Ok, I'm still new to this forum but I've been looking at how others have been building the spurs. Here is what I've made for a while now. I've added the sucker rod idea from one of the other people posting here. Brilliant that they are built similar to the rasp spurs. I have been building the rasp spurs for a few years. I picked up the technique of silver soldering the brass on from watching a show on RFD of Billy Klapper adding silver fittings, and verified my rasp spur building through a DVD from Jim Poor. Great stuff. I will not build my own rowels though, too much work. The buttons are from Ranch2arena.com in California. .75 cents each is too inexpensive to pass up. Some others on this forum have used the same or similar methods for building them so I just want to show off what I have done. The three pairs are the ones I wear when riding and at the local brandings, my latest (sucker rod) and a pair I recently made. I made my spur straps as well. Cheers

TOO SWEET! :)

Mike, I must admit I wouldn't begin to have a use for those, but I still like them a lot! especially the second set.
one question , what is RFD?

Mike, really nice job on the spurs. Pretty work.

Mark<><

RFD is a channel on Satellite TV that is about and for people that live in or have a love for country living.

Rural Free Delivery

Great looking job, Mike. You really made em look nice. :D

Nice looking spurs Mike. I've made a few pair myself, but they didn't look half as good as yours, good job.
Brian

Great craftsmanship! I didn't know Jim Poor had a DVD out Mike, could you tell
me where I could get a copy? Years ago I saw him and his pretty wife do a demo, they were awsome.

Great craftsmanship! I didn't know Jim Poor had a DVD out Mike, could you tell
me where I could get a copy? Years ago I saw him and his pretty wife do a demo, they were awsome.

It was a gift, as soon as I find out, I will relay where the DVD came from. Cheers

RFD has a website at http://www.rfdtv.com/

Some interesting stuff on there.

Brian P

Nice spurs. Did you forge the notch in the shanks on the one pair, or how did you do that? I like it.
Tom

Great looking spurs. You have done a fantastic job. I am in the middle of a pare(my first). It is taking a little longer because I got some figuring out to do, and other irons in the fire. You've got a good nack for it, keep up the good work.

Nice spurs. Did you forge the notch in the shanks on the one pair, or how did you do that? I like it.
Tom

On the shank end, when I initially cut them, I cut an "M" into it. After folding it in half, I twisted it "M" center upward and forged the shank ends curving downwards. I do not open the shanks back up any more for the rowels, I just cut into the metal with a cutting blade. It saves a ton of time and energy and is about the right width opening for the rowels.

spur end / shank end|discard this end
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-----------......|...............|----
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4" center cut, 6" to the middle of the rasp or there about. The extra 2" allows for mistakes and creativity on the shank.

On the cut (shank) end, cut an "M"

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............|
...---------|
..\
...\
.../
../
...---------|
............|
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Fold it in half lengthwise and open the bands up around a jig to give a good shape for the bands, using the horn/bick by itself is too hard to make it perfect. If you want the bands to curve up with solid buttons, the center cut will have to be 5". Hope this helps, and I hope my diagrams express my explaination.

It would be great to see photos of each step as you make a pair.

Thanks for sharing the photos of the finished product.

Thanks for the info. I am talking about the 2nd or middle pair, just behind the heelband and in front of the rowel. You have a indention in the shank. I really like it!!