Measuring for a Custom Belt

Posted by Don Gonzales

Measuring for a custom belt can be a little confusing but getting a good measurement is crucial to insure a proper fit. We also require a good measurement so that any lettering, brands or figures within the artwork are balanced when the belt is being worn.

In this short video I show exactly how to get a true belt size for you using a belt that you currently wear with the type of buckle you plan to use.

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Guide to Buying Used Saddles Part 3

Posted by Don Gonzales

This is the last article in our Guide to Buying Used Saddle series, and if you have already gone through the last two articles I hope you found them useful.  In this article, I will go over some key areas to look for when assessing any possible repairs that may need to be performed on a used saddle that you are considering to purchase. Continue reading →

Guide to Buying Used Saddles Part 2

Posted by Don Gonzales

This is the second article of our Guide to Buying Used Saddles, and in this section we will discuss the pricing structure of the different types of used saddles in the market.  As we spoke about in the previous article, the buyer with the most knowledge wins. Continue reading →

Guide to Buying Used Saddles

Posted by Don Gonzales

Whether you are looking to buy a used saddle from an individual or from a retail store that sells used saddles, it’s a good idea to do some research in some key areas of the used saddle market.  This guide to buying used saddles will get you started on the road to buying a quality used saddle.  The first thing to understand is what makes a “good used saddle.”  For me the definition of a good used saddle has three key qualities that I’m looking for when purchasing:

  • Making sure the saddle tree is not broken
  • Knowing what brand the saddle is and whether it is worth repairing
  • The price of the saddle compared to the market value

Continue reading →

Cutting Ears on Custom Saddles

Posted by Don Gonzales

One of the most difficult steps in building custom saddles is fitting the saddle seat and cutting the ears.  In this post I will show you my trick for insuring that every saddle ear you cut will be perfect.  Whether you are a beginner or you are a seasoned veteran, this tip will take the fear out of tackling this step.  There are many different ways to accomplish this, but here is my process. Continue reading →

Tooling a Leather Wallet

Posted by Don Gonzales

For many of us that start in leather work, we start by making small leathergoods such as wallets, belts, and knife sheaths.  In this video I show you my process of tooling a leather wallet.  Everyone has a different approach to tooling floral design so keep in mind there are other ways of doing this. Continue reading →