rawhide1

Thanks fellas for the replys. My buddy is a huge OU fan. He's just gonna wear them to games. So they'll not see any heavy use at all. Mr. Young I sure appriciate the kind offer of being able to call ya for help. If I get in a bind I'll fer sure do that. Thanks, Mike

Howdy all I was wondering were y'll got your chap leather from and what weight you used. I need some crimsion (OU) colors for a pair of chaps. I found something close at Springfield but was wondering were else a fella might look. And what weight do y"ll use the stuff at Springfield was 3-3.5oz that seemed kinda light to me. But I'm not a chap maker yet. These are for a buddy. I looked at the suppliers on here but was wondering if there were anymore out there. Thanks, Mike

Howdy all I'm in the need for a couple of patterns. I need a pattern for show chaps for kids and I also need a pattern for rodeo chaps for a adult..I looked at MarkB site and I'll I saw was chinks and armitas. I'd be willing to pay for the patterns. So if someone could point me in the right direction or sell me a copy of their patterns. It would be greatly apprciated. Thanks, Mike

Very nicely done!!! I think a concho glued or screwed in the center would look dang nice!!! Great job, Mike

Nice looking work!! Mike

I'll try some tomorrow and if a get it I'll let ya know Mike

Got it thanks!? Mike

Have you tried a six or eight bight Turks head. Mike

What type of knob? Mike

WScott Thanks for the kind words. That's the great thing about kids. I see every mistake I made big as day!! But she had the biggest grin on her face and I got the biggest hug and I love you from her. Nough of the sappy talk from me!! Mike

Leatherpownder I'm curious as to how the paper bag helps in the rolling process. Thanks, Mike

Leatherpownder I'm curious what does the brown bag do. Thanks, Mike

Buck I do have a Bryn Nubert string cutter. Lol I just don't like to use it to cut my initial string. But I will use it to cut my finial strings. Didn't mean to mislead anyone. Your a lot handier than me that's fer sure. Your method sure seems to work for you. As your gear looks nice. Mike

Buck Thanks for sharing your method. I also enjoy hearing how others prepare their strings. For some reason I have trouble cutting from any shape oval, round, or other wise. So I'll start with a somewhat round oval shape. I'll then take my draw gauge or a sharp knife and start cutting around the hide generally 3/4"- 1". And if I do it freehand it's fer damn sure not uniform. I'll take and stretch that strip a bit. Then I go to cutting string. Any how that's what works for me. Thanks again, Mike

Buck I forgot to tell ya I got my rawhide from Bill Confer. He seems to have pretty good hide. Leatherpownder Thanks I've gotten alright at cutting string. Just because I screw up so much. I gotta cut a lot of it. I bet i cut all those knots off at least two or three times. The strings for the knots was a real nice dark Carmel color from dying it with coffe. But I had to go back and retighten them. It seemed that pulled the color right out of them. I'll keep looking at your stuff for inspiration !! Mike

Nice birthday present!! Mike

Thanks David

Pete thanks for the kind words. And yes she does love it. And although I wished it had turned out better. Having her be happy with it makes me feel better about it. Mike

Thanks fellas. I for sure need to get back at it. Can anyone give me a source for interweaving the gaucho. Thanks again, Mike

IMO you need to take more off when beveling. Your core looks like it might be to small also. Mike

I'd like to welcome you to a great site!!All though I don't get to braid as much as I would like or visit the this forum as much as I used to. If I can be of any service just holler. Nice looking work and looking forward to seeing more of your work. Mike

Wow excellent job!!! Mike

Very nice!! Thanks for sharing! Mike

Here's a belt I did for my youngest daughter. I don't get a chance to tool much(and it shows) but she was real happy with it. So I guess I'm happy! Mike

Well it's been awhile since I've posted anything and longer since I've braided something. And after seeing some of the work being posted I almost didn't post this. But what the heck here goes! I braided this for my daughter to use when she runs barrels and poles. The wrist strap is a four strand roo over a strip of rawhide. It's 8" long. The body is sixteen strand over a leather core. Including the popper It's 25.5" long. The two long knots are 8 bight knots with others being 6 bights. A few years back we had to put my daughters gelding down due to west nile(they think) so she wanted his tail hair worked into it. So I used it for a interweave and to skirt the poppers. Over all it turned out alright it has a great feel and action to it. Were I used the gaucho pattern it could of used a interweave. But I have never done that and didn't have time to figure it out. The strings were a nice brown color due to me dying it with coffee but I over worked the strings and you can see the result in color loss. It honestly looks better in person than these pics. show. I guess pictures really show the nitty gritty of stuff!! Mike