Anyone know of a cheap and easy way to stretch the thigh portion of leather chaps?

As I've grown older, I've put on a little weight (okay, maybe a lot) and I hate to have to buy a new pair of chaps because the old ones are getting a little tight in the legs.

Thanks.

BH63

if they are zippered, your probably out of luck if you have grown a "lot."
If they are straps and hooks, clips, just add a longer leather strap. Not ideal but works.

Try getting them wet with denatured alcohol, stretch them and keep them stretched until they dry. That is how they form knife sheaths.

After you soak them, put them in a plastic bag to sweat awhile.

^
They do have a zipper.

Thanks for the ideas. I will try it and if it doesn't work, maybe I will just donate them to someone just starting out with horses.

BH63

Just cut the zipper off, get a piece sewn in and add the zipper.

Not sure where you live, but if you have a saddle shop handy they can put new zippers in..I just had mine done..Stretching chaps is all but impossible, waste of time in that they will shrink the first chance they get, snow, water etc..

I am about 20 minutes from Colorado Saddlery. That may be the best option (or having them make me some custom fitted ones from scratch).

I wonder if I can have them put in a spandex panel in case I continue to expand? LOL

Thanks.

BH63

I saw some zippers extender things once. They were basically a 2" wide piece of heavy cloth with zipper halves mounted on them in reverse.

You zipped it to the existing zipper and they add a couple of inches of room.



Here they are:

http://www.chapinserts.com/chapinserthome.html

Well that is a find! Thank you sir!!

Id be careful with extension zippers, placement of the zipper is very important, as the extension may or may not end up behind the knee and on a days rife wear a hole in your hide.

Life is too short to wear stretched chaps.

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
Life is too short to wear stretched chaps.

It's tough to keep the weight off as you get older. I'm 7 Lbs heavier than the day I got out of boot camp 42 years ago.

^ Bragging, huh?

I am closer 45 lbs heavier than basic training.

BH63

LOL, I knew that would catch someone's attention.

I used to be 114 Lbs heavier.

I had the same problem a few years back. Took the chaps into a local saddlemaker. He cut the zippers off and added a narrow strip of leather to the chaps and sewed the zippers back on. Fit just fine now

quote:

Originally posted by BuffHunter63:
Anyone know of a cheap and easy way to stretch the thigh portion of leather chaps?

As I've grown older, I've put on a little weight (okay, maybe a lot) and I hate to have to buy a new pair of chaps because the old ones are getting a little tight in the legs.

Thanks.

BH63

Point in question, if you can stretch your chaps, they aren't waterproof..elk is bad about stretching, its soft and comfy but worthless and treated it will soad thru and gob up your pants...

Stay with slick side out for working chaps, and use something like Leather New, put on and wiped off with a rag..

If you have to stretch them, sell them and buy a new pair might be a better option..

I wound up giving the chaps to a sweet young thing.

They look a damn sight better on her then they ever did on me, that’s for sure.

BH63

Adjustable working chaps usually have leather knots to hood to a peice of flat soft leather with a slot cut to push the know through..the leather stem can be let out or taken up and they are ver comfortable..All my work chaps have this option,

my chinks are set up with a hook on a leather strip that hook into a small D ring and they are fully adjustable...LOts of options that adjust, most saddle makers know the options, and if they don't you need to find another saddle maker..