To buy ready made or make your own

[Mr_Colin]

When I started to buy equipment last year for the arrival of my first BOP I decided to buy ready made equipment as the ones I made during my many courses were not too bad but not great. Last week I decided to price up some leather and as I only have the one bird I only wanted a small piece. The smallest I could get was 1/4 kangaroo.

I have had Willow for 6 months and she is only just on her second set of equipment. Does leather last a long time or does it need special care to make it last? How many sets will 1/4 hide make?

The must be more people out there with only one bird. Do you make your own or buy ready made?

Questions Questions, I am just unsure what is best.

Colin
ps if there is any spelling mistakes then sorry the spell checker wasn't working, :oops: :lol:

[Mary Quite Contrary]

What do you mean by "she is on her second set of equipment"

Can you explain this more

[Bubo]

hello,

for my first pair i bought them but really it was just to get a good idea of shape and pattern but now i make my own.
i to only have one bird at the moment.

[Shaun Byrne]

I used to make bits and bobs Colin but soon realised it wasn't really worth the time. You never end up with as good a finish as the pros and lets face it, most of our furniture is pretty cheap.

[BlueHawk]

Have to disagree with you there Hawka, I''ve been making my own anklets and jesses for a couple of years now, every bit as good as the bought stuff, I got a guy to make me up some cutters at my work that stamp the anklets ( I'll show you pics if you like), and if you can't make jesses yourself, well just try it for the manual dexterity!!!

[Bubo]

i think that is the fun part, just having a go and have fun doing it hehe.

[Shaun Byrne]

Have to disagree with you there Hawka, I''ve been making my own anklets and jesses for a couple of years now, every bit as good as the bought stuff, I got a guy to make me up some cutters at my work that stamp the anklets ( I'll show you pics if you like), and if you can't make jesses yourself, well just try it for the manual dexterity!!!

Well done mate, having a pattern cutter will make all the difference, it will give you a neat consistent cut every time. Like I say, I used to always make my own gear but for about £5 for a set of Anklets and Jesses that will last at least a full season I would rather buy them and help to support someone trying to earn a living at it. I think once you have made a couple of sets it gets a bit tedious.

[Falconry Equipment International]

I would rather buy them and help to support someone trying to earn a living at it. I think once you have made a couple of sets it gets a bit tedious.
thanks for that h4wka your welcome to purchase them from us anytime :yawinkle: seriously though, I know these may seem strange comimng from someone whom has tried to make a living from producing falconry eqt for many years, but I feel it important for you all to ry & make at least one glove, hood etc at least once, so that you all have at least an idea of how long these take to make :roll: CZ as far as jesses are concerned yes youse a 'grease rather than a leather oil, will help keep your jesses pliable without them going spongy if you ever want .5 sq foot of roo I am happy to oblige
SJ

[Sparrow Hawker]

I only have the one bird to, but I must admit I enjoy making my own anklets and jesses etc. The same way as I enjoy making purse nets for ferreting. I feel there's something a little special flying a bird with jesses and anklets hand made for the bird. I did have to practice a fair bit and if they weren't up to standard I just through them away and started again.

That said I can totally understand people who choose to buy them, does take a bit of time making them and purchased ones are normally spot on anyway and its convenience factor to.

I have had a go at making a hood didn't look to bad, but need way more practice at the stitching part for me to be happy at using one on a bird. One thing I would definitely like to have a go at is making a set of bells.

Screamin Jay how long does it take roughly to make a glove?

Regards,

HH

[Mr_Colin]

What do you mean by "she is on her second set of equipment"

Can you explain this more

Second set of Anklets and Jesses Mark.

if you ever want .5 sq foot of roo I am happy to oblige
SJ

How muck you charge Screaming Jay?

[Sprout]

I make all my own jesses/bewitts/anklets etc. These things aren't too difficult plus if you lose them/get broken etc you can quickly rustle a set up rather than waiting for the post. Making your own anklets ensure they fit perfectly but also different people have different ideals regards jess length so making your own mean you can make them to suit you. I once made a hood for my first falcon, took about 6 months but glad I made it for the experience. Fitted perfectly and looked relatively good too but nowadays don't have 6 months to make a new hood so admit to buying them!

[Barn Owl]

I am new to Falconry and have just taken on my first bird. I was taught how to make my own anklets ans jesses on the course I attended.
I get all my leather from old leather pattern books from funiture outlets, simply go in and ask for their old pattern books and they will let u have them free. Some people that say you need really strong leather (like Kangaroo) and say that other leather will break, after I make a set of jesses, I put 17 stone on them and they never break.
Hope this helps

[Jiff]

make what ever you can yourself mate i started making anklets and jesses 6 month before i got my bird(i was so carried away with it all) at last years falconry fair (04) i baught two pieces of roo leather i made a couple of sets of anklets she still has the first set on and i bet they would have done next season aswell,i experimented with different lengths of jesse till i came up with the right length i was comfortable using i tend to use the smallest gear i can get away with and i like to experiment with ideas, you can't do that unless you get a bit of stuff together and get you're imagination going and make things yourself,it's all part of the fun of it mate.

[Tim Laycock]

I personaly have only bought two pieces of equipment in my life and they were.
A hood because my first attempts were a right dogs dinner :lol:
and a double overlayed buckskin glove complete with doudle fourchets, and that was only because I diddnt fancy sewing until my fingers bled :lol:
If you can make your own gear it is definatly for the better because for instance if you go on a hawking holliday and knacker or loose a vital piece of leather equipment you can knock another up from a bit of leather it saves carrying a plethora of spares.

A bird tore an almeri once on holiday in Caithness, and after trawling around charity shops in Wick I found a leather handbag and made a replacement from this. :D
(note to self:-always take spare leather on holliday :oops: :rolleyes: )

[Moritz]

I make my own stuff, because I think it is a part of falconry. I am going to try a glove sometime this year.

I have got just one bird and I used two sets of equipment in 2 years.

Moritz

[Mary Quite Contrary]

What do you mean by "she is on her second set of equipment"

Can you explain this more

Second set of Anklets and Jesses Mark.

if you ever want .5 sq foot of roo I am happy to oblige
SJ

How muck you charge Screaming Jay?


Why did you need to change your anklets after 6 months?

Do you use kcholine or neatsfoot oil on your equipment?

Have you not been greasing or oiling your equipment?

Yes i know you do gaz every night :D

[Wightwings]

always made our own, just thought it was part of the deal really.

[Tim Laycock]

I am going to try a glove sometime this year
gloves are fun Moritz, but get ready for some sore fingers :wink: :lol:

[Mr_Colin]

What do you mean by "she is on her second set of equipment"

Can you explain this more

Second set of Anklets and Jesses Mark.

if you ever want .5 sq foot of roo I am happy to oblige
SJ

How muck you charge Screaming Jay?


Why did you need to change your anklets after 6 months?

Do you use kcholine or neatsfoot oil on your equipment?

Have you not been greasing or oiling your equipment?

Yes i know you do gaz every night :D

I had to change the Anklets because one had a slight tear so thought I would change both and the jesses were looking tatty so thought I would do that as well.

Not sure what it is called that I use to grease, (it could be kcholine) I got a couple of tubs from Ben Long.

[ScotsFalconer]

i make my own then i know i can rely on it and if it does not work then it my fault not sum1 elses. I have a lanner and they **** everywhere so i tend to go through about 2 pair of jesses a month and about a swivel every 2 or 3 months, anklets can last me up 2 six months

[North East Harris Hawker]

i think this comes down to whether or not you like making stuff/ whether you have the time, furniture is made by a lot of people and a lot of it is rubbish.
I had a young lad turn up to take a youngster from me with anklets and jess that a barn owl would have broken yet the seller said that they were adequate for a female harris!
glasiers patterns are spot on i find, although i do make my flying jess a bit smaller that he used to