We are no longer building saddle trees, but we have two videos about how Western saddles fit horses available on our westernsaddlefit.com website.

Putting It All Together

The fork and cantle have previously been temporarily attached to the bars with one screw on each corner.  Now they need to be permanently attached to the bars.	After checking that everything is still square, Titebond II glue is used between the pieces of the tree before reattaching cantle and fork to the bars.
Four or five holes, depending on the fork style, are drilled and countersunk on each side of the fork	and the fork is screwed on.
The cantle is attached in the same manner	with three screws each side.
Then the hole for the cantle thong is drilled at the front corner of the cantle.	A gouge is used to make a slot on the bottom of the bar for the end of the cantle thong to attach in.
The seat blend is completed by sanding with a sanding disc now that the cantle is permanently attached.	And other finishing touches are done.
Many measurements, both common and uncommon, are taken	and recorded.  The tree is again measured in the rawhide once it is dry.
Auto body filler is used to fill the screw holes	and around metal horns.
It is smoothed via rasp	or sanding disc.
Finally, three coats of marine varnish are applied	and the tree is ready for rawhiding.