I have added something I think maybe some of you might want to read

[Ace Lungger]

Howdy Pards,
I am ready to start a new rig, Califonia Slim, can't make up my mind on double cross or strong ringt and cross? After watching Chuck's Video, I want to make a period correct rig, so I got got the Packing Iron Book and put on my bibb ( keep's the drull off the pages) and looked and read and looked and read, and at this point  I am lost !

  There are to many styles to choose from So far my top choice is on page 83 of packing Iron at the top, but HOW WOULD I MAKE THOSE BOTTOM PIECES? I have never work with Silver, and there doesn't have to be any scroll work! What if I used some 18ga highly polish aluinum??
Also need help, I cannot find any 5 chord linen thread and any eye eyed #1 neddles, lead me to a source PLEASE!

I be most great full for some advice!!
ACE

[Major 2]

Ace..I've made some in brass for pommel holsters it is a simple cone layout on flat sheet stock

but I let you in on a little secret of mine...Napkin Rings
hit a few local antique stores, there you may find one or more Silver or silver plate Napkin rings...often engraved and usually they only a buck or two.

[outrider]

Ace,

The thread you are asking about is most probably Barbours Irish Linen Thread.  I dion't know of any supply housess here that have it but alot in the UK do.  Do a web search for suppliers of Barbours Irish Linen thread.. Last time I asked about it  it was only supplied from the UK or Austrailia

[Ace Lungger]

Magor 2,
Thank you, thank you, thank you I never thought of those!!
Also i should of said that I was making these for my 72's and I think that I have nade up my mind, and I am great full to you!!
I have been using vinagroon dye and love it I know need to make some of the home maid  brown using the walnut hull mixture, but it is the wrong time of the year to find walnuts, i wonder if a person could use walnut shaving out of my planer? Before I blew my back out, i did a lot of wood working and have a lot of walnut shaving out of my planer, but i bet there is something to do with the hulls!

Thanks for the tip, I am very great full!
ACE

Thanks Outrider i will do that , Chuck Burrows uses that, but he bought that thread he said a long time ago! Also you listed a link to buy walnut hulls, and i wasn't able to find them, is there any way you could give me a direct link?
I would be very great full! Sorry Outrider, it was MW that posted that link instead of you, in 5 months i can have semi loads of them!

As I have allways said, this is the greatest place to be in the world!! You as, and you shall recieve
ACE

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

          Try this website for walnut hulls http://basketmakers.org/topics/tutorials/walnutdye.htm


                                       tEN wOLVES

[Major 2]

Glad to..here is a link

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,228.180.html  note: Triggersmiths Holster photo

[Sawdust Jim]

Hi Ace,
I use the Barbours thread and really like it. I get it from Oregon Leather here in Portland. They carry carry it from 00 cord up to, IIRC, 8 cord in both left and right twist. For hand stitching the twist direction doesn't matter. They, also, have a good supply of needles. Unfortunately, they don't have a website but thier phone number is (503) 228-4105.

Good Luck,
Jim

[Ace Lungger]

You guys ROCK I ask you give back!! AWESOME!!!

My Turn   If you live in the sticks like me, you have to order everything, no place to go and just pick it up and pay! After reading the how to's which is AWESOME, I have something to return. When I started in the leather work, you guys were and are a GOD SENT!!!!!!  But believe it, I have something to give back to the leather group1 Untill i watched Chuck Burrows DVD, there was alot of info that I didn't know and didn't know to ask!! I just tought that on your seamed edges you burnish with a bone or antler, I didn't know you use a coating to help to get this awesome burnished look!, I had seen edge coat but didn't have a clue to what it was for untill I wath chuck's DVD, here I am out in the sticks I got to thinking, if the old timers made there own dyes (and I did and love it) the light came on, in the 1800's there wasn't any big company making Edge coat, so you would have to make it, I read in a 1999 issue of Rawhide Gazzett that a well know saddle maker used his formula of gelatin, after spedingt 8 hours surfing and  I stumbeled on a cake making forum, where they were talking about making rosettes usingGum Tragacanth, now more research, they forumal makes a paste! Well I didn't want paste, so I did more research, after I looking over the ingredences in there mixedsure I figure what made it a paste! So I mixed up a batch and have now tried it, it seems to work great and will let you know for sure how it works, it burnish's great!

Here it is:
1 table spoon of Gum Tragacanth ( go to any place or person that makes cakes) and get some from them) It isn't costly!
1 table spoon of Powder sugar
1 table spoon of Corn Strach
8oz of hot water
wisk untill everything is mixed up good, no clumps
Put it in your spray bottle and away you go!

If you buy ECO FLO Gum Tragacanth it is $30.00 a quart! To make a quart of this you might spend $1.00
This stuff you can drink if you want to!!
I am not telling everyone to jump up and make some, but it's color and texture is exactly nthe same, and if you think about it, and do your own research, I think you will find out it is the same. If you like edge Kote take a little of ACE Lungger's Leather treament and ad some of your dye!

Try it if you like, or if you don't want to, no big deal! I just wanted to finaly give something back you the GREATEST GROUP OF PEOPLE I HAVE EVER HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING !! We turn one way and then God turns use the right way!

I hope this helps at least one person!
And i want to thank each and everyone of youfor helping me!!!
ACE

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Howdy Ace

           Thanks for the recipe pard , I'll be sure to give this a try


                                            tEN wOLVES 

[Dalton Masterson]

Ace, you da man!!! Sounds like its delicious,....um,...... I mean it sounds like it will work great!! Will have to try some and see what happens! DM  ( who is worried the leather might turn out with frosting and sprinkles, lol)

PS DM(who is also very hungry at the moment)

[Slowhand Bob]

Next time you watch thet video keep a pencil and paper handy for quick notes.  Chuck does a good job of giving the products he uses while he is working on the projects and then gives a list of contact information on suppliers at the end of the video.  To my knowledge all of his sources are still up and running with Continental Leather or perhaps Townsend being the one for thread, pitch and bees wax, check both.  Their fliers will only show a small part of their offerings so check for web sites to see if they will show the full lines of products.

[HorsePen Henry]

One sure thing....yer holsters will wind up tastin' better than yer boot leather in a pinch.

X Horse Pen

[santee]

One sure thing....yer holsters will wind up tastin' better than yer boot leather in a pinch.

X Horse Pen

[ChuckBurrows]

Veg/Bark Tan Leather - I order the 8/10 oz Tooling-Holster
Wickett & Craig - my favorite www.wickett-craig.com  - they now have double shoulders in 8/10 oz Tooling/Holster...

Dyes, all types of leather including some exotics, hardware, etc.:
Siegel of Ca - www.siegelofca.com
Leather Factory/Tandy
Mid-Continent Leather Sales Company (800) 926-2061 http://www.midcontinentleather.com/


Linen Thread - 5 cord left or right hand twist is a good all purpose hand-sewing thread:
Campbell- Bosworth: http://campbell-bosworth.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=linen - I have not used the less expensive Hungarian thread myself, but reports that I have received from others who have state that it just fine and costs half as much as the Barbour's.

Tools: Cheap but OK:
Leather Factory/Tandy - the Craftsman brand

Tools: Better - Osborne and other better quality tools:
Mid-Continent Leather Sales Company (800) 926-2061 http://www.midcontinentleather.com/
Campbell- Bosworth: http://campbell-bosworth.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=linen
Leather Factory/Tandy and Siegel also sell Osborne tools

Tools: Best:
Jeremiah Watt - www.ranch2arena.com
Expensive but worth it - made by a master saddle maker and a heck of a nice guy!

I can recommend all of the above having used them for several years (some several decades) - There are many other suppliers including Hidecrafters. Montana Leather, Oregon Leather, and others including some suppliers on EBay - as always with any unfamiliar suppliers it's caveat emptor.....

[Ace Lungger]

I think I got it. got the stain on my stiching pony, I will get it done before the weekend, havn't got my 5 chord linen thread yet, and I will need to order some #1 egg eyed neddles, and a strait groover, then all I will need is my modeling tools, I bid on some on ebay but went higher than i could afford, I have to pace my spending, and with this hobby it is hard! Because the more you do the more you want to do, and so on! i am waiting on starting a new rig because of the type I am making, i need my bottom pieces and as it was suggested to me to use Napkin rings (perfet) but i want them in hand before I lay out my pattern. So next I am going to try and crave a set of spur straps ( Ill will bet no one will ever see them) I think I can take some of my odd hand tools, and I have some 1/4" round brass stock and make me some modeling tools to get buy, untill I can buy them.
I want to thank each and everyone of you for all the help you have gave me!
ACE

[Major 2]

Ace
I sent you an E-mail that may help you in your quest for you silver Napkin rings