Nod4Eight

I started making chinks a few years ago because I wanted some and, well - I'm cheap and thought it would be a fun project. They turned out "unique" but I still wear them regularly. Since then I have made and sold 7 more pairs to friends etc. I finally got to where I felt my work was good enough to consign some at the local tack store. I dropped them off a couple weeks ago. They aren't near as fancy as some of the stuff you guys are making - they're just plain old utility chinks for every day work but they are well built. I went in today to pick them up so I could take them to our local horse expo next weekend and found out that they sold! My first sale to someone besides a friend or family member. I thought that was pretty cool. When I got back to the barn I made another sale - special order from a lady who's daughter is taking riding lessons. Pretty good day.

He's a hoot, like I said - I love talking to the old timers. They've got some great stories and most of the time they just want someone to listen. I wish now that I would have started recording some of my conversations with some of the old guys I've talked to over the years. I've gotten lesson in things from making ropes, to breaking horses to how to sharpen your knife. Nothing profoundly different than we do today but it's mostly in the way they share their memories so fondly. Anyway - I got that hide out and scrubbed it down real good with my hands to get the straw and dirt off the flesh side. Since it's been a frozen wad in my freezer, today was the first time I've really seen it. I think next time I'll go try to skin it myself. There are a few holes in the hide in prime places - middle of the back, shoulder etc. It's not going to make a lot of lace but hopefully I can work around the holes somehow. It's in a muddy mixture of hardwood ashes and water right now. I had that on hand and figured I would try this the old fashioned way. The hair was slipping pretty good anyways so I'm not too worried about getting all the hair off. After that it will be a chore to finish fleshing it as there are still some chunks of meat on it and plenty of loose membrane to get off it. I carefully cut some off but I definitely agree a smooth surface without hair underneath would make that an easier job. I'll try to post some more pics this weekend but for now I got a lot of work to do

What was the condition of the cow it came from? Doesn't BG say colt hide makes excellent riata, but an old skinny cow does too? That's from memory though... It would be great to see someones riata project start to finish on here. I was wanting to try one this winter but it slipped away so fast!

Good question and I'm interested to hear the replies. I haven't put together a full bosal yet but in practicing with some scrap pieces I've made some braided cores and they seem to be very soft or floppy, even after braiding over them. An idea I had was this - I know some people put hondas in boiling water for a short time to stiffen them. Would this work with braided core as well or would it be too stiff or brittle then?

Haha, he's just an ol farmer with a bunch of goats and he just happened to butcher one recently. It was partly my fault for not being able to get there for a day or two. He's not a supplier by any means. Plus he's an old timer (almost 90) and those guys are fun to talk to. My gal is gonna make some cookies for him and his wife so we can go listen to some more of his stories. Hopefully next time he butchers I can get there quicker or explain how to keep it cleaner until I can. I've got 3 or 4 places on stand by to contact me when either they butcher or an old animal dies so I'm sure this is just the first of many and I'll learn from it. Oh yeah - a stink emoticon wouldn't begin to describe this thing!

Great point Denise! That makes sense about having a smooth surface to flesh it out good. Change in plans already!

Hi all - So I finally got one of those goat hides to work with. It's my first attempt and I feel like I'm starting in a bit of a hole. I'm not complaining since I got the hide for free, but man is it dirty! The guys dog drug it thru the dirt, supposedly didn't chew on it though. It was wadded in a ball and put in the freezer. That's how I got it and its been sitting in my freezer for a week or so and the weather finally might cooperate with me. So here's the plan so far. I put it in a large tub and its soaking now. I'm thinking its gonna take several baths to get this thing clean. Once its clean I'm going to give it a good once (or twice) over on the flesh side with a draw knife to clean that up. Then back into a lime bath. Then de-hair it and rinse it off good again. Then a short rinsing bath with a very small amount of vinegar to bring the pH back to around normal. Then into the frame I made out of 2x4s to dry in the barn so it's sheltered from all the rain we've been having. Cut it out of the frame and slice into ~1 inch strap spiraled all the way around. Then stretch... split... cut into laces for whatever project I decide to do with it (haven't thought that far ahead). A few questions - Is this thing salvagable? Has anyone worked with and recovered something this dirty? I'm mainly interested in learning this process - so if I don't turn out with braidable material I won't be too disappointed, but it would be nice to be able to use it. How does my plan look? Am I missing steps? Am I doing something I needn't do? I'll try to keep this updated as it comes along. I have been reading through old threads and you all have indirectly helped me out a bunch so far - thanks!!

You got the Neubert ones comin?

I was halfway afraid of that, but I confess - I shared after I have either seen or queued mine.

Haha, I promise I don't make a dime off of it. It looks like they just got "4 strands of rawhide" I hadn't seen it on there before - queue it up!

I've been reading through old threads and thought I would share on this one. I am also one of those who get more out of seeing something done. Grants encyclopdia got me a long ways but watching Bryan Neuberts video really made a lot come together for me. Here's the cool thing (at least for me, I was excited to find it). I found it at giddyupflix.com It's a service much like netflicks but specializes in equine videos. I watched Bryan Neuberts first braiding video and his second is in my queue. I know there are a lot of "horse guys" on here as well and it has a lot of harder to find videos that you can rent rather than spending the (sometimes very high price tags) money to purchase. I also have some stuff by Richard Caldwell, Jeff Sanders and Martin Black on the way. Just thought I would share.

I like the idea in figure 3 with a slight change. Why use 2 completely different braids? I was playing with some Roo and made a bracelet for my gal. 4 strand round braid with a terminal knot on both ends, looped so the ends wrapped around past the other end and a Spanish ring to keep it in place and act as a slide. You would just do it on a longer scale. It worked good until it stretched out, I didn't stretch my strings

Welcome to the site from another south-Idahoan. Are you as sick of the weather as I have been?

Very good job - like we would expect anything else from you.

I'll put some pics on when I get it done. I haven't posted any pics yet, the stuff you guys (and gals) make puts my stuff to shame. Practice, practice, practice right? Brian - silly question here. When lacing edge like that, do you punch holes around the edge? The holes I pierce with my awl wouldn't be big enough I think.

Thanks, I do and I'll give that a try... Now to find the time to finish that project up.

I like it. I'm gonna try my first edge braiding on a set of buckin rolls I'm workin on, to fancy them up since I'm not much of a tooler. I'll probably start with a lil simpler pattern. They are pretty much an oval shape so no sharp corners lol.

Very nice!

just an FYI for ya. The reason a bridal horse uses rein chains to connect the bit to the reins is that a spade but is a signal bit as opposed to a leverage bit. The slightest of signal is relayed from the reins, through the chains to the bit. That's where the weight and balance function of the buttons comes in. Come on down to Idaho for a weekend and I'll trade you some horse experience for some of your braiding knowledge. - Rob

Sorry, can't help ya out, I struggle with the long buttons as well. I've started doing them with a multi strand braid and doubling back as shown in Bryan neuberts video and I can get a much straighter braid.

I really like the look of that braided thong one. Its a 4 strand round braid (made from 2 strands looped through the actual tie down leather). Braid it down about 8 or 9 inches. I won't go into how to braid 4 round (I'm not good at typing directions) but there are some good tutorials on u tube or check out the braiding section. Its not tough to do 4 and looks good. The knot at the end is called a terminal knot - that's what I call it anyways. Its not a TH. The instructions on that website were pretty good for that. Either way good luck!

Absolutely amazing! I was curious too, about if you treated the hair. I've played around with braiding hair a little bit but it turns out all fuzzy. I ran into a lady who braids horse hair in a nearby town and she offered to teach me some - now if I can carve some time out to do it. Does the phrase 'too many irons in the fire' ring a bell? Once again, beautiful work!

I like the vinyl floring scraps myself. Most of my work is in chinks and chaps so the bulky pattern doesn't bother me. I write any info I need to remember on the back, its free and I like that I can store it flat or roll it up. And its very durable.

It was stated earlier several times but what I thought of when I read your post was braiding. Rawhide or leather or both - there are many possibilities. Its challenging but if you get good at it it may work for you. There are several good books to teach you - check out Bruce Grants encyclopedia its a great reference. If there's the will there's a way. Good luck!