don't believe her. I have put several coats of 100% pure neatsfoot oil on it & it is soaking now but i'm terrified i have now ruined this saddle. But also this saddle has been repaired in a few places that i can see & is very old so scuffs may also be from wear & tear but still, i'm freaking out a little. What are you thoughts? Tips? Suggestions? Kind words to keep me from breaking down into tears...lol Pictures of before & after included... Edited May 25, 2015 by CCCustomTack Quote
Members Dwight Posted May 25, 2015 Members Report Posted May 25, 2015 Personally, . . I would not worry too much about it. Remember, . . . the guy who made it, . . . did not make a show piece to go behind glass at the Smithsonian, . . . he made a tool to be used, appreciated, enjoyed, and one day, . . . some day, . . . some time, . . . it will no longer be useable. From what I can see, . . . it looks beautiful, . . . I have an old "Jumbo" saddle, . . . probably a lot older than my 70 years, . . . been repaired many times, . . . and I still love it. You and I both have a privilege of sitting on history when we ride these saddles, . . . embrace it, . . . enjoy it, . . . thank the Lord for it. May God bless, Dwight Quote If you can breathe, . . . thank God. If you can read, . . . thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a veteran. www.dwightsgunleather.com
electrathon Posted May 26, 2015 Report Posted May 26, 2015 (edited) First off, I agree with Dwight. If you bought the saddle to help you not fall off your horse, it is still good. Use it with joy. From what I see, you pealed off the top of the leather, don't do that again. Edited May 26, 2015 by electrathon Quote
Members TinkerTailor Posted May 26, 2015 Members Report Posted May 26, 2015 First off, I agree with Dwight. If you bought the saddle to help you not fall off your house, it is still good. Use it with joy. From what I see, you pealed off the top of the leather, don't do that again. You ride your roof on a saddle??? Quote "If nobody shares what they know, we will eventually all know nothing." "There is no adventure in letting fear and common sense be your guide"
Members CCCustomTack Posted May 26, 2015 Author Members Report Posted May 26, 2015 Electrathon - yea i will NOT be doing that again, ever... Dwight- this saddle actually does has a great piece of history behind it too. An old cowboys name who ive traced back, is carved into the tree. This isn't my main saddle & i didn't pay much for it ($150) which was a steal for the saddle, but it does still upset me that we pretty well took off the top layer of leather in some spots. yea it will ride the same but still. I am hoping there is a way to fix it or at least make it look a little better. Quote
electrathon Posted May 26, 2015 Report Posted May 26, 2015 You ride your roof on a saddle??? Darn auto correct. Quote
Members TinkerTailor Posted May 26, 2015 Members Report Posted May 26, 2015 It was such a good mental image though.. Quote "If nobody shares what they know, we will eventually all know nothing." "There is no adventure in letting fear and common sense be your guide"
Moderator bruce johnson Posted May 26, 2015 Moderator Report Posted May 26, 2015 It is a Billy Cook. It was a pretty good production saddle at that time but still manufactured to a price point. 35 years later it is still together, that is not too bad. I wore out the better part of two of them in 5 years back then. Yours has the grain slipping in places - could be from sweat and drying, a finish used on it, a conditioner used on it, wet saddle blankets thrown over it, and who knows what leather to start with. The pressure washer just blew off what was already loose and going to come off someday anyway. I'd worry a whole lot more about what's underneath an old saddle than what's on top. As long as the riggings are sound and the tree isn't broken, ride it and enjoy it. I also would be sparing with more oil for a few days at least. It is pretty easy to see the oil soak right in and think "That leather is dry and needs more!". It is easier to over do it in one day than when you stretch out the time and give the oil a chance to spread and even up some before the next coat. Doubly so on one that is roughout or loose grained like yours. Quote Bruce Johnson Malachi 4:2 "the windshield's bigger than the mirror, somewhere west of Laramie" - Dave Stamey Vintage Refurbished And Selected New Leather Tools For Sale - www.brucejohnsonleather.com
Members carver Posted May 26, 2015 Members Report Posted May 26, 2015 I doubt you did that with the sprayer it looks just everyday wear and stuff being stacked on it as already mentioned I use an air compressor to blow the loose the dirt off then blue foam cleaner and water and a tooth brush to get down into the tooling grooves . the foaming helps lift the dirt . and brush gently for the really stubborn dirt down in the tooling grooves I use a hand held pump srayer and on the tightest setting and squirt the dirt out . then let it dry out completely at room temp this can take several days depending on the humidity, after its completely dry I will put a product like Bic 4 on it restore the fats in the leather don't saturate the leather with oil light coats for restorations . If its a work saddle the power washer works just stay back a little . the water wont hurt the leather as long as you let it dry out and replace the fats in the leather without saturating it. Quote
Moderator Art Posted May 26, 2015 Moderator Report Posted May 26, 2015 CC, It is hard to tell the condition of the leather by pictures, but judging from where you started, I wouldn't think that this saddle has had the best of care. Power washing seems a little intense, but what came off was probably destined to come off anyway. The philosophy that if oil is good, more oil is better is just not right when it comes to leather, ESPECIALLY working leather. You oil when it NEEDS oil, and never back to back. I recommend assessing the need for the second coat of oil after a week or two. I use Pecard's or Montana Pitchblend paste. Cops are the worst at over oiling and Cowboy Action Shooters run a close second. I worry less about the cops now since most gear is going to plastic, and you just can't over-oil oil. That saddle is a production saddle circa 1975 or so, and while leather was better back then, it is a production saddle. It has been "rode hard and put away wet" more than just once so check the rigging, all the leather and attachment points. I don't think this is any kind of a collector model or anything like that; and please don't be influenced by prices on eBay, they are just there to separate some folks from their money. That being said, replacement of worn or weak parts is not going to hurt the value too much, and it might keep you from getting dumped on your head. If the saddle received as much care underneath as it got on top, I would check the tree and rigging thoroughly. Art Quote For heaven's sakes pilgrim, make yourself a strop!
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