barbiesdude

What do you guys use for a cutting surface on a work table? I'm looking to move up from my wife's kitchen cutting board, but anything I've found so far with any size is major $$$$. Looking to stay under $100.

I have a Hansen string cutter. It works well and has a small splitter attached for cheaper that most other cutters.

Hitching Post Supply carries kangaroo lace.

I braid mecates quite a bit. I wouldn't worry about burning the end, Double Diamond burns there's and Buck B. uses them. I use a wood burning tool with the chisel point and burn the end conical shaped. 2 strands of para cord or a 3/16 strand of nylon cord will get you 9/16 on a 12 strand. So far (for me) I have not pre-shrunk the cord. I braid just snug and I don't reef on each strand like a reata or something. Just give each strand a slight tug BEFORE you bring it around and hold the rest between your other thumb and index. I braid 23' for a 22' because it will "relax" a little when you are done braiding, then over the next year they will tighten up as they get horse sweat,rained on, and grime. I have experimented quite a bit on the horse hair shoo fly and have settled on my way to do it. U Braid it's instruction didn't work for me on that part. For a regular knot to finish I used to do a heel knot like a bosel out of the ends and then take a strand or two of para cord and braid a pineapple knot over that. Buck B. showed me how to braid the Gaucho out of the ends like his and that works out pretty cool. Good luck

Thanks all, It will be a few days ubtil I have time to sew again (braiding projects to finish), But I will check the things you suggested and report back. I appreciate the time in answering my post.

Just got a used Boss in good condition. Went by the manual on threading and tension to the best of my newbie ability. When stitching, every couple inches it advances the leather but then pulls it back making a short stitch. Any ideas on why this is happening? Doesn't seem to be a timing issue it seems like maybe to much tension somewhere. Thanks

Is this the same pattern used on the backs of saddles joining the rear skirts? Which pattern is it in Grant's book?

Looks Awesome! What kind of aplique did you use? Also how do you gauge your holes to pull the burner up tight. Jamie

I do run it through before I bevel, it seems to keep the fuzzys down and seems to give the blade a better bite. I havent soaped before I split though. I have a little OCD with my braiding as well. I have washed and took a real soft brush to get the excess flaky stuff out of the v's. I can't tell you exactly how many strands or what size because I haven't done a 3/4" but I can tell you what I did for my 1/2" ones and what I'm going to use on the 5/8's. The 1/2" I did 6 strands 1/8 wide x 1/16 thick give or take 32nd x 7' long. On the 5/8's it will be 6 strands 3/16" wide x 3/32" thick x 7' to 8' long depending on how long you make your nose button, mine are 7 1/4" to 7 1/2" long. On your 3/4" bosal you might use the same as the 5/8" but cut two more strands and do 8. I would also suggest doing the braiding method like in Alan Bell's tuttorial. It has worked REALLY well for me in keeping it straight ( OCD ). Hope this helps. Jamie

Hey Michael, What I do is take the lid off the tin, stick the end of a strand (flesh side down) hold it down with two or three fingers and pull it through the soap. Then I take the strand and pull it through my closed palm to once or twice to work in the soap and get rid of the excess. I don't suppose it should be to wet. Jamie

Hi Larena, I have done a couple latigo bosals. I beveled flesh side only at 45 degrees. They turned out pretty nice. You won't really know how rough or smooth it will be until you roll it. It will look totally different after rolling. One tip for you is to be careful when pulling your strands tight while braiding. Latigo doesn't have the tinsile strength of roo and trust me, it isn't any fun lacing a new strand back through after you snapped one 3/4's of the way done. Another thing that helped me in beveling is running your strands through some white saddle soap or rawhide cream. It seems to condense the edges and they don't come out so fuzzy. If you search latigo bosal you can see the ones I braided. Where did you get your latigo from? I'm am doing a 5/8's latigo bosal tomorrow for a customer.Good luck with yours. Jamie

Good look'n gear!

Hey All, Just wondering if anybody has any tips for the turnback part of braiding romals. Getting ready to start my first set and that is the only part I'm not looking forward to. I have Gail H's book but just checking to see if there was any more pics, tutorials, etc. like going into a project with as much ifo as I can get. Jamie

Looks really good! What is the firmness?

They look really good! Nice job. Jamie

Thanks Michael, couldn't have done it without your help with the nose button. For the foundation I did a leather heel block/spacer that I screwed in from the inside with a brass wood screw (pre-drill). then I tied two ring knots, the top one big and bulky, the bottom a little less by using a little narrower string. Then typical loopty loop with your plaiting strings around the two knots. Here is where I might have gotten a little out of the box. I took another brass screw and and screwed between the v's in the bottom ring knot through the core into the heel block to secure even more, If that heel knot pulls off, it was one heck of a wreck. Then I took a piece of latigo or chap leather about 3/8" or 1/2" x 1/16" thick and glued and wrapped around the works. I skived/edged the edges to smooth. Then did my pineapple. Hope this makes sense. Going to do some more experimenting this week with cores. A rolled core with a twisted core around it? I'll let you know how it works out. Jamie

Thanks everyone for the nice comments. Rob, I sure have looked at your's and Allen's tutorials a BUNCH. They have been a big help. Enrique, The dimensions on a bosal can vary, depending on the size of horse, or what the customer is wanting. Basic dimensions are 10"- 12" bottom of nose button to top of heel knot, 4 1/2" inside cheeks widest spot, 7 1/4" - 8 1/4" nose button ( while is is flat out, before bending over ). Jamie

I had this one sold to a friend, so he got the good buddy discount of $125. But I think I will charge between $150 and $200 from now on, depending on the size. I know that may still be a little cheap but I know people who have started out making saddles and letting them go for less than they would like, just to get their name out there. Now they are in demand and charging more what they want. Hopefully this will work for me too. I would say your second bosal will be awesome! Your first one sure looked good. How do you do your cores? and what stiffness are they?

Hey Aggie, That one was 6 strands and I did the braided method instead of the spiral. Looking forward to seeing your work. Jamie

Here is my second bosal. Pretty much the same as the first except this one turned out even better. Plaiting straighter, core med. soft not as floppy as my first, pineapple bigger with more bites and interweaves. The really cool thing is that this one is sold. Thanks again for everyone's help in answering my questions. I'm sure I will have more. Jamie

How do you make a solid sewn core? I have a trainer wanting me to braid him a 1/2" or 5/8", but he wants it pretty firm. Thanks Jamie

Thanks CharlieR, I ordered a 4/6 oz side from Sheridan Outfitters. It was there Big Horn latigo. Really good to braid with. I think next time I'll order a little heavier and split down so I can still have some thicker stuff for hangers, saddle strings, and such. You can get pre cut latigo from different places but it is pricey and I can't speak as to the quality of it. I have found out that all latigo is not created equal, I had to send back a side I ordered from another supplier because it was to soft and I would be snapping strands right and left trying to get a good tight even braid. Some people on this forum sale lace they have pre-cut, you probably would have better luck from them getting better quality stuff. Happy Braiding Jamie

Well here it is, my first bosal. 12 pl. cheeks, 24 pl. nose, 1/2" latigo. Thanks for everyones help, advice, and tips with all the questions I've been asking. Jamie

Thanks for the tips Brad, I'll be giving it a shot in the next day or two. I've started a hackamore and got the core covered in 12 pl. and the two ring knots on for the nose button. It's gonna be a real "raggy" "floppy" one as I didn't realize that just a 4 strand reata like braid would be that limber when covered. I thought about starting a new one but figured I'd go ahead and finish just to get one under my belt. Jamie

Yep, Makes sense. Thanks a bunch. Do you use regular contact cement to glue down the ends, and do you glue down all the way across?