BrushyHillGuide

Thanks for the replies, guys! I'm price shopping right now because it's hunting season and I have tips coming in. I'm going to come back and get some more advice once I put a grand aside.

I'm considering buying my first sewing machine and there are some Adler machines listed on Craigslist. Just wondering if they're good machines? Prices vary from $700-$1k with tables. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks OldTimer! I may just take you up on that offer; but I'm going to keep looking for a while around here to see if I can find a local source. Thanks so much! Anyone else know anywhere here in the US?

I'm wanting to make some new collars for our blood tracking dogs at the ranch and I need to find some swivel rings - either D rings mounted on a swivel or circular rings mounted on a swivel, preferably brass. I know they are made because there are collars made with them; but I haven't been able to find a source to buy a few. Does anyone know where I can find some? The attached picture shows one on a collar. Thanks to anyone who replies! Nick P.S. Does anyone, by chance, have any patterns (shape/design, not carving pattern) for blood tracking collars?

I've been advised to start braiding with paracord so I went to Ubraidit.com to order a couple of spools and they're essentially out of spools. I'm just wondering if anyone has a good resource for buying some? There are a lot of different cords out there and I want to make sure I get the right stuff. I found some cord in one of our barns and I've been playing with it but it's really stiff stuff (with a core) and I've been advised to get some softer stuff. Anyone? Nick

Thanks Mike! It actually helps. As long as I can use a rounder to get the size I want, that's good. I'm still a LONG way from starting but I'm trying to figure out enough stuff to work towards doing a set. Nick

Thanks for the info, guys! If I want to use a braided rawhide core, how do I calculate the width of the strands to acheive the size core that I want? Nick

I'm wanting to try braiding a set of roping reins and I'm going to use kangaroo. I'm wondering what to use as a core and where to get it? I'm assuming I should use some sort of rope, like climbing rope? What sort of diameter is typical/commonly used for reins? Where's a good place to order what're you suggest? Nick

So, I was reading in Grant's book, "How To Make Cowboy Horse Gear" because I'm interested in braiding a set of reins for myself. I had planned to use kangaroo hide (with rawhide decorative knots) but Grant was also talking about rawhide reins. What I'm wondering is, how are rawhide reins made soft? I mean, I always thought that rawhide dried out hard and that this stiffness was sort of the point of using it! So, how is it that a set of rawhide reins can be braided so that they are supple enough - is the rawhide treated with something before braiding? Nick

If I'm doing ring knots and buttons with rawhide, do I need to bevel and split it? Or, if I use precut rawhide string from Tandy (I have sone 3/32), do I need to split it or bevel it or is it ready to use? I know that once I get to working on round braids with kangaroo I WILL need to have a Splitter and a beveler to do it right, though. Just wondering if I need to hurry and invest while I'm learning the ring and button knots I want to do with rawhide? Nick

Bryan- Is that PeeJay's beveler? I dunno why but it looked a little different to me. Nick

OK, if I'm going to get going on this (braiding rawhide and kangaroo), I'm going to have to invest in a splitter and a cutter/beveler, right? Can I get some recommendations on what to get? I don't want/can't afford to go out and get the most expensive ones out there, but I know enough that I need to get something good. So, can I get some options from y'all to look at - that won't totally break the bank? Nick

Thanks!

I'm thinking about ordering Bryan Neubert's "introduction to Braiding Rawhide" video because I'm struggling with learning the basic braiding knots from books. Has anyone seen the video? What I'm looking for is a step-by-step video demonstration of the basic knots so that I can pause the video at each step and do it myself. The video is pretty expensive and I hate to order it before I know if it's something that will really help me get started. Do you think this video would be really helpful to get me started? Thanks to all that reply! Nick

What weight leather do y'all use for spur straps? I'm new and learning and I was told the leather I used for my first pair is a little too light. I used a 5-6oz veg tanned leather. I am working on a second pair that's 9oz. But I'm wondering what people who KNOW what they're doing are using? Nick

Thanks so much for the encouragement and the hospitality, y'all! I've got lots of time working at the ranch where I can mess with braiding. I'm looking forward to it and trying not to get frustrated as I attempt to figure out some of the basics with paracord, LOL! I had some laying around and I already cut off my wife's broom handle - she's short so maybe she won't notice! LOL! Aggiebraider - I might just take you up on that offer! I have a buddy that lives in CS and it would be nice to see him; and it's not that far to go. Not sure if I can travel until after deer season is over, but I'm going to try. I'm hoping to find someone a little closer that I can reach more easily. I've asked around here and NOBODY (that I can find) knows how to braid and it's a shame because there used to be such a tradition of it in this area where ranching is a mainstay of our economy. Nick

Mike- Thanks for the encouragement! Can you explain the resist think to me? I have some acrylic resolene. I was under the impression that the purpose of the resist was to essentially mask off an area that you wanted to take stain or dye and that it sealed it off - preventing the dye or stain from penetration the treated areas. Does it just make the penetration less in the area that received the "resist?" If this is the case, is putting on different amounts/layers of resist a way to effect the amount of resist - in other words, will putting a single layer of resist allow more dye to penetrate than, say, 3 layers of resist; allowing for variation in the darkness of the leather depending on how many applications of resist are applied? Is there anywhere that I can read up on HOW they work so I can get a better understanding of the different types of resist and what they do/how they differ? Nick

KnotHead - Thanks for the reply! I have Grant's encyclopedia and the How to braid cowboy tack. I'll look for the others. I did buy a spool of 3/32 rawhide at Tandy on a whim but I've been waiting (until I get a real idea of what I should get) to buy anything else because I didn't want to blow a bunch of money uselessly. I was hoping for a cheaper material to practice with to learn the knots - thanks for the tip on the calfskin lace! What I'm really interested in is making reins, headstalls, halters, leads and and hackamores for my family's use, around the ranch and for friends. So, I'm interested in both rawhide and kangaroo lace. I'm sure that with enough fumbling around, I can figure it out from the book, but I thought that getting together with someone to show me some of the basics, that I could get off to a running start; and that it would help me to understand the stuff in the books. Maybe I'm wrong? Nick

Hi there y'all! I'm really interested in learning to braid and I'm wondering if there's anyone on here that lives down here in South Texas that would be willing to teach me, at least, some of the basics? I bought a couple of books on braiding but I'm still kind of frozen and unsure how/where to start. I'm a quick study but have always picked things up better visually and would really like to have someone to SHOW me some of the basics and help me figure out what tools I really need to get started. Braiding is something I've always wanted to learn and now that our 2 boys are old enough that they're learning to ride, I really want to learn so that I can pass the tradition of making their own gear on to them! I've got both of them carving a little leather (you should see all the spongebob stuff, LOL!) but don't have a clue about braiding and our oldest has been asking me. If you, or someone you know, would be willing to help me out, please let me know! You can email me directly at: brushyhillguide at gmail dot com or you can text me at 512 - 587 - 8651 I don't expect anything for free and will be willing to pay someone for their time and knowledge. I don't mind driving a few hours if I have to but am hoping I can find someone within 100 miles or so. I live about an hour due west of San Antonio. If I have to drive further, I'll have to wait until January because I manage a bowhunting operation and the season starts next weekend and lasts until mid-January. Thanks so much y'all! Nick

Is there a temporary masking agent that I can use and then remove or neutralize? From what I understand "resists" are permanent and once I apply them, the leather won't accept any type of pigment to that area. When painting watercolors I use a "liquid frisket" thats kind of like rubber glue that you can paint on and then peel off once you're done with it. Is there any product like this for leather work or has anyone tried using a liquid mask like those used in painting? Sorry if this is a stupid "newbie" question but thats exactly what I am! HAHA! Nick

Thanks Dirtclod! It's a pretty traditional American tattoo style eagle. I'm semi-retired from tattooing now (only doing very large projects that interest me) but I spent 16 years tattooing almost every day and I only do designs that I draw. Given the current popularity of tattoo designs in all sorts of clothing (and everything else) I thought there might be a market for leather work that draws from either traditional Americana style tattoo designs or Japanese tattoo designs - my particular specialty. All I have to do now is LEARN TO TOOL! LOL! I was tempted to jump into acrylics because I know how they'll work but I don't really want to put actual colors (red, green, yellow, etc) on the leather right now because I want to work with natural colors and try to stay with actual leather tones. If I color everything they will be loud and showy (like rodeo chaps) and not as simple or classy as traditional leather work. I've never been a big fan of 'showy' leather work- when I rodeoed I HATED having to wear flashy colored chaps but it was just part of the game and they helped judges score you. Otherwise, I would have just worn a pair of work chaps, LOL! So, before I get into actually painting any leather, I want to do everything I can to bring the designs out by only using traditional leather dyes. Thanks again, dirtclod! Nick

On the dye - the darker color is "Colorant Hi-Lite Raisin" and the lighter color is "Hi-Lite Color Stain Saddle Tan" I guess I used the wrong stuff? LOL! I kinda figured that those wing tips would get messed up with actual use but since they're for me for work, I don't really care if they get messed up - they'll hold my spurs on anyway, LOL! I just thought it would be fun, artistically, to make them that way. Thanks for the advice and the encouragement! I see all the flaws and it drives me nuts but at least I'm learning what NOT to do! Nick

OK folks, take it easy on me - this is my first try at tooling leather. I need a new set of spur straps, so I thought I'd try making one. Below is a picture of where I'm at right now. I drew the design freehand on paper and then transferred it. Obviously, I have some control issues with my knife and I have a lot of undercut- especially on the fine points. I'm going to be working on that. I'm also struggling with dyeing - the dye that I got in my little Tandy starter pack is really 'goopy' and I'm having a lot of difficulty applying is smoothly and evenly. Is it supposed to be thick and goopy? I would think that it would work better if it was a lot thinner and more like liquid; so it would go on more quickly and evenly. Am I missing something or doing it wrong? Is there a trick to getting a smooth and even application? Is there a BETTER dye brand to use? What I'm really struggling with is trying to find a way to use dye in order to shade things like the feathers - like I do when I'm painting. I do a lot of ink on paper painting (like watercolor only more permanent) and I think there's a way to apply the same technique to leather. Ink and dye are essentially the same and leather is sure no more porous that water color paper or board. What I'm going for is a tying together of painting and leather work but I don't want to use any colors other than the earthy traditional leather tones. Has anyone on here ever tried to do this? I'm pretty confident that I can do it if I can find a thinner dye to "paint" with or if I can thin out the dye I'm using. Does anyone have any suggestions? I would sure appreciate any suggestions, critiques, or tips you can give me on ANY aspect of what I'm doing (or not doing) to improve my work! Y'all are the experts! Thanks! Nick

Howdy! I wanted to introduce my self and warn y'all that there's a RANK newbie lurking around your forum! In fact,I don't even own a single leather working tool. As a craftsman inanother field, though, I know it's better to get advice beforejumping into something 'blind' and buying poor quality tools or toolsyou don't really need. So, I joined y'all in the hope that you'lltake pity on a newbie and help me get started properly! Here's a little background: Growing uparound a ranch in NW Wyoming, and working as an outfitter and cowboyas a young man, I've always had an interest in leather work andsaddlery. I drifted into a totally different business, though. I leftthe country behind and had a terrific career as a tattooer and artist, becoming very well known for my traditional American and Asian style work. A few years ago I got totally fed up with city life and the politics of the art world and began missing the country life I grew up in. I went into semi-retirement from art, moved to a tiny town here in South Texas and became the ranch manager for Texas' largest bowhunting ranch. I still tattoo and paint but only on select, large projects that interest me. Moving back to the country and my ranch work has re-ignited my interest in leather work. Believe it or not, there's a lot of similarity between the art styles I specialize in and traditional western leather tooling designs. I would like to use leather as a way to bring the two together. I'm hoping that some of y'all will help me to get started. I know that buying quality tools up front can make the learning process easier; but, I also know, that it's possible to over-buy or spend more money than necessary for tools that can't be appreciated until you are a real master of a craft. I'm looking to y'all for help finding that middle ground. Also, I need guidance finding some instructional material - books and, if at all possible, videos that will show me the basics. Once I have acquired some skill at tooling, I would like to buy a sewing machine and begin making chaps, spur straps and similar items; and, ultimately, I would like to attend a saddle making school. Can I please get some recommendations on leather tooling instructional materials, which tools (brand/maker)to start with and where to buy them? Thanks for taking the time to read this long intro post and thanks to everyone that tries to help me out! Nick P.S. Feel free to email me any of your suggestions.