Stirrup Leathers

[Gary Winckler]

I was taught to stretch the stirrup leathers while wet and then after the leathers and fenders have been put together put the whole unit in a stretcher again. I was wandering what others do in this process. I sometimes have a problem with the leathers losing their shape when stretched the first time. I always use full length leathers in my saddles.

GW

www.wssaddles.com

[steveh]

Gary,

I dip the stirrup leather and the lower portion of the fender in a bucket of water and let it soak water all the way thru, when all the bubbles are gone.I stretch them on a draw down and shape them as there drying and leave them there till they are bone dry. Have not had any problems loosing the twist. I would imagine that the type of leather, the amount of moisture, the amount of pressure from a stretcher all have an effect on the twist.

Steve

[Steve Brewer]

Dip leathers and fenders in water,then strech over saddle tree on my drawdown stand.Let set until dry.

[bruce johnson]

Gary,

I do them like you. I cut my leathers initially about 1/4" over width. Soak them until drowned almost. I get a little narrowing at the front end of the leathers when I stretch them on the board. I make the final cut to width after they have dried. After I assemble them I stretch them on the stretcher or drawdown. Usually a light case is enough to get them to hold shape then. I kind of preshape my fenders after stamping while they are still cased by loosely rolling them and letting them dry set to that shape.

[jwwright]

I do pretty much the others have described. I pre stretch the stirrup leathers by getting them soaking wet, then nail down one end on the bench. I stretch them all I can get, then nail down, put a soup can, maul, or some such under them and let them dry. After the leathers and fenders are assembled I get the leg of the fender wet, the rest damp and strech / set them on the drawdown. JW

[Gary Winckler]

Gary,

I do them like you. I cut my leathers initially about 1/4" over width. Soak them until drowned almost. I get a little narrowing at the front end of the leathers when I stretch them on the board. I make the final cut to width after they have dried. After I assemble them I stretch them on the stretcher or drawdown. Usually a light case is enough to get them to hold shape then. I kind of preshape my fenders after stamping while they are still cased by loosely rolling them and letting them dry set to that shape.

Bruce, you make a good point and one I had thought of but not tried. Cutting them over-width makes sense as then I can cut a true width after the stretching is done. thanks.

GW