Projects projects projects... again!

[AtlLaw]

I tell ya, I keep coming up with more fun ideas then I got time!      Presently I'm having a great time with doing leather work and knife building but the more I learn the more stuff I think of to try!   
 
Eventually the idea of tooling leather came to mind.  I guess it's a normal progression from stamping...  Right now I'm working on a Cherokee Rose design; the Georgia State Flower BTW!   
 
Anyway, my internet research of the tooling style I like put me on a lot of saddlemaking sites.  Which got me thinking... always a bad thing.     Now, understand, I sold my horses a long time ago.  I'm sure I'll never own another.  But I've still got some tack, including a McClellan saddle that was my primary saddle.  Just for memories don't cha know.   
 
Sooooo, as you may have guessed, I want to make a saddle!     Having had a lifelong interest in the War of Northern Aggression, I am thinking about a Jenifer or Atlanta Arsenal type, decked out as an officer would have had one made.
 
Does anybody have any experience or words of wisdom when it comes to saddlemaking or leather tooling?   
 
OH!  I plan on making the tree also but I guess that would be more appropriate to the woodworking forum!     Which reminds me... If I do this I guess I'll have to put the building of the sailboat on hold for a while...   

[oldandslow]

Hey, AltLaw, I'm glad someone still has an interest in this forum. I made a knife and a sheath for it recently and tried to put up pictures from Photoshop but couldn't get them to paste so I just gave up.

I made a handtooled saddle many years ago and even still have the stamps. They are quite a bit larger than what you use on belts ,purses, etc. It was a lot of work and unfortunately I lost it in a barn fire a few years later. I just purchased another as  I  didn't have the spare time to build one again.

The only wisdom I have is that tooling is a big jump from stamping and one of the most important things is something that you really can't see. That is the moisture content of your leather and when it is right the leather will LOOK dry but isn't. It's just something you learn as you go. It will feel cool to the touch especially if you touch it to your cheek.

Al Stholman was a master craftsman in all things concerning the leathercraft arts and wrote a bunch of different books on the subject. He drew a lot of very good patterns also. All of these are still availale from Tandy and various other places such as Hidecrafters or S & D Traders. Anything that is in one of his books works. Most are not expensive considering the knowledge contained and the price of the leather you could ruin by not knowing what you are doing.

[AtlLaw]

I tell ya pal, I'm having a great time with this leatherwork!     Like I said, the more I learn the more I want to try!  And I need more practice on casing the leather.  You can really tell the difference in the crispness of the stamp when it's done correctly.
 
I was certainly going to practice tooling before I try it on anything, let alone a saddle!  Shoot!  I used up a side of scrap leather just trying border stamp designs!     But I tell ya, if I had made a saddle then lost it like you did I'd be beside myself!     Especially as I can only guess how much work you put into it... What did you think was the toughest part?
 
I'll do a lot of research/reading on tooling and saddlemaking before I start.  I always do before I start something new.  It's my way...
 
Some of Stholman's work are definitely on my list of must reads!     He's even got a 3 book series on saddlemaking!       But I'll probably start on making the rigging for another McClellan saddle seat I have.  It'll give me something to do... 

[oldandslow]

It's been a lot of years since I made that saddle but I remember a LOT of hammering to get it tooled. I did a full floral design and it was a lot of work. I was pretty sick about the fire but at least I had insurance on the barn so it wasn't a total loss.

[mrbigtexan]

first and foremost is it cant gall the horses, then it has to be comfortable to you. i recommend buying a liteweight tree that way it will be warrantied, the tree is what makes the saddle fit a horse. i dont know anything about cavalry saddles.

[rdstrain49]

Oldandslow, re pictures, use Photobucket.  It's free and easy to do.

[AtlLaw]

i recommend buying a liteweight tree that way it will be warrantied, the tree is what makes the saddle fit a horse. i dont know anything about cavalry saddles.

I did quite a bit of surfing for trees and folk who sell them.  Even found one place that sold McClellen trees.      But remember, all my horses have been gone a looooooong time!  I'll probably never ride a horse (or fly an aircraft) again.      So this saddle will be all show, no go!
 
 
If I do this project I'll make my own tree.  Heck!  That'll be a big part of the fun and braggin rights!      And I already found a bunch of "how to" sites and references!"