KnotHead

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...

Well here's a show me video from youtube on the bead reamer. This tools can be used on just about any bead hole and just about any material used in bead making. http://youtu.be/qJrIwEdzH-ohttp://youtu.be/qJrIwEdzH-o There are many places online that have them for sale. Just do a google " bead reamer " and it will come up with a bunch of listings. But of course in the end you're the artist and this is your project and you'll make the final decision as to how to proceed. B...

Buy a bead reamer to ream the bead holes larger to fit the 6 strand braid. Even if you were to transition from 6 to 4 and back to 6 again, the areas are to short in length to take that much time to make the transitions, or buy bigger hole beads. This would be the only way to do this without compromising the leashes integrity. Just my two pennies worth. LOL... B...

Thanks Rick. I do appreciate the kind comments. Brian...

Thank you for the kind comment Rick. How's the life where the rocket ships and warm sunny beaches are? B...

Well side 1 is done. Now for side 2. What do ya'll think of side 1 so far? Brian...

You have the same mallet I do. I think I will be adding to my mallet and maul collection soon. Both 16 and 20oz... Thanks for the input Sylvia. I do appreciate the advice and the time you're taking to give it. Brian... I had no idea I was renown on LW... I try my best not to use the old navy verbage when cutting myself. LOL... But sometimes it really slips... LMAO... Brian...

I had meant to say thank you Cheryl for the very kind comment on my braiding. I am sure that you're far from satanic. LOL... I still have scars that show up really well in the winter time from my experiences in braiding. LOL... Brian...

This is the kind of thing I definitely need to read along with all the other suggestions. Thanks bear for your input as well. Your reply has been noted. I remember when I first started braiding. The lace I picked was obtrosious and should've never have been sold on the open market. Then I started cutting, beveling and splitting my own lace. Once I learned the kangaroo hide and what to look for in a hide, then the cutting came. I bet I went through a ton of scrap pieces of kangaroo before cutting my first hide just to learn my tool without the blood sacrifices. LOL... To which I am sure that most of us on this forum have made more than once. Brian...

Thanks for the kind comment bones. My friend Peejay made that fid for me a short time ago. It is Damascus steel and Olive wood handle. Brian...

Thanks for the reply bones. I have noted that in my note pad. B...

What weight of maul do you all use the most? I am at Barry Kings now and looking at the mauls in both sections and wondering which weight is the most common to use. Brian...

Thank you both for your replies to my question. This will help a great deal when picking tools out to start with and then move up as I progress. Turns out I already have two of the tools in the list. Hammer & Swivel Knife. B... Granite slabs not a prob. I have a granite place near by that should have some decent scrap pieces laying around for cheap. B...

I have a serious question for all the leather carvers. If given a choice in how many tools and which tools to use for leather carving; How many tools and which tools would you pick? My end goal is to do Sheridan carvings. I am interested and ready to start my own carving for belts and wrist straps. I also realize that like with anything else this takes time and patience to learn and develop a good hand and eye for the work and project at hand. I understand this because I am braider ready to take my skills to the next level and be able to offer my customers a higher quality product. Any help is much appreciated. Brian...

Thanks for the very kind comment. All the lace I cut, bevel and split myself from the hide. It's all kangaroo lace. Plans for finishing, I have none right now. I might put a couple of concho's on there. I don't know yet. It's just a work belt with a bit of an attitude. LOL... I thought I might use it as a show piece by wearing it around some of my customers at work. Never know, might sell a few of them. LOL... B...

Thanks for the very kind comment. B...

Thought I might post something since I have not in a while. This is my latest project for myself this time. LOL... A work in progress... B...

Depending on the project, I'll use my braiding clamp that was made for me. In a dog leash project I'll use a clamp to hold the start of the leash in and then work the project up and out as the length of the leash increases. For the simple 4 strand braid I don't use anything to hold the braid, providing that the braid does not go over 20 inches or more. For my more elaborate project consisting of more than 10 strings I will use either a bench vise or my braiding clamp. Brian...

Any of the buttons is good for me. I like looking at the details of the buttons. Must be the geometrical shapes and angles. B...

Most excellent. I just wish I could see some of the button details though. B...

Looks to me like the braider took a strap and punched some holes in it about 1/4 inch apart and folded the strap like a map is folded and then sent a off color piece of rounded leather through the wholes one fold at a time. Kind of like the way the old slit braiding. But done on a flat piece of strap. Brian...

I love the look of your quirt troy. It has the taste of a whip maker in the style you present it. Very interesting and also very nicely braided. As for the use of a quirt, I am not a horse owner. So my definition of the use of one would be far from correct. B...