skinner

David, nice site. We too have been in the leather buisness for 10 or so years making mostly cowboy gear. A fellow came to us last summer with a seat pan for a custom bike and boom now momma is on her 6th or 7th seat. sure enjoy this site to rub elbows with other craftsmen and women. You do exceptional lacing on your seats!!!

Here is the side buttons pic. I made the watch fob just to figure out how to attach the claws and the inside dee all in one.

these are made from elk hide with the bear sewn over the leg. The claws are on the side buttons but the pic. dosen't show them. I don't know computers much so can't figure how to put two pics on the same page. will show on next topic.

Here is a watch fob I did for a customer. The first time I covered a bear claw. I learned a few tricks as I went along.

Lots of places to get it as you now know. One thing I found is to get veg tanned roo. It is very firm and cuts really nice. Also keep in mind if you oil or put a dressing on it, it darkens the color quite a bit. Good luck.Skinner

Thanks to all who responded to this. It was just a different way to do a nose button. I will try it the next bosal I make. Alan's comments will sure help restore my memory. Skinner

OLDCOWPOKE, Thanks for the visit. Its nice to make contacts that might help us out down the road. Keep in touch, Skinner

I knew an old timer named charlie lampman who was a great braider. He died of cancer in the 90's , but I had the chance to pick his brain one day. He showed me how he put the nose button on a bosal. He tied the strings on the cheek piece with one third to the left , two thirds to the right. Then set them up and braided the length of the nose button, then turned the ends back and with a fid , laced the final pass. I never was set up to try it and can only remember watching him do it. Hope someday to try it. Maybe some of you have done this? Charlie said it was way faster to put a nose button on this way. Regards, Skinner

Alan, Good advice. I spent some time with a great old man in wyo. who died in 1981 or so at the age of 82. Was an old time rawhider and would cut a hide in a circle 1and a half wide and tie one end to a fence post and stretch it full length to dry. Then would scrape the hair . I tried the same with mostly good results, but as you say some areas as the flank, spine, or neck areas or if there was flesh or fat left on would tend to roll in. If the strip was too wide it would roll past itself and make scraping hard. Still a good way to dehair rawhide but where I live we have too many coyotes and thy take it apart before I CAN SCRAPE IT.!!!! Fun to talk about, Skinner

I have a couple of her books on bosal work and find them a good reference . Got in a stump on a heel knot and gave her a call and she was very helpful to get me lined out. LIKE ANY BRAID BOOK IT TAKES some learning to follow the diagrams. skinner

Thanks John, I did email him and as of yet not got a message from him. So will see? skinner

crow, I from trial and error that when you use a strip wider than 2"wide in a long piece it will roll alot. try a narrower piece. you get alot of stretch with a long strip. it has to give some where so it rolls. skinner

If you have a smaller pattern you can stretch it by cutting it in half, and like steve said keep your end measurements correct and tape the 2 pieces together with a third piece of paper. I've done this with alot of our patterns,{ skirt, ground seat ect.}

Thanks to all, Will try a few ideas and let you know how it works, Skinner

Hi SD, I'm curious to know more. Let me know how to contact you, Skinner

I did read that and yes it did help. Thanks for your comeback! Skinner

I toured through timberline tree factory a few years ago, and Randy said they use a polyurethane to final coat the tree. I have used it to retreat a place where I have sanded or otherwise scratched up the finish on rawhide trees. 2 or 3 coats should keep the moisture out good. Hope this helps, Skinner

Thanks for the tip.Skinner

Hi, Ken. Yes it was black Lincoln dye.

I would really like to find a good used crank splitter 8" or preferably wider. If anyone has or knows of one I'd be interested! Thanks , Skinner

I have dyed my strings after they are cut by using rubber gloves and a piece of sheepskin. Also kind of messy but works. The best dye I've found is Lincoln dye. It has an alcohol base and really penetrates well. Skinner

We just finished a custom motorcycle seat, and the owner said after riding it, there was some dye transfer on his butt. We finished the leather with neatsfoot and future floor wax as a top coat. Would someone have a better reciepe for sealing dyed leather to prevent this? Thanks Skinner

I would like to make a twisted rawhide riata. Would someone please share a few tricks? I have an old rope making spinner, but don't know if it will work with rawhide. Thanks. Skinner