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Another First Saddle Build Thread

What saddle should I try to build first?

  • Overwatch Outdoors, Transformer

    Votes: 5 17.2%

  • 2020 Aerohunter, Flex

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Pre 2020 OG Aerohunter Flex

    Votes: 4 13.8%

  • Latitude Classic

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • We don't care, just make a saddle already

    Votes: 8 27.6%

  • You better go ahead and make every saddle or you'll never be content

    Votes: 12 41.4%
  • Total voters
    29
Looking fantastic everything is starting to come together!! Glad you figured out that little glitch with machine
 
Thanks fellas, the main issue I think was the tension. I was hand wheeling a lot in order to have more control but the slow needle penetration of the hand wheel meant I was slowly tensioning the thread through all the thick fabric and it was just too much for it. I found if I did a quick sharp turn as the needle entered the fabric or ran the machine such that it was moving the needle at a moderate speed I was ok. Also, the triple stitch or bar tack on the molle loops takes a while without reverse haha.

I just need to finish the molle and add the leg loops and she’ll be finished. I got some Austriaalpine buckles for the removable leg loops concept, but I’m debating on whether or not it is worth it to me.
 
I bet he will have it done by lunchtime and swinging from the tree saying dang why can’t hunting start today. LOL
 
No worries LOL. I’m anxiously waiting to see your finished product. It’s gonna be good!!
 
gcr0003 said:
Thanks fellas, the main issue I think was the tension. I was hand wheeling a lot in order to have more control but the slow needle penetration of the hand wheel meant I was slowly tensioning the thread through all the thick fabric and it was just too much for it. I found if I did a quick sharp turn as the needle entered the fabric or ran the machine such that it was moving the needle at a moderate speed I was ok. Also, the triple stitch or bar tack on the molle loops takes a while without reverse haha.

I just need to finish the molle and add the leg loops and she’ll be finished. I got some Austriaalpine buckles for the removable leg loops concept, but I’m debating on whether or not it is worth it to me.
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Just my two cents on the leg straps - I haven't adjusted their location or removed them since I set them the first time. On my Flex clone, I made them fixed. Its a nice option if your selling to the masses, but you can stitch them in the best location for yourself and be done with it.
 
jhunter13 said:
Just my two cents on the leg straps - I haven't adjusted their location or removed them since I set them the first time. On my Flex clone, I made them fixed. Its a nice option if your selling to the masses, but you can stitch them in the best location for yourself and be done with it.
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My thoughts exactly! The only thing I was thinking of is having any saddle I make have be modular and allow the removable leg straps to be moved to each saddle that way I would only have to buy one set of leg buckles. Just me being cheap. Also, I very much liked the buckles that some of the Aerohunter saddles had for the leg straps. I’ll likely be going with those for all my other saddle builds, possibly even for the main belt. Can’t beat them at $1.75 ea.
 
Personally I would make the leg loops adjustable as how and what you hang in early season vs when you have heavier clothing on. Not sure if you want to be bunched up like a soprano. But hey ultimately it’s your saddle so rock it the way your gonna be happy ….. so you done yet…tap tap….tap
LOL
 
So I am still having trouble with my machine and the thick material. For one reason or another it’s wants to tear the thread. The tension is quite tight through 3-4 layers of webbing so I’m not completely surprised. I wanted to throw my machine in the river multiple times at this point. I got through attaching the lineman’s loop so all I have left is the leg straps. I’m seriously considering just mounting the 1” Austrialpine buckles like Overwatch does for the removable leg straps but then just leaving the the leg straps themselves just webbing. To connect or adjust I would just be running them through the triglide. Lighter, sleak and less noise. It would be like the webbing bridge AH supplies essentially but for the legs.7EC9D552-E473-4640-A2A8-3A454918492D.jpeg
 
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I played around with running the webbing like you said (one long piece of webbing that ran from the left buckle, through the bottom buckle and into the right buckle). It was light, and worked well. I just hate stepping through leg straps.
 
jhunter13 said:
I played around with running the webbing like you said (one long piece of webbing that ran from the left buckle, through the bottom buckle and into the right buckle). It was light, and worked well. I just hate stepping through leg straps.
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Nice, yea I think that’s what I’ll do except I’m going to not have a buckle on the bottom, just the straps coming straight off to the buckles on the top. I don’t mind stepping through leg loops or taking a few extra moments to feed the webbing through the buckles if desired. Thanks!
 
gcr0003 said:
Nice, yea I think that’s what I’ll do except I’m going to not have a buckle on the bottom, just the straps coming straight off to the buckles on the top. I don’t mind stepping through leg loops or taking a few extra moments to feed the webbing through the buckles if desired. Thanks!
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Initially I had the strap just fed under/around the bottom suspension webbing to make it removable, and the ability to slide as one leg moved.
 
Sorry to hear your still having issues with machine but your plan will work with leg and you still have the option to do it once machine gets squared away. Just a minor glitch that can be rectified at later date. The extra 30 seconds to step thru ain’t bad plus during the time to think what you can do different as your machine gets taken care off
 
Razorbak66 said:
Sorry to hear your still having issues with machine but your plan will work with leg and you still have the option to do it once machine gets squared away. Just a minor glitch that can be rectified at later date. The extra 30 seconds to step thru ain’t bad plus during the time to think what you can do different as your machine gets taken care off
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Yea I bought ADF buckles and everything but I kinda don’t want to use them now. Oh well, I’ll have them for other builds or retrofit if I decide later on that I gotta have them.
 
gcr0003 said:
I’m suppose to be meeting a guy about 241-12 which is a med-med heavy machine this weekend. It’s still not the walking foot model I want but would still be better than what I currently have.
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Good luck! Ive seen a few for good prices by me. Let me know if you like, may try one out.
 
alright fellas, she’s finally done. After a lot of whining, tinkering, repairs, cursing (under breath), and frustration I finally got through this build. Nothing about the sewing was very difficult. Having the right machine to do the job makes all the difference.

big thanks to @jhunter13 for answering at least 50 questions I had. Also thanks to @Treehopper2 @JCLINE84 @Razorbak66 and everyone else that pitched in to give a thumbs up, point me in the right direction, or just leave some words of encouragement. The biggest thing to this saddle making thing is patience.

I’m not pleased with a number of things on this build but she’ll still hunt and she won’t be my last!

23DA517C-04F9-4344-ABA4-D11F8B658C9F.jpeg
 
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