RobertB

I am sure this topic has already come up but I was unable to find mention of it. I was figuring up my leather needs for the winter today and was checking prices when I discover the supplier I generally use has closed. For a short time I was scrambling to find kangaroo since I only need a couple hides currently and to not want to order from Packer, but I am needing some good latigo as well and have yet to find what I think will be good for braiding. Does anybody out there use latigo much and where are you getting it. I will be mostly building whips and some reins with it and need some thinner stuff. Thanks for looking.

Thanks Joe I will look into them.

I am looking for a place that I can purchase good rawhide. Tried the tandy stuff and that was a waste. Don't have time to make my own or have enough livestock loss to get hides. Thanks for looking and any insight.

I am looking for dyed calfskin or kip. I saw a whip made of some but have not been able to find any to buy, dose anybody know of any or will I have to dye my own lace or just stick with roo. Thanks for any insights Rob

My current recipe is equal parts water,tallow, soap mix ( 2 parts fels naptha 1 party glycerin saddle soap, 1 part beeswax), and a table spoon or two of eucalyptus oil. I boil the water add the tallow take of heat, mix in my soap and oil stir until everything is dissolved and keep stirring until it starts to harden a bit. When all said and done it has the consistency of saddle soap. I add the eucalyptus to give a pleasant smell and it will deter vermin from chewing on the item.

Thanks for the input guys. I decided I was not letting my strings temper long enough and was not using enough soap while braiding. The stuff I have made lately is much better, guess I just need a little more practice it really is a lot different than latigo and roo. Joe you were close the name is Imig they are still in the country still raising Herefords. It really is a small world.

Thanks for the reply guys. Oltoot I'm 33 our place is just in the sandhills. I have been a "cowboy" all my life, and when my wife and I started to take over the place and buy the cattle I wanted to be a better stockman and started to really understand the industry. How stock handling methods, tack and even the style of horses we ride vary though the states by which part of Mexico, Texas and California the majority of the original cowboys or vaqueros came from. As well as how the established English methods of the original 13 colonies has influenced us. It really is very interesting. Bucksnort Thanks for your insight. I have heard of soaking stings in glycerin or tallow to soften but I was afraid that it would weaken the strands to much, and I am not wanting the fully softened hide like Enrique shows. All though I am going to try and make some for different projects. I am wanting my stings to have some spring in them but my stuff just seems to be to stiff, more like you would want in a Honda. I guess I was wondering if anybody was using a mordaza to make them a little more pliable. But in the end I might not be soaping them enough.

I am just starting to delve into rawhide and learning its quirks. I think that I am getting the hang of casing my strings to the correct moisture and am getting a good even braid. Been just doing some small projects like bracelets and they are coming out nicely, however they are too stiff and hard when they dry in my opinion. Is this normal or should they be more flexible? I read in Grants book about softening stings and am wondering if anybody dose this and if so what is your process. Thank You for any insights.

I think that is what I will do, but how would you incorporate the hair. I thought kind of like a nose button but have not worked with horsehair enough to know the capabilities of it. I have never braided it or tried to tie the knots. Just some hitching. Thanks for the response Brian

I have a bit of a building problem and am asking for any advise or ideas anybody might have. I made a bracelet for my wife as a birthday present as I was finishing it she asked if I could add some horsehair from her good ranch horse of 20 years that we had to put down last summer. I said I would try but am having trouble coming up with how to add something. I had made the bracelet (which is kangaroo 8 plait square 1/6" stands doubled over) to just fit and I do not have the extra length to add knots that circumferences the plaiting and still fit. I thought about lacing the two together but do not have a fid small enough to work under the strings. I am at a lose on doing this and think I will make another bracelet to add the horsehair. Any thoughts or ideas on how to do this in any form, I would appreciate. Hope everybody had a great and fun 4th. Thanks for looking

You want to bevel the flash side. The reason for this is that all of the strength of leather is on the hair side. If you cut into that it will weaken your stand, but beveling the flesh side will make a nice even braid when finished. It is harder to cut though so you will need your knife extremely sharp. The y knotlace is a great tool and you should have no problems after a little practice