Cutting Goat Rawhide Into Lace

[Don Ayres]

I just remembered i have some thin goat rawhide i was going to use for a drum and would like to cut it into some lace, my question is, do i cut it dry, or does it have to be wet or damp, can i use my cheap plastic lace cutter to make it, and how thin do you think i can cut it ?, 1mm wide 2mm wide ???

looking to make some small turkshead knots to decorate a 5mm thick 4 strand round necklace.

Thanks all

D.A.

[KnotHead]

I use saddle soap to dampen the hide with. I spread it on there and let it sit for about 20mins. Ends up perfect that way. In some cases you can cut it dry. But it is not a recommendation I would make.

You can cut it as wide or as thin as you want to or are skilled enough to do.

I would make a doughnut cutter similar to the type used by the Argentines. I use several of them that are preset with the different sizes I want to cut lace at.

Simple to make with a 1inch wooden dowel. Cut 1/2 inch piece off. Knock a centered hole into it at about 5/8ths and find your stanley utility blades and grind one of those down at an angle to pressure fit the blade into the center hole. Next you'll want to take your hand saw and cut a slit half way down the doughnut. To widen the slot I use a set of jewelers files and sand paper so that I can use a drill bit to measure the width I want to cut the lace at. Give it test and if that's got it. Take the whole thing to a bench vise and flip it over so that the bottom is facing up and use a light tap to put the blade in place more permanently. To replace the blade just tap it out.

Brian..

I just remembered i have some thin goat rawhide i was going to use for a drum and would like to cut it into some lace, my question is, do i cut it dry, or does it have to be wet or damp, can i use my cheap plastic lace cutter to make it, and how thin do you think i can cut it ?, 1mm wide 2mm wide ???
looking to make some small turkshead knots to decorate a 5mm thick 4 strand round necklace.
Thanks all
D.A.

[Don Ayres]

Thanks knothead, i just bought white saddle soap the other day for braiding so ill use it to dampen the goat skin too, thats a neat little tool, you got there, im a carpenter but am finding it hard to follow your directions for making one, could you post a couple close up pictures of it especially the slot that your talking about, thanks

D.A.

[KnotHead]

Thanks knothead, i just bought white saddle soap the other day for braiding so ill use it to dampen the goat skin too, thats a neat little tool, you got there, im a carpenter but am finding it hard to follow your directions for making one, could you post a couple close up pictures of it especially the slot that your talking about, thanks
D.A.

[25b]

http://www.leather-braiding.com/videos.htm

[Don Ayres]

Thanks for the 5pictures Knothead and thanks for the videos 25b

[Louisianawhipmaker]

http://www.leather-braiding.com/videos.htm

[Louisianawhipmaker]

http://www.leather-braiding.com/videos.htm

Thanks for posting that link 25b I stumbled upon that page some time back but couldn't find it again when I needed it