rgerbitz

Thank you everyone, I will be trying out all of your suggestions. I will let you all know how it turns out, just as soon as I get the nerve to start slicing up that Roo. Rob

Thank you HHB, I do love looking at what you have done... Show some more!! Rob

Looks well done CWR, I was wondering if you braided around the wrist loop or stuck it through after you were done? I have found that a twisted strip of hide is pretty stiff but still has a bit of flex to it.

Thank you leatheroo very well done. Rob

I recieved in the mail today my first Roo hide from Charles Hardtke, it is alot smaller than I had expected. I am unsure looking at it if it will yeild all of the string I need to make a 1/2 inch 12 strand bosal with a 24 or 32 strand nose button. Could anyone help me with some measurements. I need to know: What diameter should the core be? (I am thinking twisted rawhide, any other ideas)? What width should the strings be? (I think I know what length is needed) What do you use to condition or "lube" the strings as you braid? The bosal will most likely be used in a 2 rein rig. I am wondering if a twisted core will make it to stiff? Thank you all for your time, Rob

HorseHairBraider, I wish you would post up more of your work I do enjoy seeing it! Rob

I have seen where people have worked a silver tube into their braiding there is an example in the thread "Closed reins and romal" on page 3 in the braiding section. Good luck, Rob

I don't know a whole lot about dying leather but since it is already braided maybe you could dip it in a dye to get what you want. good luck Rob

Welcome to the forum Cat. I can't really tell from the pictures what kind of braiding is used. I would think that you could use a four strand braid and join or splice it together into an 8 strand braid(plait) then end with a four strand loop that is held in place or covered with a spanish ring knot or small pinapple knot. If you are not familiar with braiding I suppose this is all about as clear as mud, please don't be afraid to ask more questions maybe someone could do a tutorial on any points you may not understand. Hope this helps, Rob

I had a bunch of string cut up for a bosal, but due to my inability to multiply properly, most of the string was going to be to short. So what you see here in a bit hobble is known as plan B. Let me know what you think. Thanks, Rob

Hello Timothy, Glad you like it. The frame is 7 1/2 foot square and it could be a bit bigger, maybe 8 x 8. But this one works just good enough that I can't bring myself to change. The big cirlce was from the neck, usually I can't cut across the whole neck like that cause of bug damage to the top line but this one was in really good shape. Hope this helps Rob

After pulling the hide from the vinegar and water I rinsed it again, but you will see later that I didn't get a good job done of that. Then it was layed out and strethed on a frame made of some old fence posts. The hair left on the hide is there because I was running short on time and had to quit on it. After the hide had dried completely I was able to remove the remaining hair with a knife held perpendicular to the surface the hide and scrapped it off. I scrapped all the hair off the first hide this way, I don't recommend it, it really sucks. After finishing up on the hair I took a home made compass that can mark out up to a 3 foot circle, and layed out the cirlces I could cut out trying my best to avoid any weak spots in the hide that might make for some junk string later. I then used a pair of tin snips to cut those circles out while the hide was still dry. I will later soak those circles in water for an hour or so then temper for the better part of a day then cut a skive into string to be braided with. Maybe I can make a tutorial of that someday. You can kinda of see in the last picture some chalky areas on the hide, I think I either didn't leave it in the vinagar long enough or I didn't do a good job of rinsing it out that last time. Please feel free to question or critique anything I have done, like I said earlier I know I have some room for improvement. If there is something that isn't clear please let me know, there are a few more pictures that might help. Have a good one Rob

Here's how I did it. This is about my 9th or 10th time I've done this and I still have quite a bit of room for improvement. Hope this helps anyone thinking they may want to try this. And if there are any thoughts on what I might have done diffferent or better I would be happy to hear them. First I purchased the hide from the local meat locker for $40 and was able to start working with it within 3 hours of the last heart beat. All of the excess fat and meat was removed first It is a great way to get some peace and quite, cause nobody wants to be around for that. Next, drop the whole works in a barrel of water with a coffee can of barn lime mixed in. I have found that starting with warm water seems to speed up the process alot. (Thank you KAW for that) After 3 days in the lime the hair was ready to slip or push off, I layed a 2x6 between 2 barrels and pulled the hide over that. It's best to do this in a shady spot, so as not to get the hide sunburned. If everything has gone according to plan the hair should come off fairly easy, it did this time but I have had to wait close to 2 weeks before the hair would slip. I think it was because it was in the fall and it was to cold. After I get the hair all scrapped off I rinse the hide with the garden hose trying to get as much of the lime and hair off as possible. Then it's back into the barrel for 24 hours with a gallon of vinagar and enough water to cover the whole hide. (continued on nex thread)

Nice looking work Alan. How many years have you been braiding? Have a good one, Rob

Hello Tracey, I am far from being an expert, I am currently working on my 8 or 9th hide. I have used barn lime and it seems to work just fine. The garden stores carry a lime for gardens that is the same thing but it is just ground up to a smaller particle size which I think may work a little better. I have also found that if a start out with the water being over 100 degrees and less than 140 to start out with really seems to help jump start the process. I have had to wait over a week and half for the hair to slip, and things can start getting a little rank if you have to wait that long. I hope some others weigh in on this for you, as I am still trying to work out all the bugs. Good luck Rob

This is a bit hobble I made up last weekend. A great way to use up some the leftovers from other projects. A lady that my wife trains some horses for ask me to make it for her. I think she'll like this collection of "scrap". What do you all think of it? Rob

I quit smoking and chewing last November. I would smoke at work and chew at home, so as not to smoke around the little one. I used chantix for two months. I can't say enough about it. About 2 weeks in I had all but forgotten about smoking and chewing. Aside from the occasional "urge". The folks at chantix give you a call everyday to check in on you, it is only an automatted call but it sure helped to keep me focused. You can also track your progress on a web site if you want. I haven't had a single dip or smoke since november, I only have a strange addiction to tooth picks now. I am really glad to be done, feel like a Million Bucks. Rob

You do some nice work, I look forward to seeing a full size version someday. Rob

Hello everyone, My question for the day: When braiding any given number of strings how do you tighten the braid? Do you pull the last string through tight or do you pull every other string on the working side, or some other method? Thank you for your time, Rob

Thank you everyone! I am wondering about the lime is it to keep the pH of the water at the right level or what? About soaking it in vinegar overnight, I tried to shorten that up to about 3 hours once and the hide turned out kind of chalky. Definitely needs to be left overnight. I get my hides from the local meat locker about 10 miles down the road. They only kill on Fridays, if I call on Thursday he usually has a good idea of what animals he will have color, size, and breed, and is nice enough to let me select which critter I would like to have. Cost $40. Was only $25 when I started a few years ago. Anyone have any ideas on how to get the grease off hide. Seems like sometimes after the hide dries out there is a thin film of grease/oil on the hair side. I was thinking that maybe after the vinegar soak maybe some fresh water and a bunch of grease cutting dish soap then rinse and dry. Any thoughts? Thanks for your input Rob

If it ever warms up around here I am going to get another hide soon. It seems that I have the best luck when it stays above 55 degrees at night. I am going to list out how I am planning on going about it in hopes that someone may have some questions or suggestions about what I could or should be doing. 1- Buy hide (Usually able to get it home and start working with it within few hours after the steer has been butchered) 2- Remove extra fat and meat from hide (This is the dogs favorite step) 3- Put in old washing machine with about a coffee can full of lime 4- Let agitate a few times a day till hair slips changing lime and water every couple of days till hair slips 5- Throw hide over a saw horse and remove hair with a old mower blade 6- Stretch hide on frame/ let dry 7- Mark out large circles on hide and cut out with tin snips 8- Soak and temper circles and cut into string Any thoughts and ideas about this process will be welcomed. Even if it just a comment about a certain step and your own experience. Thank you for your time, Rob

I agree, looks real slick.

Hey Charlie, I do most of my braiding down in the basement. So I screwed a 2x4 to a floor joist so that it stops short of the floor by about 3 feet. Then I use a hand clamp to adjust up the 2x4 as I progress. I agree with deadringer that the closer to the clamp you can stay the straighter your braid will be. Good luck, Rob

That is pretty slick Alan. Thanks for sharing that with us. What is the braiders round table. Rob

Thanks for the post Alan. That is a really cool looking quirt. Rob