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Another First Saddle Build Thread

What saddle should I try to build first?

  • 2020 Aerohunter, Flex

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Latitude Classic

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    29

gcr0003

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2018
Messages
8,014
Alright, after a year of procrastination I finally have my sewing machine purring and all the materials I need to make my first saddle. I plan to get started on it this weekend. I have been watching @always89y 's saddle making videos and reviewing old diy threads in preparation. I started this thread to help encourage me to finish the project. I tend to start a lot of different projects and sometimes it seems as if I start more than I finish and that just doesn't sit well with me. I want to get that ratio back in the green.

Question:
I hear a lot of you who have made saddles say that you improve with each saddle you make so it begs the question. Should I start out with a simple design and work my way up to making more complex saddles or should I go for gold like @jhunter13 in an attempt to make the masterpiece which is the transformer saddle first? I am taking a poll for fun. If you think I should make a different saddle tell me which one and why.

Big thanks to those that have helped in one way or another or talked shop about saddles and saddle gear! @JCLINE84 @4090Sharps @trailblazer75 @Treehopper2 @Red Beard

My reject saddles will go to @swampsnyper for ground testing. And with that, it looks like I am back to posting a lot of nonsense on this addictive website!
 
Ive learned more from failing at things than being successful. However, it can be demotivating to spend hours building a saddle to have it turn out poorly.

Do you have a saddle already that you like? Maybe make a clone of that one since you can see it, take measurements etc.

The second saddle I built was a AH Flex clone. It was a really simple design and straight forward build. I had a size 2 that was too big, so I made one that fit me better - in fact I actually like it better than my transformer clone!
 
I started out making a Anderson sling style then into a transformer style then a double bridge loop design and although some are definitely harder to do and more time consuming than others they are all basically the same in how it’s done some just have more components.
Try to think ahead in your build that’s very important and just slow your machine down as much as possible.
My first few builds my machine was just to fast for my skill set at the time and luckily @JCLINE84 helped me get that under control and even gave me the belt I needed.
Saddle building can be fun and very rewarding but also very frustrating and time consuming. Get yourself a stitch ripper for mistakes ( it will happen) and figure out what you did wrong and learn from it.
Have fun I’m looking forward to seeing your first project.
 
Alright, after a year of procrastination I finally have my sewing machine purring and all the materials I need to make my first saddle. I plan to get started on it this weekend. I have been watching @always89y 's saddle making videos and reviewing old diy threads in preparation. I started this thread to help encourage me to finish the project. I tend to start a lot of different projects and sometimes it seems as if I start more than I finish and that just doesn't sit well with me. I want to get that ratio back in the green.

Question:
I hear a lot of you who have made saddles say that you improve with each saddle you make so it begs the question. Should I start out with a simple design and work my way up to making more complex saddles or should I go for gold like @jhunter13 in an attempt to make the masterpiece which is the transformer saddle first? I am taking a poll for fun. If you think I should make a different saddle tell me which one and why.

Big thanks to those that have helped in one way or another or talked shop about saddles and saddle gear! @JCLINE84 @4090Sharps @trailblazer75 @Treehopper2 @Red Beard

My reject saddles will go to @swampsnyper for ground testing. And with that, it looks like I am back to posting a lot of nonsense on this addictive website!
Practice on some scrap materials and notate your tensions for the materials you go thru, then start simple unless you are already an experienced sewer. Each saddle you figure out little hints and after a few of them you’ll hit your stride. Another thing I struggled with was finding the perfect jig for the main body cut. After that estimating webbing distances become easy. Update us with photo progress.
 
Last edited:
Alright fellas, thanks for the tips and encouragement. I am going to be tackling the Transformer clone!
Trying to get a game plan together before I start. Thinking about the build in this order. Let me know if you think I missed something. Getting on it as I type this...LETS GO
  1. Panel:
    1. Determine oal
    2. Make a jig/stensil
    3. Cut panel pattern 2x
    4. Add grosgrain 2x
  2. Chassis:
    1. Determine oal and cut
    2. Add d-ring 2x
    3. Sew ends together to form loop
    4. Find and mark center on all cross pieces
  3. Lineman's loops:
    1. Determine oal of 1" webbing and cut
    2. Determine protective covering desired length
    3. Sew 2 protective covers
    4. Slide protective cover over lineman's webbing
    5. Sew ends together to form loop
    6. Find center and mark
  4. Belt:
    1. Determine length and cut
  5. Leg Straps:
    1. Determine length and cut
    2. Sew buckles to ends
    3. Mark center
  6. Assembly:
    1. Panel to Chassis
      1. Aline top panel, appropriate chassis webbing, and belt (align with center marks)
      2. Sew perimeter of webbing chassis, bar tacks at panel ends
      3. Repeat step one with the appropriate bottom chassis webbing and panel, minus belt
    2. Sew leg loop webbing w/ buckle ends to the center of the top panel (between chassis webbing)
    3. Position and sew adjustment buckles to the bottom of the top panel (box stitch)
    4. Position and sew adjustment straps to the top of the bottom panel (box stitch)
    5. Center and sew (bar tacks) the lineman's belt to the top panel
 
Using chalk is your friend. Buy the thin multi color chalk they sell on Amazon that way you can use different colors for different steps. It helped me immensely. Hand wheel as much as you can to start. Not sure what machine you have. I have a cheap consew industrial plus many old school machines and I think I have power to go any layer but as a habit I handwherl before I power up as I suck and no where the master as @JCLINE84 is with his beast machines
 
Using chalk is your friend. Buy the thin multi color chalk they sell on Amazon that way you can use different colors for different steps. It helped me immensely. Hand wheel as much as you can to start. Not sure what machine you have. I have a cheap consew industrial plus many old school machines and I think I have power to go any layer but as a habit I handwherl before I power up as I suck and no where the master as @JCLINE84 is with his beast machines
I use the white fabric peel pencils. I think it’s called a silt pencil. Seems to work really well
 
@Razorbak66 @jhunter13 Im spit balling here 20" x 6" for the panel overall length and width but i'd rather have legit measuremeants for the build. Could either of you give me the length and width of the panel? Or anyone else that has a Transformer?
 
@Razorbak66 @jhunter13 Im spit balling here 20" x 6" for the panel overall length and width but i'd rather have legit measuremeants for the build. Could either of you give me the length and width of the panel? Or anyone else that has a Transformer?
6" x 24"

I left mine straight the width of my suspension overlap, than curved it, if that makes sense.
 
Here’s the chalk I used.
 

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I got 23” long and 5 3/4” wide at middle and 3.5” at the tapered ends98EA610B-ED71-4D3E-8941-5A90088BE093.jpeg
 

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