TXAG

Yeah, I was requesting the link in the quote I posted be updated because I could use that info about now and the link doesn't work anymore. In fact, I've found most links I've tried to follow on here from threads even just a year or two old don't work anymore. Just my luck...was trying to search more again instead of begging for help in my thread repeatedly.

Ok, I am now able to consistantly tie the 5x4 TH. Proceeding on to gaucho knots...I hope. I tried the Bud Brewer "tutorials" (pictures) and cannot follow them. If anyone can recommend any other additional resources for going from a 5x4TH to gaucho knot, please let me know. I tried stormdrane's tutorial too and cannot seem to follow it either...(I stop it every couple of seconds because he goes extremely fast and it's hard to keep up with where he is in the knot watching it at full speed...and apparently even when I pause it because I still cannot get it to look right that way either...)

Could this please be made available again? I tried to download it after searching and got a 404 error.

Wish I'd seen this earlier. Oh well.

Did these last night...hopefully, they are correct 5x4 TH...

So...I found this page... http://pineappleknotstutorials.over-blog.org/article-making-the-7x6-turk-s-head-knot-using-the-mule-90261560.html ...which led me to this link... http://books.google.com/books?id=diG_FXiJMzkC&pg=PA22&dq=5+lead+4+bight+turk%27s+head+instructions&ei=DPSySaHzIoTOlQT6_YGvDg#v=onepage&q=5%20lead%204%20bight%20turk's%20head%20instructions&f=false ...and I think I FINALLY was able to tie this knot correctly. I will find out later when I try it again and then will add variations once I can tie it quickly. I did receive the books I ordered from Gail Hought...they are very well-made and the illustrations are great in them. I think once I get a bit more experience tying the 5x4, I will be able to progress through her books with time and practice.

Yeah, I see what you mean... It's too bad you're in Canada and have the shipping problem...I used to buy my cord (a whole heck of a lot of it) from Supply Captain (supplycaptain.com) but stopped using them lately due to the fact they stopped carrying ITW/Nexus buckles...since I have to go elsewhere for the buckles now, I get my cord elsewhere too. But...you might have better luck with their cord. They claim their commercial cord is made to the same specs and on the same machines as military specification cord. I've never had any problems with the cord shrinking before, so that may work better for you. Also, if you want to preshrink your cord (the stuff you have there now), I would recommend putting it in boiling water for a few minutes and then allowing it to air dry. Try to keep it out of direct sunlight as UV light is probably the worst for breaking down nylon over time. The more it's in the sun, the more brittle it will get over time. Probably won't hurt to dry it out in the sun, but I always recommend keeping it out of the sun just to reduce exposure to UV. But it does look like that tan cord shrunk on you...hopefully, pre-shrinking will eliminate the problem.

Ok, well I cannot see your pics (I would pick a free site like flikr or photobucket and upload them there)...and I am also not familiar with the cord that place sells, but I have bought tons (ok, maybe not tons, but at least thousands of feet) of cord from another supplier that says their cord is "made to military specifications" and have found that that is largely open to interpretation. In my experience, the cord from some manufacturers varies quite a great deal in thickness, texture, and durability. For instance, the "coyote brown" color I get from this place does not sear like normal paracord...it turns ashy and looks terrible...not nice and shiny like other colors. Some of their colors are quite a bit thicker than others also. Some have more internal strands than others, etc. It is also possible that your vendor sent you a mix of "commercial" and mil-spec cord, but you would've been able to see this when you cut the cord to length for braiding...the commercial/imported stuff is usually made up of a bunch of fuzzy strands that look more like fiberglass (it's nylon, but very, very fuzzy...not individual braided cords). The true mil-spec cord is made up of several (usually seven) internal braided strands for the core. The commercial stuff shrinks quite a bit when wet. Mil-spec cord does not (in my experience anyway). Not sure if that helps, but...I guess all I could recommend is to try a different vendor for the cord so that you (maybe...hopefully) get better consistency in your cord. Good luck with your projects...

Thanks, KH...I will try to get that book. I ordered two other books yesterday, so hopefully they will help too.

Still not having much luck at all in learning how to make the decorative beads for the lanyard I want to build. Wish I could find someone local to ask for help. There was one guy that seemed to post regularly on here but it appears he's dropped off the face of the Earth...(I sent him a PM, but he hasn't been back here since May). I was thinking about ordering Gail Hought's books after reading many positive things about them in other threads on here. I'm hoping the pictures and illustrations in those books are better than the Grant book I have...I am unable to follow several of them. I read someone else said there are steps missing in some of them, so that's always great too. Thinking about breaking down and just buying the lanyard from someone that will make me one that knows what they're doing. I need to figure out my threshhold of how long I want to bang my head against a concrete wall vs. just buying the thing.

So which braid is it?

NVM...not important and definitely not worth it...

Yes...I did try the tutorials I saw on that page prior to posting this thread...It was actually one of the first places I looked for instructions. Unfortunately, I have trouble following them. I've already looked in the places everyone knows about for instructions on turksheads...hoping someone else will have some possibly not as well-known links, like the one KnotHead provided before...I had not seen that one previously. Thanks for the link though. Maybe it will help someone else having trouble.

I probably should've mentioned that I've been making various types of lanyards for many years now...just not with leather...so I already know about breakaway clasps. I also remove all items from around my neck prior to working on any sort of moving machinery anyway (as well as any and all other situations where I "might get hung up by it"), so.......yeah. I did not ask for safety advice here -- I need help with the various knots and all. Thanks to folks that can provide any guidance on that info.

Thanks very much for those...I appreciate this info. Trying the turkshead again now...I keep getting lost between fig 5 and 6...will keep at it though... Thanks again...

Thanks for all the help here.

Howdy! I've been a member for a while, but mostly read...I learn more by reading than posting. I am in the National Guard and received a very nice compass for my promotion to Sergeant and wanted to learn how to make a lanyard for it. So I started reading threads in here and in other places...the more I looked into that, the more intrigued I became with the various knots and types of lanyards -- there is some really beautiful work shown here, btw! I've tried to learn some of the knots from online tutorials, but am having a bit of trouble. I thought about asking someone to make a lanyard for me, but I think it would be better if I could learn how to make it myself. I know the basics of braiding (round 4-strand plait around a core, 6-strand round plait (and flat), stuff like that), but I don't have all the tools to bevel my lace and all...so it doesn't end up looking very "finished". Seems like it might be expensive to accumulate everything I need. (Maybe I should ask to buy one after all...hehe) Right now, I am practicing with goatskin lace. I've read that kangaroo is the best, but should be split and beveled before use to result in a smooth finished product. I've also read I need to roll my braid after soaping it to help smooth it out. I've tried doing this (on a tile floor) and it really isn't any smoother than it was before. Maybe I need to bevel the goatskin lace...(though I don't have a beveler). I'm using 3mm lace right now woven around a piece of 550 cord. The next step in my practice piece is to try to make a gaucho knot slide...still trying to find a good 5x4 turkshead tutorial that I can follow to start with and not having much luck finding one I can understand. I read that I should weave the knot over a piece of leather wrapped around where the knot will be so that it will slide easier on the lanyard. Anyway, I will continue to read...if anyone has any other advice that I may need (or any particularly helpful tutorials that you've found helpful), please let me know. Forgot to mention I have the ABOK, Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding, and several other books on knots and braiding. I've been reading those a lot lately also. I'm going to hit them again tonight to see if I can find a good 5x4 turkshead diagram... Sorry about rambling on there...just wanted folks to know that I have been reading a lot on this and searching threads here for info before posting. Thanks for any assistance...

Hello... Can you please close this thread...? http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=37096&st=0#entry229271 I am not expecting any worthwhile advice or contributions on this topic at this time and do not have the energy to continue to beg for advice on this. I just won't do it. Thanks. Name: TXAG99 UserName: TXAG99 IP Address: 74.194.153.187 Email Address: 6jr4wqs4ug@snkmail.com

Ok, I guess I will figure this out myself. Thanks for all the generous help.

I am very new here, so I am certain many others will step in and correct me, but my Fiebing's "Mahogany" is very close to that color.

Well, if I just use one, I think I'd prefer the Conway buckle. Beautiful collars there, btw...

Hard to believe with 53 views that no one has any advice on this... Here is a conway buckle, in case anyone doesn't know what I'm talking about...(if you've ever worked with horses, you've seen them...) http://store.ryansproducts.com/ststcobu.html (Tried to post just a pic, but it won't let me...)

Howdy! I am new here and am just getting started in leatherworking. I would like to make a dog collar for a friend's dog. I bought some nice hardware...a stainless steel D-ring, small belt buckle type buckle, clip, and Conway buckle...all in 1" width. I have some 9-10oz shoulder and would like to use it to make the collar. I've been reading a lot on here since I joined to try to understand the various skills / processes needed to do things. The posts I've read have been very helpful so far. Can anyone help me come up with a way to make a nice dog collar using the Conway buckle? I've seen some online that use it, the d-ring, and a metal buckle, but they have the unfinished side on the inside...I thought it would be nice to make it dual layer and hand stitch it together so that it is finished on the inside and outside. I know the dog won't care but I think it would make for a nicer collar. Any pointers or advice greatly appreciated.