KnotHead

Yes. That is a damascus fid. My tool maker friend sent it to me last year. I love the feel of it and to work with it. Thanks for the very kind comment also. B... I'm still trying to gather some tools and some more practice leather for doing some sheridan work and combine that with some more braiding. That's the idea anyway. LOL... Thanks for the kind comment also. B...

Thank you very much for the very kind comment Pete. B...

Yep. I like Hardtke in El Paso also. But only for the hide I'm out of and can not get the order from Australia fast enough. I don't get that much of a discount from my supplier in Australia. It's about the average price that anyone else would pay. I get mine from that supplier because I have met him over skype and gotten to talk with him a bit. I know that I get the best hide I can get from him becuase he hand picks for me. He's one of the Packer Leather suppliers and gets his stuffed and done at their plant and then goes and picks the ones he likes the best. Not much to it actually. I do cut all my own lace from those hides I buy from my supplier. B...

Approximately the same width of the lace from the edge and the same in spacing the holes apart from each other. Brian...

I concur with the above post as well. Rounding the corners will be best and will deliver the best result. Also, your holes are too far apart and the holes from the edge should be a tad bit closer to the edge. A good rule to follow with edge braiding is; 1/8th inch lace - This should be 1/8th inch from the edge and your holes should have 1/8th inch between each hole, or the same distance as the hole punch. I use this rule even with the 45 degree chiseled holes that I use in most of my edge braiding. It has worked well with my edge braiding. Just my 2 pennies worth. Brian...

Yep. Megabit did a real nice photo tutorial of a 4 strand ring knot. Here's the link, http://www.flickr.com/photos/casa-megabit/sets/72157626253787004/

Interesting. I'll have to give that a try out. Thanks for passing that along. B...

No prob Pete. B...

The general calculation that I use is the width of the string times how many strings you braid. For instance, 1/8th(0.1250) x 10 = 1.25. But since you're doing a crocidile ridge braid you might end up having to add 2 more strings to make up for the ridge in the middle. I am not sure of that part yet myself. So you should experiment with some cheap lace first to find out for sure. Using a conditioner or a soap is not a good idea for the felt that it will lay against. You might consider pre-conditioning the strings and letting them sit over night to dry out then braiding the next day. This might help out. I'm no expert at dying leather. I buy all my leather already dyed the color I need. But I have heard that if you dye the hide you will have to seal it when done so that it does not bleed color. Brian...

This is just my opinion and I am only speaking for myself here. But I do not recomend putting beads on a leash in the fashion of the first photo. This will only serve to weaken the leash at those points. If you buy your beads with a big hole and put them on over the braid and hold them in place with a ring knot(tutorial), this will be better for the leash strength wise. Brian...

The handle part is back braided into the leash part of the dog leash. Usually it is back braided about 1 to 1.5 inches into the leash and then covered with a knot. Most of us have our own methods of doing this and our own measurements in which we use. But I would suppose that most will back braid about 1 to 1.5 inches into the leash. But I can only speak for myself though and this is what I do.

Hi Zina. Which page are you on in Grants book? Edit: Never mind I found it. Here's a video. This dude calls it a zipper stitch. So pay no attention to the name. The knot, or braid is done the same way with cord as with lace. B...

Hi. Which braid from Grants book did you decide to start with? Usually when you're braiding for the first time, something simple to understand is best to start with. For example, I started braiding a simple 4 strand round braid. I kept on that braid till I learned to braid that braid without any gaps and how to even my hands when braiding. ie: even handed meaning - a balanced braid. not too tight and not too loose and straight braiding with no gaps. If you picked out a braid that requires you to concentrate a bit harder, you'll find yourself frustrated. By starting out with something simple, you'll find yourself learning how the braid works. For example; the structure of the braid and why it has to be done like it has to be done. Braiding is like teaching yourself how to read again, or riding a bike. Something like that anyway. LOL... I find that most just learning are not impatient with the braid. But with themselves and the learning curve behind braiding. Just as I don't know how to leather carve, there are many mufti-faceted steps to carving leather than most realize. It is finding a common ground(experience) between what you are familiar with and braiding that will aide you the best. Learning the braid at this point is best rather than depending on your patience. Hope some of this helps you out. Don't hesitate to ask and post your images of your braiding when you need help. We are glad to help in any way we can over the net. Best regards, Brian...

Wow! Nice work! B...

Very nicely done for your first bosal. I love the heel knot. You did very well on that. The braid itself is very nicely done and appears from the photo to be evenly done with an even hand. The ring knots on both sides look good as well except for the one on the right side where it tends to look a bit tighter on one side. I even had problems with my ring knots doing that for the longest time. The nose button looks good as well except for the ends where they creep up on you as the lace dried. I think I remember some where in Alan's tutorial about leaving a little extra at the ends on the nose button to allow for shrink as the lace dries. But I could be wrong. But I still love the whole project and I must say " WOW " on such an awesome job. Well done and I do look forward to seeing more of your work in the bosal area. B...

Cheryl. You're awesome. I am in agreement with what you said about burnishing the edges. Unfortunately, I don't have a way to do that just yet. I have a friend of mine working on a few burnishers for my dremel and my drill. Thank you for your very kind comment and critique. On the next belt I do, which will be my fancy church belt, I will do a burnishing for sure if I need to. B...

Thanks for the kind comment megabit. I am going to do something else to this belt. But I have to wait on some more hide to get here. LOL... B...

Well, if I was retired from this thing called a full time job, it would have only taken me about 2 or 3 maybe 4 days to do. But since I'm not it took me about a week or so to do. I have been working on it about 2 to 4 hours per night after work. You'll find as you're learning this craft the learning will require patience and a whole bunch of care, mixed with some more patience and a dab of concentration in its purest form. Thank you for the very kind comment also. I am looking forward to seeing some of your work in the future. B...

Well my work belt is all done. At least the braiding part of it is. I don't know where I will take it next. But I have a few ideas running loose in my brain. LOL... Hope ya'll like it so far. B...

25.5 inches X 21 inches X 1.0 inches thick. It's heavy for sure. LOL...

I don't have the basic tools yet. Just the granite and a mallet that I don't think will be heavy enough. I need to get me some scap veggie tanned hides to practice with also. Wish I could just jump in. But I will wait till I have the things I need and then jump into the fire with both legs. LOL... B...

Hey thanks Cheryl. I just have to bite the bullet on the Tandy cost for the darn poundo board. I should be kicking my butt for not buying it when I was in El Paso on vacation. LOL... B...

Okay. Got my first piece of granite from the granite shop around the corner for $60.00 and it's huge and heavy. LMAO!!! See the image. LOL... But at least it will double as a roll out for my braid work. LOL... Now for the poundo board and the rest of the basic tools. Brian...