wanting to learn saddlemaking

[novice]

hello. i was wanting to learn how to make saddles.i live in st.louis,mo. the only place i found was a tandy leather shop.

[rdb]

Welcome novice!

There are several ways to go about learning. One would be to attend one of the statecommunity schools that offer classes. Some are full fledged saddle schools, some are just classes.

Find a saddler around you who might take on an apprentice. Free work for training is a hard offer for a saddler to let go, I would think.

Some saddleries offer 4-6 week courses to people who want to learn. They are usually more expensive than any school, but they are a quick way to put a saddle together, and learn if you even like the job. A place near Missouri, on a quick GOOGLE search was this one:

http://www.petescustomsaddles.com/school.html

Anyways, I'm sure more knowledgble people will chime in, but good luck with your search, and make sure you keep everyone here up to snuff on your progress.

[novice]

  rdb said:

Welcome novice!

There are several ways to go about learning. One would be to attend one of the statecommunity schools that offer classes. Some are full fledged saddle schools, some are just classes.

Find a saddler around you who might take on an apprentice. Free work for training is a hard offer for a saddler to let go, I would think.

Some saddleries offer 4-6 week courses to people who want to learn. They are usually more expensive than any school, but they are a quick way to put a saddle together, and learn if you even like the job. A place near Missouri, on a quick GOOGLE search was this one:

http://www.petescustomsaddles.com/school.html

thanks for the help.

Anyways, I'm sure more knowledgble people will chime in, but good luck with your search, and make sure you keep everyone here up to snuff on your progress.

[rickybobby]

  novice said:

hello. i was wanting to learn how to make saddles.i live in st.louis,mo. the only place i found was a tandy leather shop.

Novice,

Look at Tandys or on eBay for Al Stohlmans 3 books on saddle making. They are a good resource to start. Also I recommend Bill Gomers Video of "Making a Saddle" it is about $75.00 and at least with those books and video you can find out what tools to start buying and how they are used. Get a old saddle and tear it apart, by a couple of hides and rebuild it. Saves some money and will get your feet "wet" for minimal cost.

Rick Jorgenson

[rickeyfro]

Novice , I have a set of videos, VHS, by Bruce Cheaney, they are very detailed and indepth, 3 tapes a total of 6 hours of instruction, Id be willing to sell them for $125. They are in excellent condition they sell for $200 on his website. www.prosaddles.com. Let me know if your interested. Rick

[Randy Cornelius]

I would suggest taking a saddle making class from Bill Gomer you can call him at 785-442-3048. He is located at Highland, Ks. That is about 30 miles west of St. Joseph, Mo. in Northeast Kansas. About an hour or less from KCI airport.

[novice]

  Randy Cornelius said:

I would suggest taking a saddle making class from Bill Gomer you can call him at 785-442-3048. He is located at Highland, Ks. That is about 30 miles west of St. Joseph, Mo. in Northeast Kansas. About an hour or less from KCI airport.

thanks for your help.i will give him a call.

  rickybobby said:

Novice,Look at Tandys or on eBay for Al Stohlmans 3 books on saddle making. They are a good resource to start. Also I recommend Bill Gomers Video of "Making a Saddle" it is about $75.00 and at least with those books and video you can find out what tools to start buying and how they are used. Get a old saddle and tear it apart, by a couple of hides and rebuild it. Saves some money and will get your feet "wet" for minimal cost.Rick Jorgenson

thanks, i have looked through those books and i have a few tools.doing some practice stamping and borders.