wrapping stirrups

[jetech]

Is there any on-line info on wrapping stirrup's or can anyone give a good explanation on how to do this.

Thanks

[Cowboy Crafts Online]

First question is how do you want to wrap them? Do you want to do leather or Rawhide? Next do you want them sewed up the sides or laced up the middle? Let me know and I will try to help.

Ashley

[jetech]

Hi Ashley

I was thinking about using leather with a seam laced up the middle.

I appreciate the help.

Gary

[jetech]

Ashley

Where did you go?

[bruce johnson]

Gary,

I think Ashley is in one of the flooded out areas, and was just moving back into the shop. I have done some of these. Basically you need to make a pattern for every size of stirrup. I just use oversized pieces and cut until I get a fit, then used it for the other stirrup. Start with some medium temper leather, too soft and they will not stay tight, too firm and you will fight to get them molded and formed. Case the leather up good and first form it to the inside of the stirrup. You can do this on the whole stirrup or each side and use the tread cover to hide the seam. Wrap the leather around the stirrup to meet at the outside. Leave a tab at the inside top to fold over to the outside and cover the top edge of the stirrup. Where the leather meets on the outside, trim it so it meets flush. Then I trim a skosh more off, to allow my lace to really draw the leather tight. I punch the holes directly across from each other. I use a hole size that my lace will fill. I prefer to use a small slot punch rather than an oval or round punch to avoid the gaps in the hole that will show the stirrup underneath. The lace is cut and beveled on the flesh side, and I cut it wider than the holes I punched to have little or no gaps between the laces. Then I basically whipstitch with the lace, so the correspnding holes are directly across from each other and the lace is horizontal. I go a little loosely, then go back and tighten securely.

Once you do a few of these they go fairly quickly. I have found these type stirrups also can be bought from some places for less money in decent quality than I can buy blanks and spend the time and materials to cover them. I let the feedstores sell them, and I make more markup on Monels or covered and sewn stirrups.

Bruce

Bruce

[jetech]

Thanks Bruce.