Opinions On Cutting Rawhide

[Louisianawhipmaker]

This past weekend I made some raw hide using KAWs method for dehairing(it worked pretty good by the way) thanks for that KAW, any way I am now ready to cut it into strings for several different projects, maybe royal reins, bosal, and buttons and I am curious of others opinion on how to cut the hide. It seems like if I take my strap cutter and cut around the hide I would have very little waste, vs cutting out rounds then cutting string. I have even seen where some just cut the hide in straps length ways. Are certain parts better for certain items, I know when making a saddle, saddle makers like certain parts of the hide for different pieces of the saddle. I'm pretty green to this but seems as if it would apply to braiding as well.

[25b]

What are "royal reins"? Are those like Romal reins?

I was watching a video showing how Tim George cuts his rawhide and he cuts out wide strips from the outer edges, then he leaves the center of the hide and gives/sells those to other folks to use (I think he mentioned saddlers and some other folks) as that is the best part of the hide...

Once you have the hide cut into about 1" strips, then you can use the cutter of your choice to cut it down to whatever width you need for your reins, knots, etc. I have a nice tool that is a cutter, beveler, and splitter all in one.

If you're on facebook, this group is pretty much the best rawhide and leather braider's group on there...LOTS of extremely talented and professional braiders in there...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rawhidebraiding/

There are "other" groups, but this one isn't sponsored by some big journal, so you'll get objective opinions on whatever your questions are...especially about tools, rawhide and leather sources, etc.

[Louisianawhipmaker]

Apparently auto correct is not familiar with the word "romal" haha Thanks for the input, unfortunately I am not on Facebook, but there is some pretty handy Rawhiders on here and hopefully I will get some more input

Thanks,

-Nathan

[millwright]

Alan Bell has replied to a post about this question before. Start searching about "cutting whole hides" or "cutting circles" or something similar, and you should run across it. He says if you cut circles, you get more consistent string width, which means less splitting, which means better strings. As you pull your string/soga through the splitter you stretch/tear some fibers in the rawhide which weakens it to some extent. You will have more waste cutting circles but a better quality string. You will have longer string with less waste if you cut from a whole hide.

Here's how I've cut circles before. Take a 4" strip out right down the middle of the back then you have two halves. You can use this

for twisted cores. Cut your biggest circle from the middle of your halves and this will be your best and consistent string. Front shoulder will be thinner and the hip will be thick.

When you split your string/soga, you don't want to take off anymore than what you have to to get to the thinnest natural part of the hide. In other words, don't split your string any thinner than the natural thinnest part of the hide so that you don't weaken your string.

I've stolen everything I know from others that have shared. I'm no expert. I've found few definitive answers. Hope this helps, Bret.

Oh, I tried to slip hair with KAW's method and it didn't work out too well. I'm glad it worked for you. I've heard it's one of the best ways to produce nice hides. Do everything like KAW and you will be one top shelf rawhide maker/braider.

[millwright]

Here's the Alan Bell post I was talking about http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=21702&hl=circle+rounds+waste#entry140079 There's a ton of info in this forum if you use the search and just filter through it all. Bret

[brycew74]

For most of my hides i cut the whole thing in to 10 or 12 inch circles, for a couple reasons. 1. I get more consistent string depth as mentioned above. 2. You can store a whole lot of rawhide cut u that way in a rubbermaid tub with a few extra air holes in it to keep moisture from building up so if space happens to be a factor for you as it was for me for a long time this really helps.

Bryce

[bucksnort]

I cut mine into 10 in squares. For me it's quick & easy & I just stack them on a shelf. When I get ready to use them I case them round off the corners & cut a soga a little over 1/4, split & then cut strings. one square will give me four 1/8 strings about 12 ft. Same concept as cutting circles, same advantages, probably same amount of waste, just quicker & easier for me. Good luck, try different stuff & you'll find what works for you. Happy Easter, Buck

Edited April 5, 2015 by bucksnort

[bucksnort]

I also take the strip out of the back, you can have damage from warbles, pour-on & the fibers seem to run differently along the back. Seems to produce better quality strings to take it out & use it for bosal cores, ect. Buck

[oltoot]

after a strip from the back as stated, then circles, sizes depending on the hide. The idea is to get a circle(s) that is uniform in thickness and "character". Large circle from side, smaller ones from hip, shoulder and sometimes neck. Accepting as waste whatever must be according to the hide's nature is the difference between right and yeech. Some hides will have little waste, some a lot. You never really know until you get them stretched out so you can examine closely. Generally speaking, the fatter the animal the more waste you may encounter but that is only a generality. Some of the very experienced old timers could predict what quality and amount of waste a hide would produce before going to the trouble of finishing it but that took years and lotsa trials to perfect. Then let circles dry and retemper and cut strings as needed. I use the Vaquero but there are other ways. The experienced Argentines do it all with a knife. Not me.

[Louisianawhipmaker]

Thanks for all the replies. I definitely think I'm going to cut a strip out down the center then cut the hide into rounds. This particular cow was an old red cow and was kinda poor, so hopefully your right about generally not being to much waste Oltoot. Fortunately she didn't have any brands or serious scars, so that was a bonus. I suppose I'll find something to use the drops for, maybe burners for a Honda or something.

[bucksnort]

One method not mentioned is used by some that make reatas. Take the strip out of the middle & then cut the halves into two long sogas. By doing tihs you can get long enough strips for reatas without using the questionable stuff down the backbone. Also, Steve Derricott has a lace calculator on his site that tells you how much string you'll get from different sized rounds & is pretty accurate.

[Louisianawhipmaker]

Thanks Buck, I'll have to check that out, I have been looking around on here, and you make some good looking stuff!

Thank all of you for sharing your pics and knowledge Rawhideing mentors are hard to come by down here.....

[bucksnort]

Thank you, I appreciate the compliment. Buck