[Alan Bell]

Well, I guess it's safe to go back in the water now so I'll try again. This is how I go about making a 1/2" bosal with a braided core. These are 3 cores in the different stages  DSCF9414.JPG (111.84K)
Number of downloads: 764 I use a reata type piece  DSCF9415.JPG (115.05K)
Number of downloads: 661 And then if I need to I cover it with a piece of lining leather or chap leather to make the desired finished size. I figure the lace thickness at 1/8th" which is basically the thickness of 4 strands since the strands cross over each other in the braid AND the thickness can be thought of as on the front and back. Then I add that to the radius of the core and the difference is made up in leather.  DSCF9416.JPG (127.01K)
Number of downloads: 555. Then I braid over this with whatever I've decided on in this case it is a 16 strand braid. Next I cut strips  DSCF9419.JPG (121.97K)
Number of downloads: 528 put glue on them  DSCF9421.JPG (125.36K)
Number of downloads: 485 glue on the bosal  DSCF9422.JPG (123.58K)
Number of downloads: 509 and then nail them in place with small brads  DSCF9425.JPG (121.66K)
Number of downloads: 575 I then put them on with one in the middle and one for each end of the noseband.  DSCF9417.JPG (126.24K)
Number of downloads: 549 to be continued...
Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

Quote

We're going to a party so I hope you are hearty!

Bob Marley - Punky Reggae Party

[Alan Bell]

OK so the next thing is to get some floral tape (Walmart, Michaels, or on line)  DSCF9430.JPG (116.26K)
Number of downloads: 358 it sticks to itself and doesn't have glue and also it can be shaped some or I can double it over on itself to increase low spots. I start at one end and work towards the middle.  DSCF9427.JPG (118.14K)
Number of downloads: 358 The first layer goes all the way up to the center button and then I make a few extra turns next to the center button to start that build up. When I wrap back and forth I will not go back over the very end  DSCF9427.JPG (118.14K)
Number of downloads: 358 I don't cross over the center button until I've built up that side  DSCF9429.JPG (114.54K)
Number of downloads: 395 and then i cross over and do the other side  DSCF9431.JPG (115.68K)
Number of downloads: 407 Next I will measure and mark the noseband with guide lines  DSCF9433.JPG (115.87K)
Number of downloads: 384 and I use those guidelines to make sure the taper is even  DSCF9435.JPG (118.86K)
Number of downloads: 435 Now I am ready to start the braiding first I get the string into thirds  DSCF9436.JPG (120.97K)
Number of downloads: 491 When i start my braiding I put 2 thirds to my left and 1 third to my right. To be continued.....
Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

Quote

Rise up this morning, rise with the rising sun

Bob Marley - Three Little Birds

Attached File(s)

•  DSCF9426.JPG (120.03K)
  Number of downloads: 399

[Alan Bell]

With 2/3 of the length of my strings to my left I start the braid by going under one over one.  DSCF9438.JPG (113.77K)
Number of downloads: 623 and I continue with each string in succession moving from top to bottom  DSCF9439.JPG (110.82K)
Number of downloads: 653 Once I have all of my strings done i set it into my vice  DSCF9440.JPG (115.04K)
Number of downloads: 599 to hold it while I braid  DSCF9441.JPG (113.2K)
Number of downloads: 553  DSCF9442.JPG (113.82K)
Number of downloads: 627 Once I reach my goal I start the turn back. I finish my braid with an over so I can start my braid with an under. This is with the strings that are still going the left. I'll come to a place where the strand will need to work itself back into what has already been braided. Then I go parallel to the string on the left  DSCF9444.JPG (112.97K)
Number of downloads: 676 I do this with each string in succession first working 4 of them to the left and then i go back and work them in succession to the right of where I started. This helps me from putting a twist into the finished noseband. Here I am half way back up creating pairs.  DSCF9445.JPG (122.67K)
Number of downloads: 660. At this point I started getting late so I wrapped the noseband in a moist cloth and let it set on my bench to preserve the moisture content.  DSCF9446.JPG (117.37K)
Number of downloads: 466 To be continued...

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

Quote

To see his hurt is their greatest ambition

Bob Marley - Ride Natty, Ride

[Alan Bell]

So now we are going to finish the noseband by working all the strings up to the other end and creating pairs  DSCF9448.JPG (120.52K)
Number of downloads: 421 and then at the end crossing under 3 and working back towards the middle  DSCF9451.JPG (111.63K)
Number of downloads: 442 splitting the pairs as you come to them.  DSCF9452.JPG (113.73K)
Number of downloads: 398 This is what creates the diamond pattern. The same will be done with the strings at the other end until the meet in the middle  DSCF9453.JPG (118.55K)
Number of downloads: 398. Now you have to make the junction appear as if it is one string by burying the ends. If the strings are a little dry you can soap them  DSCF9454.JPG (115.01K)
Number of downloads: 415 Here is a normal under two pass  DSCF9458.JPG (111K)
Number of downloads: 422 and here is an under 3 pass to hide the string  DSCF9459.JPG (110.12K)
Number of downloads: 439 and here is the interchange done with both strings  DSCF9462.JPG (112.04K)
Number of downloads: 402 I pull each strand and cut it close so that it draws back up under the 3 to bury it. Next will be the interweave but that will have to wait to be posted...

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

Quote

Well I see you. You pass my way again!

Bob Marley - Touch Me

[ArtS]

Man, I could never do that! Thanks for the instructions. I have an even greater appreciation for braiding now.
ArtS

[CharlieR]

Mr. Bell-thank you so much for your time and effort in putting this tutorial together. It gives us beginners the inspiration and encouragement to keep at it and just goes to prove that this forum rocks!! :You_Rock_Emoticon:

[Alan Bell]

Now for the interweave. I didn't know how to actually take the pictures that show what is needed but will say that I am filling the gaps made because the end and center diameter is greater than that just inside of the end buildups so the braiding in tight in the narrowest point but does not quite cover the wider portions. To do the interweave I start under three and go up parallel to the string to the left and follow that the length I want then cross under 3. I will often double check where the pattern will be to make sure I am going under the proper 3.  DSCF9465_2.jpg (16.12K)
Number of downloads: 470 This series of pics show how I continue and the finished after I added color to the ends to balance the pattern.
 DSCF9466.jpg (17.78K)
Number of downloads: 487
 DSCF9467.jpg (17.07K)
Number of downloads: 494
 DSCF9468.jpg (17.6K)
Number of downloads: 474
It is easier to show the interweave on the side buttons so I'll post that later.

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

Quote

I and I no come to fight flesh and blood but spiritual wickedness in high and low places!

Bob Marley - So Much to Say

[roo4u]

alan

this is great, thanks for doing this. what knot are you doing for the nose button? i noticed you have strings going in both directions and did not recognize it...i just use a multistring knot from b.g.s book and you only have strings going in one direction. yours looks very interesting. i like the lines drawn on the foundation to keep it straight..excellent idea will have to try that for next time. now i have to build a bosal so i can try the interweave...havent been able to get one done yet.

[Alan Bell]

Hey Tracy and everyone, Thanks for the compliments but I am the one who is benefiting the most! There are strings going both direction. That is the reason for having 2/3ds of the strings on the left and 1/3d on the right. What happens is this; you braid with the strings uneven as I said, when yo get to the end of the braid you take the longest strands and do a turn back that matches the way you started and work those strands back up through the previous braiding creating pairs. When you get back to the starting end you do what ever turn back you desire depending on how you want that end to look. There are 3 different turns to make a "pineapple" or standard end and one to make a "gaucho" end. You work those strands back towards the middle splitting the pairs you made. You should still have enough length to the original "short" strands to do a matching turn back at their end and work those strands back towards the middle. When the two ends meet is when you have to bury each end under the other by going under 3. Actually, you can have the ends meet anywhere along the length of the noseband and on a smaller noseband you may not want all of your strands meeting in the middle because it will make a bump there. Hope this explanation make a little more sense to everyone. If there are any questions or if I've created some confusion please ask and maybe I can find a better way to say things that might make it clearer in your mind.

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

Quote

Feel alright now, Feel alright now! Said I feel alright now! Good Lord hear me!

Bob Marley - Put It On

[roo4u]

alan
so let me make sure im getting what your doing....where i start mine about 1/3 the distance from the end of the knot, then wrap the strands on until i reach the end make my bights, braid down thru the wrapped ends of strings then wrap my working ends for the remaining 2/3 of the knot then turn back make my bights braid back to the ends of my strings at the 1/3 point where i start building pairs...you are basically skipping the wrapping process by doing the skeleton braid right from the start? is that correct? if so then that is probably easier to do as it is hard for a rookie like myself to correctly guage the space to leave between strings when doing that initial wrapping on of the strings. COOL! learn something new every day! the interweave doesnt work if you do the gaucho pattern does it?

thanks again

[Alan Bell]

Tracy, You are correct I am braiding down initially to skip the wrap and braid. I didn't have much success with the wrapping method when I first tried it, I've since learned to do it for quirt handles and such but then I am using enough strings that the first wrap is a complete cover leaving no gaps. The hard part of the wrapping method is to guage the spaces especially with a build up. i believe Gail Hought uses the wrapping method at least she did for a while. The hard part of the braiding method is the first turn back because it tends to put a slight twist to that end of the braiding. I've seen some Ortega bosals that show he struggled with the same problem and also make it pretty evident he used the braiding method at least for a while. My friend Nate Wald takes the works and puts a counter twist in there before he does the turn back. I'm trying to work half the strings in succession going one way and then the other to counter the twist maybe I'll have to do all of them counter to the way the twist goes if this way proves not to work for me all the time. Just find what works for you and stick with it. Maybe KAW or Mrs. Liggett can chime in anyone? The interweave works with the gaucho pattern it just looks different.

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

Quote

No more crying, Good Lord hear me!

Bob Marley - Put It On

[shirleyz]

I have no idea what a bosal is used for, but I appreciate talent and skill, and great lacing. Awesome tutorial.

Plus anyone who loves Marley is cool with me.

ShirleyZ

[KAW]

Alan, nice tutorial, when you start braid down and are turning back make sure you go past your foundation so when you start your turn backs to make pairs you dont slip off your ends when interweaving and it allows you to counter twist the ends if you start to twist, the biggest thing with twist is to prevent it before it happens, for me I am consaintly checking for twists and correcting them as I go.
I use both methods alot. For working bosals I use the braiding method most of the time because it goes alittle faster, for finer collecter stuff I like to use the sprial method cause it works better for me with more strings, I also like to bury my ends staggered on each end so when your interweaving through the center you don't pull out your ends and if a horse rubs it on something (which happens some times no matter how careful you are.) it less likely to come out and won't leave any bumps where it contacts the horse, these are afew things I do and some things to think about when building using gear so things function properly.

Your strings are looking good and consistiant, how have you been makin your hides?

Hope this helps some,
KAW
Kevin A Willey

[Alan Bell]

Hey Kevin, thanks for the advice. I'll have to try the wrapping method again next time I make a finer strand bosal. Maybe you could post a tutorial on how you do it before I give it a try and I might make a decent go of it! All this string was made with a limed hide. I've got the equipment to do a hot water hide and will give that a shot next month when I have time to make rawhide. I'm cutting the string using my Hansen cutter and have gotten to the point where I just cut out and throw away anything that isn't right. I need some calfs to get finer strings and hopefully they will have some when I go there next month.

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

Quote

Hear the children crying'! But I know they cry not in vain.

Bob Marley - Hallelujah Time

[rgerbitz]

Hey Alan this was awsome. Thanks for the time and effort to do it.

Rob