Members flathat4life Posted January 2, 2009 Author Members Report Posted January 2, 2009 (edited) Thanks again guys!!! you have no idea how much i appreciate all your help. Theres not alot of good saddle makers (or even leather workers for that matter) in my area that i can get help and advise like this from. Most guys i've come across (say at a trade show or somthing) just blow me off when i ask a little question about tools or how they did somthing. Some probly has to do with my age and i know that a guy cant give out all his secrets but i like how everyone on this forum is so willing to help others with their projects and shar their process of doing things....... just wanted to say how much i apreciate not only your guys exsperiance and exspertice in answering questions but also how respectful and humblely you all come across..... Its truely a blessing to have found this site and all its cool things to offer..... thanks to every body who makes this place what it is! I called Wayne Jueschke and e-mailed Bob Beard today for a catologe today and thy are on their way. it was realy neat to have one of wayne's kids( maybe his wife?) answer the phone... i apreciate the fact the somone with a well know name is still home based and runs family centered bissness.(as i understand barry and a number of other people in the trade are the same way).... kinda cool. i still have to get the catologs before i make my final decisions but here's my plan for the first set of upgrades....... - a couple basket stamps from barry (unless one of waynes realy strikes me) - a couple borders from barry - barrys swivle knife - Jeremiah watts edgers - "about" a 20-24oz. tapered head maul from wayne( for baskets/geos.) - 16 oz. tapperd head maul from barry ( smaller stamps) we'll see how much damage shiping doses. i may have to wait on barrys maul and some of the edgers. i probly should just buy one of JW's edgers for the first try enyway to make sure i like it before spending monney on all of them.( im sure i will completely satisfied though). thanks again for all you guys input... exspecially on those mauls, bruce... it helped having someone on my same mind level with sorta the same likes to explin the differance between makers.... Everyones opinions helped! im fixing to start a saddle as i stated before..... i been wanting to buy the Dale harwood DVD's... i'v herd that just seeing him run his tools is worth the monney in it self, not to mention how claer and layed out the instructions and examples are.... now that ive found this site maybe i can postpone that purchase a little (exspecially sence these tools will be carving ito my pigy bang) and buy a tree instead(although i would like to have those DVD's).... So i will definatly be asking more questions in the near future... mostly having to do wil ground seats, rigging mesureing, plus a little on the cantle and cap and wrap horn..... having lived in the heart of buckaroo country i'v had the chance to sit in and study alot of top quality wade saddles from tom makers.... i'm hopeing that if nothing else the lines and ground seat of my first saddle are desent(but im still going to try my best on tooling and edges)...one of my biggest pet-pees is a uncomfortable seat and bad lines......... with your guys help i should be able to do well on all aspects of this project =) I dont mean to go on and on but again i really appreciate everything.............. i'll post my thaughts on the tools when i get them in...(CANT WAIT)!!!!! ~Happy Trails~ Edited January 2, 2009 by flathat4life Quote "You have to give somthing you never gave to get somthing you never had." ~Ray Hunt~
hidepounder Posted January 3, 2009 Report Posted January 3, 2009 There are a couple more people you need to know about. Ron's Tool Co., www.ronstools.com make excellent edgers. Also Barry King and Bob Beard are both now producing edgers. The other name you need is Bob Douglas, 307/737-2222. He has his own of tools, so get his brochure, and he buys, reconditions and sells the old tools which are no longer made. He is one of the most knowledgable people I have ever met with regard to hand tools, knives, leather machines, etc. Before you make any decisions about hand tools...be sure to speak to Bob. Good Luck! Bob Quote
Members flathat4life Posted January 3, 2009 Author Members Report Posted January 3, 2009 There are a couple more people you need to know about. Ron's Tool Co., www.ronstools.com make excellent edgers. Also Barry King and Bob Beard are both now producing edgers. The other name you need is Bob Douglas, 307/737-2222. He has his own of tools, so get his brochure, and he buys, reconditions and sells the old tools which are no longer made. He is one of the most knowledgable people I have ever met with regard to hand tools, knives, leather machines, etc. Before you make any decisions about hand tools...be sure to speak to Bob.Good Luck! Bob thanks hide pounder, i will look into those options, i'v looked into barrys edgers... i may endup going with his just to keep from paying shiping on another order.... i'v also seen the ron edgers on his site (a little more monny than barrys orJW's).... if i remember right i met a old guy that built saddles and he had a set....he owned about every brand of tools under the sun (wish i was closer to him because he could probly help me alot).. he liked them cuz their fast to sharpen w/ the rod..... i will give bob a call and talk to him.. sounds like he knows his stuff! thanks again, jed Quote "You have to give somthing you never gave to get somthing you never had." ~Ray Hunt~
JAM Posted January 3, 2009 Report Posted January 3, 2009 (edited) Hey, Jed, Julia here (in Rathdrum) - I am a hopeless toolaholic and although I'm not in the same talent league as your other respondents, I collect lots of tools... and while I agree with the others about the high quality and differences between all the aforementioned makers, Bob Douglas is at the top of my list. He makes absolutely the best bissonette edgers I've ever used, and his traveling collection of restored vintage tools (all for sale) is alone worth the trips to the Pendleton and Sheridan shows every year. Edited January 3, 2009 by JAM Quote Life is unpredictable; eat dessert first.
Moderator bruce johnson Posted January 4, 2009 Moderator Report Posted January 4, 2009 Julia, That is a fact about Bob and Bob's bisonettes. Unfortunately at least when I last talked to him (late Sept/early October) he was out with maybe plans to make more. I have a #1 and #4 I bought before, and was planning on filling the set in at the Sheridan show. Hindsight is 20/20. He was out before the show. I have got some from Barry and some from Jeremiah in the meantime. Barry's #2 and Jeremiah's #1 are pretty close in size. However Barry's bladestock is wider at the tip, so you need to run it on the edge of the bench with thinner pieces to allow for the blade width on the close to 45 degree cut I do. Barry's holds an edge a little longer than Jeremiah's in my experience. The trade off there is that Jeremiah's sharpen up faster for me. 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
JAM Posted January 4, 2009 Report Posted January 4, 2009 Julia, That is a fact about Bob and Bob's bisonettes. Unfortunately at least he last I talked to him (late Sept/early October) he was out with maybe plans to make more. I have a #1 and #4 I bought before, and was planning on filling the set in at the Sheridan show. Hindsight is 20/20. He was out before the show. Out of stock - not unexpected with these superb one-man-shop toolmakers. That, and taking forever to get to yours in the long list of waiting orders. Then again, sometimes things worth having are worth waiting for... and waiting... and waiting... and waiting... I have his #3 and use it for nearly everything, and also his cool little inside-tight-corners bissonette - the one that looks folded over at the tip. It's an amazing little tool. I want to collect the whole rest of his set - guess I'd better get on the list. Julia Quote Life is unpredictable; eat dessert first.
gtwister09 Posted January 4, 2009 Report Posted January 4, 2009 I agree with Bruce and Bob on the tools and such. Try them.... I was lucky enough once to catch an auction with 6 of Barry's mauls for about $10-11 each for the lot (Straight 16, 24, 32, 48 and 64 oz & 16 oz tapered). I also have an Al Stohlman rawhide one (not the greatest but it's ok), a couple of Bob's (Gave one to my Dad) and have a couple that we have made. I like the tapered one a lot for regular tooling. For geometrics, I made a 22 oz tapered that is a little more top heavy than Barry's 24 oz. I will concur that they are neutrally balanced. The 64 oz rarely sees any service. The 48 oz is used for large arch punches and strap cutters. Like some of the others I have more swivel knifes than you can shake a stick at. A Toolaholic - YES! I have Tandy's starters, a Tandy Pro, an Ol' Smoothie, a couple of Henleys, a couple of handmades, a Hackbarth and one of Barry's. I didn't spend the money on one of Bob's knives because the ones he had at shows were thicker than I liked. However I do have a couple of Bob's blades. Likewise I haven't tried the Leather Wrangler's knife/blade either. Make sure and test them and understand what your best length and diameter of knife would be. Here's a link to help with that. Swivel Knife Topic Bob's edgers that are "out of stock" have been that way for more than two years. I had aspirations of completing my Douglas set but to no avail. I bought one of Jeremiah's and one of Barry's and was testing them to see what set I would purchase. I also asked Bruce about this as well and he confirmed what I had already found out. I will most likely go with Barry for the edgers if I don't find some used ones of Bob's (I do have a possible find on a complete set so I will wait and see). Regards, Ben Quote
Members flathat4life Posted January 5, 2009 Author Members Report Posted January 5, 2009 Thanks again guys, i suppost to get the catologes today but i think im going to go with barrys edgers... since bob is so back ordered i think barrys the next best for rightnow... im definatly interested in a used set so if eny body comes across eny let me know... Jed Quote "You have to give somthing you never gave to get somthing you never had." ~Ray Hunt~
Members flathat4life Posted January 27, 2009 Author Members Report Posted January 27, 2009 OK.... sorry its taking me so long to get back with you guys but my home internet has been down fo the last week and a half... I orderd a couple basket stamps, some border stamps, a swivle knife, and a #2 edger from barry and got them in about a week ago... Everything is absolutly AMAZING!... I love how deep and crisp both the borders and baskets tun out... His edge is edger is so easy to push and leaves a realy increadible edge... im still working with the swivle knife trying to get used to the quickness but italso is very smooth and easyto operate... I also ordered Wayne's 2lbs. taperd maul... Its the absolut "Perfect" weight and feel that i wanted to achive...it perfect for runing my baskets/borders and i just choke up on it to bevel or use other small stamps intell i can order a lighter maul from barry.. Thanks again guys for all the help.. Jed Quote "You have to give somthing you never gave to get somthing you never had." ~Ray Hunt~
Members hallbuilt Posted April 8, 2009 Members Report Posted April 8, 2009 Thanks again guys!!! you have no idea how much i appreciate all your help. Theres not alot of good saddle makers (or even leather workers for that matter) in my area that i can get help and advise like this from. Most guys i've come across (say at a trade show or somthing) just blow me off when i ask a little question about tools or how they did somthing. Some probly has to do with my age and i know that a guy cant give out all his secrets but i like how everyone on this forum is so willing to help others with their projects and shar their process of doing things....... just wanted to say how much i apreciate not only your guys exsperiance and exspertice in answering questions but also how respectful and humblely you all come across..... Its truely a blessing to have found this site and all its cool things to offer..... thanks to every body who makes this place what it is!I called Wayne Jueschke and e-mailed Bob Beard today for a catologe today and thy are on their way. it was realy neat to have one of wayne's kids( maybe his wife?) answer the phone... i apreciate the fact the somone with a well know name is still home based and runs family centered bissness.(as i understand barry and a number of other people in the trade are the same way).... kinda cool. i still have to get the catologs before i make my final decisions but here's my plan for the first set of upgrades....... - a couple basket stamps from barry (unless one of waynes realy strikes me) - a couple borders from barry - barrys swivle knife - Jeremiah watts edgers - "about" a 20-24oz. tapered head maul from wayne( for baskets/geos.) - 16 oz. tapperd head maul from barry ( smaller stamps) we'll see how much damage shiping doses. i may have to wait on barrys maul and some of the edgers. i probly should just buy one of JW's edgers for the first try enyway to make sure i like it before spending monney on all of them.( im sure i will completely satisfied though). thanks again for all you guys input... exspecially on those mauls, bruce... it helped having someone on my same mind level with sorta the same likes to explin the differance between makers.... Everyones opinions helped! im fixing to start a saddle as i stated before..... i been wanting to buy the Dale harwood DVD's... i'v herd that just seeing him run his tools is worth the monney in it self, not to mention how claer and layed out the instructions and examples are.... now that ive found this site maybe i can postpone that purchase a little (exspecially sence these tools will be carving ito my pigy bang) and buy a tree instead(although i would like to have those DVD's).... So i will definatly be asking more questions in the near future... mostly having to do wil ground seats, rigging mesureing, plus a little on the cantle and cap and wrap horn..... having lived in the heart of buckaroo country i'v had the chance to sit in and study alot of top quality wade saddles from tom makers.... i'm hopeing that if nothing else the lines and ground seat of my first saddle are desent(but im still going to try my best on tooling and edges)...one of my biggest pet-pees is a uncomfortable seat and bad lines......... with your guys help i should be able to do well on all aspects of this project =) I dont mean to go on and on but again i really appreciate everything.............. i'll post my thaughts on the tools when i get them in...(CANT WAIT)!!!!! ~Happy Trails~ Quote
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