rawhide1

Well I finally got everything in to sharpen my splitter blade. Boy was I happy I went over it with my stones and then used it. I then thought man this can be a little sharper so I wemnt to hone a little more and slipped. Well I bleed like a stuck hog all over the kitchen but I got the bleeding stopped and finally got the wife to stop calling me a dumb**s. But seeing how it happened at 10:00 tonight and I really don't want to pay the ER 3 to 4 hundered dollars for a few stitches I'm hoping my Doc can do it tommorow along with a titnus shot. Lesson learned be careful LOL. Mike

Renee Welcome to the board!! There's more geat saddle makers on this board than you can shake a stick at. And their always more than willing to help. Mike

Since the Chiefs didn't make it this yr. LOL I be going for the Cardinals since they have never won one. Mike

John I'd tell my customer you get what ya pay for. I mean hell my 5y/o could tell the difference in craftsmanship between the two. I would think with the quality of your work you wouldn't have to explain anything. Just my .02 cents Mike

Sterlin I work either saddle soap or rawhide creme into my strings before braiding. The heat your hands produce works it into the strings real nice. And then after I'm done braiding I'll work one or the other into the finished work again. Sometimes there is some left showing in the braids but it always disappears with use and time. Mike

I'm still working!! Momma always said I was slow! Mike

entiendo No problem keep after it. Mike

JW Call Bill Confer at Tejas (806) 363-7232 email is confer@tejasindustries.com I've been real happy with any rawhide I've got from them. You can buy it pre cut up to a 1/2". I think 1/4" will run ya around .38cent a foot. But they will cut it as long as ya want it. It is not beveled so you would have to bevel it. Or ya can buy a circle, a side or a whole hide whatever's your fancy. I agree with Allen on caseing the rawhide. Hope this helps Mike

Tony I don't see a picture. MIke

entiendo I didn't want to cornfuse anyone so I did it just like the one in the book. But after I took the pictures and posted I did go back and bury my working end under three. Just so it would hold better and it doesn't make the braid look any different. But I do leave the standing end as shown. I haven't had one come out yet. But I reckon if a fella was worried about it he could use a spot of super glue on it. Tony My daddy always said if ya want to keep your wife happy keep your nails trimmed!! LOL But to tell the truth my nails usually aint trimmed and clean. Mike

entiendo Sorry not to get this posted sooner. Here are some pics of finishing it. I used a different color of roo and it's a little smaller. So it doesn't look as nice as if I had stayed with the black. But I thought you follow it a little easier. Hope this helps Mike

rawhider For some reason I just now saw this post. Nice work! Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work. Mike

entiendo Glad to help. Mike

entiendo Here are a few pictures. I left the braid loose so maybe you can see better. Once you get started just keep going over two and then thru the ring and then under the X. I'm on duty tomorrow so it will be Mon. before I can take pics of how to finish it. If you need help on that part. Hope this helps if not we'll try something different. [attac ment=20184:IMG_1285.JPG]

entiendo Thanks I'm glad you like it. As far as weight goes this is for my 4y/o daughter and it doesn't seem to bother her. I like them to have some wieght just so the tail end doesn't float around so much. But all this is JMO and I would love to hear others thoughts on the matter. Thanks Mike

Rob Thanks for the kind words. I'm pretty happy with it but I think I should have used more mane hair or made a smaller knot. The size of the knot compared to the amount of hair doesn't look right to me. As far as securing the hair I usually run the hair thru the braid and double it over. But I on this piece I wanted to have a uncut end. So I took and split my hair into four or five little bunches. And then after tying my terminal knot I took some waxed thread and wrapped one little bunch. I did this with all the bunchs so they were evenly spaced around the braid. Making sure to pull the thread tighter than heck on each wrap. This is the first time I've done this so I'm not sure how good the hair will stay. I'd be interested in hearing how others go about getting this done. As I'm sure there is a better way. Mike

Hey fellas thanks for the comments!! Alan they should last awhile unless one of the dogs gets ahold of it.LOL Mike

Dolichos Do a search for braided leashes. There is a tut. on doing a four strand by Myriam. To do a eight strand you go u2/o2 instead of the u1/o1 that you do in a four strand. Hope this helps and good luck!! Mike

Hey Thanks Bruce I'm glad I asked before I bought one. I'll have to check into the right ones now. Thanks again, Mike

Well I was up all night at work so I napped thru his speech. But the wife says it was a good one. I didn't vote for the fella but I wish him luck and I hope he can do some good. Everyone's making a big deal out of him being the first black president. But to tell the truth I really don't care what color ya are. Just do what you say your going to do and not just say it to get in office. And then once you get in go a whole nother route. I hope I don't make people mad but I don't have a lot of faith in politicians. Maybe he'll prove me wrong. Mike

Howdy all A couple of questions they may sound silly but here gos. I've seen two different types of stitch channelers. One type has a round shaft with a brass piece threaded on the end. And the other has what looks like a three piece square shaft with two thumb screws. Are these used for the same purpose but are just different to be different or is there a reason they are different Which would a guy want to do belts, purses, and the like. And what is a fair price for one. I reckon I can figure out how to use one once I get my hands on it. Thanks for all and any help. Mike

Hello all I just finished this stampede string for my youngest daughter. It's a little long for her but it gives her room to grow into it. I was pretty happy with it. Some of my V's got off some. I think I really need glasses when I braid these small strings. Any way that's my story. LOL I welcome any and all critique's. Thanks, Mike

You can use a belt sander or spindle sander. Just be sure not to burn the leather. Mike

Bree Thanks for reminding me!! Greywynd Thanks for the pointers although part of it probably wont stay a precision stone for long.lol As I'd planned on killing two birds with one rock. I had planned on using part of it to stamp on and also to use for sharpening. So maybe if I stay back 4 to 5 inches on one side I wont screw the whole thing up and that side will stay true. I just stamp small stuff belts,cellphone cases and maybe a purse or two. So maybe I wont hit it hard enough to damage it. I reckon since I've already bought it I might as well find out. I reckon the worst that can happen is I'm out 28.00 bucks. Thanks again Mike

I want to think everybody again for their help. I went ahead and ordered a course,medium, and fine Arkansas stone. I bought small ones(4"x2"x1"and 6"x2"x1") I figured they would be easier to hold and use. And also to see how I liked them before I spent a lot of money on the bigger ones. I also ordered a surface plate. I cant wait to start sharpening!!! Mike