Question about quirts

[Timothy]

Howdy (or maybe How To?) Again,

I am about to start braiding my first quirt. I made my core tonight, and will start cutting strings when I get home from work tomorrow. My question is about attaching the popper. The only instructions I have are in Bruce Grant's Leather Braiding and I don't like the method of popper attachment he shows. I want to make a popper that goes through a braided eye and is secured with a ring knot. Like on this page: http://www.lacemaster.com/showcase.htm

The ways I have thought of to do this are:

1. Make a simple braided eye and cement/lash it to the core. This does'nt seem like it would be as strong.

2. As above but spliced into the body braid of the quirt.

3. Cut my strings for the body half as many, but twice as long and make a small braided section in the center, then braid over the core with both ends from the bottom up. Ex: With 4 strands I would get a four strand eye and 8 strand body. This is the method I am leaning toward because I have done it before using rope.

4. Make a small twisted core for the eye, nail or staple it to the main core, and I can braid over it or not. For strenghth it shouldn't matter.

Is one of these methods correct or is there something simpler I am missing?

This is my first attempt at making a quirt, and will hopefully end up hanging on the saddle horn when I'm not riding. I'll probably keep the braids fairly simple as I'm still not to confident in my ability to get the moisture right with rawhide yet. I'm going to start by braiding my wrist loop and cut some long strings and hope I get some answers. Feel free to chime in.

Thanks for all the help,

Timothy

[deadringer]

G'day Timothy,

I have used No.3 for most of the quirts that I have made. Something you might like to think about is to do a 4 plait loop with 2 strings in the core the same length and width as the strings going over them .So in effect you end up with 6 strings either side then incorparate these 2 strings in your main braided body to give you a 12 string body.

This will also help give your loop more substance.

The moisture content is probably the hardest thing to gauge it is more of a 'feel" thing than anything else. Your string don't want to be that moist that they will stretch a little bit when you are braiding but they should not be that dry that they don't bend or flex easily. Also if they are starting to get dry you can kind of hear them rustle while you are working with them.

I always have a small mist spray bottle sitting beside me so that I can give them a quick squirt then put the whole project in a plastic bag and let it case for a little while then start braiding again.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Chris

Edited April 30, 2008 by deadringer

[Alan Bell]

Hey Timothy, I have used method #2 the most and I used #3 too. In my prefered method ( #2) I would braid approx. 6 - 8 in. past the core and then turn back and start my splice so that it ends up ending where the core ended. This makes the loop the same no. of strands as the body and the splice is about the same thickness as the body but the loop is not. When you cover the splice with a cowboy button it will come out about right and if I don't think it is going to I may do build up with floral tape. Floral tape is better than e - tape as it doesn't have any glue but sticks to itself and you can shape it to a degree. For the splice you can also leave out some strands. You can use 4 of the eight strand for the splice (or 6 of 12) if you wanted to. I also have fund that misting the strand dries them out quicker that so I would rather rub them down with a moistened shaving brush that also has rawhide cream on it. This keeps them moist longer.

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

If you know your history; then you would know where I'm coming from.

Bob Marley - Buffalo Soldier

[Timothy]

Thank you both.

It will be #2 or #3. Have to think on it for a little while now that I have your imput.

Heading back to cut strings now. I'll let you know what I come up with.

Timothy