rawhide1

I was waiting to see if the catahoulas showed up. We have one and she s the most hard headed dog I've ever seen! We haven't trained her to do anything but eat. Although shes hell on moles. There aren't a whole lot of them in Ks. Mostly around here you'll see Labs,heelers, Aus. sheperds and various coon dogs. Mike

Ben, Bob, and L'Bum I want to thank you guys for the contact numbers and sites!! I didn't relize there were so many choices out there. I've checked out alot of the differnet suppliers and makers. They all seem to be good tools and around the same price. I'm gonna call Bob Douglas tommorrow and check on the Gomph and Osborne prices. Now comes the hard part of making a decsion. LOL But I reckon ya get what ya pay for. Once again I want to Thank everyone for taking the time to reply and helping me out. Mike

Brent I looked at the Weaver tools and they look like nice tools. But I don't have a tax # so I don't think I can order from them. But thanks for the suggestion. Mike

Hey fellas Thanks for the reply's I think I'll pick up a few more soda cans (it may take awhile) an go with the horseshoe brand punches. They sure are purty! Thanks again, Mike

I've been hunting some bag and end punches (1/2,5/8,3/4) I would love to get ahold of some Gomph or old osborne but since I can't seem to find any. Does anyone know of a place to get some good quality ones. I really don't want tandy or new osborne are their others out there. Thanks for any help in this matter ps also a good source for drive punches Mike

Tom Weldwood was suggested in another thread. I gave it a go and it seemed to work good. The best part is I bought it at a Ace hardware store. They have one that is eco friendly but it cost more so I went with the un eco friendly one. Mike

Steve Thanks for the help. I sent ya a pm Mike

As some may recall I have a Pfaff 1245 and I appreciate all the help in the past. I have a new question how big a needle can I run in that machine and how heavy of thread. I'm using 138 on top and 69 on the bottom right now with I think a size 19 0r 20 needle(needle size could be wrong as I'm at work and can't look at it). The reason I ask is I'm sewing two pieces of 15oz. bridle leather together and while it's working I'm getting some needle deflection I think. Which can turn a 5 min. job into a 45 min. job and a whole lot of cussing which my wife doesn't appreciate. I realize I'm probably pushing the machine to it's limits but it's the only one I got. So I thought if I could use a bigger needle it might handle it better. Thanks for any and all help Mike

If I'm using rawhide I just bevel the hair side. If I'm using leather like say roo I'll bevel the flesh side. But If I'm using real small strings I wont bevel at all because the strings are going to be pretty dang thin to start with. You will wind up with a nicer looking work if you bevel your strings when you can. Like anything else there are a lot of ways to skin a cat ya just have to figure out what works best for you. Have fun braiding. Mike

Heather I like to stand while braiding. And this is going to sound plum weird. But after standing awhile my knees and feet start a hurting so I'll stand on one foot and rest the other by putting the bottom of the foot on the calf of the leg I'm standing on. I'm sure it looks weird but it sure feels good. When I'm tying knots I like to sit for awhile and then stand up and lean against a counter or something. And like Rob I really feel it in my shoulders and my neck. I also have to make a effort not to stand all hunched over. Mike

Josh We used to cut them out of a side of latigo or harness. I'm to sure were ya can buy them precut. I do have part of a harness side left. But it's getting pretty close to the belly. If harness is okay let me know the length ya want and weight. And I'll see if I can get any out of that side. The side is 15 to 16oz. So we can split them down to whatever ya need. Maybe one of the saddle makers would cut ya some if ya want latigo or I can get any from that side.. Not much help I know but maybe a couple of ideas. Mike

Dan I just ordered some clearLac which is the same as neatlac from Panhandle leather in Amarillo. I think Springfield leather carries it also. Mike

pella Have ya tried Wicket&Craig. They got dang nice bridle leather and I'm sure they would do their best to get you the exact weight ya wanted. Just a idea. Good luck. Mike

I think ya did a great job on those. Thanks for sharing Mike

dirtclod I appreciate ya taking the time to answer my question. I had always used resolene on headstalls but not reins. Dont know why just the way I was taught I reckon. But it's nice to know someone uses it on reins and it works. So I'll add that to possiable finish to use list. I posted this question in another part of the forum and got some other methods to. Right now I'm using saddle soap and water. It seems to do a good job. I'm going to try some other stuff also as soon as I quit being lazy and find a place to order it from. Once again thanks for the advice. Mike

KAW Very nice work!! The knot on the handle looks perfect. And I really like how ya use rawhide and buckskin together when you build your sheaths. Thanks for sharing Mike

Mikel I have some 15-16oz russet colored harness from wicket and craig. And I'm fixing to get in some med brown 15-16oz. English bridle leather from them. I use the bridle leather for 1.5"widex60"long truck belts for guys at work(fire dept.) I use the harness for reins and other misc. tack. I could probably cut ya a blank out of either for $40 plus shipping. Let me know Mike

Alan I'm sorry to say I wont be in the area at that time. It sounds likeyour going to have a heck of a good time. I'm just going to wish ya aHAPPY B-day in advance. Have fun and be careful. Mike

leatherroo can you show a picture of your knot. I never could and still cant make out diagrams. But maybe if I see the actual knot I could help. Mike

Ross There aint nothing to be sorry about it worked good. Maybe I just aint holding my mouth right.LOL I reckon the more I do it the better I'll get at it(thats what I tell the wife). I used wicket&craig. The edges slicked up pretty fast. It took a little bit to get the back layed down especially the closer I got to the neck end. I reckon if I split all the hangy things off it would go a lot faster. Although with that homemade brew I used to use it would lay that stuff down. I'll keep after it. Barra That looks like a pretty good setup. I'll have to build one and give it whirl. Thanks fellas Mike

Ross I tried the saddle soap and canvas and it worked good. I about wore my arm off though. LOL I want to try a few other things such as the products hidepounder mentioned. But until then I will use the saddle soap and canvas method. Your help is greatly appreciated Mike Hidepounder Thanks for the info. I think I'll try the horsemans one step and if you find where to get the tanners let me know. It doesn't bother me that it darkens the leather. By the time I get done with all my testing I'll have more bottles of stuff around than I can shake a stick at. Your help is also greatly appreciated Mike

Ross Thank You very much!! I will give that a whirl. Much Appreciated Mike

I posted this question in the how do I do that section. I think I should of put it here. So here goes again. What does everyone use as a finish on harness leather in particular split reins. When I worked in a tack shop years ago the fella running the shop had his own stuff he mixed up. And it really slicked the reins up and layed the fibers down on the flesh side. It had the constancy of mayonnaise. I know it had lanolin(sp) in it but what else I don't know. So does anyone know of a good dressing that will do that or something similar. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Mike

Very nice work!! And what makes it more impressive to me is it's so small. Thanks for sharing your wonderful work. Mike

I was wondering what y'all use as a finish on harness leather. In particular on split reins. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Mike