megabit

Well I tallowed my new reata and my old one a couple of days ago. Today I just rubbed them both down with raw beef liver to seal them. Old school all the way.

:clapping: :clapping: Looks like most of your stuff... GREAT!

Not bad for a first effort. How good your first one is isn't what is important, that the next one is better is. Short answer rawhide. I know I sound like a broken record. Longer answer, your heel knot looks like the problem is likely in the ground work. What do you have underneath it? It needs to be pretty dang solid and the shape you want. This is also a big part of why I try to make sure my buttons are tight when I finish them instead of going back and tightening them after. Whenever I tighten them after I end up with them being too tight before I get the whole knot tight. I am sure you have most likely already seen Alan’s bosal tutorial I’d say it is worth reviewing again though, I know it sure helped me.

Put about 2' on it last night bringing it to right about 62'. I put a knot in the end and proceeded to pound the entire length of it. Need to put the burner on the honda put it on the rope and stretch it some. I think I'll give it a test drive Sunday on some bovines. :banana: :banana: :banana:

Alan had mentioned a reata braiding jig of Granny Martin's from an old video. Here is a picture of it in use from the video: granny braid by ss1442, on Flickr I talked to Bill Black about it in Alturas and he said he had tried using one and it was too slow. I talked to someone else who told me about someone else using sticks with slots cut strung to their wrist. So I've been using some since I got back from up north. They seem slower than not using them but make it easier to push the braid back up. braiding reata 3 by ss1442, on Flickr braiding reata 2 by ss1442, on Flickr

I think it on its side the left side would be the top where you pull the string through.

Well getting close now, I am at about 53'-55'. About 10' more and I can start pounding and streching. Sure would like to get done with the plaiting before Sunday so I can take it with me roping Sunday.

I haven't worked with any roo, but based on my experience with rawhide, I'd say stick to paracord until you learn to cut your own lace.

Not sure how it impacts a bosal body but I know with a reata you want the Vs pushed up and as short as you can make them. The longer the Vs the more chance of them moving around. Because a bosal isn't going to be under anywhere near the stress a rope is I could see it coming down to what you think looks better.

Getting closer but still not done, just under 48' done thus far. Reata at almost 48ft.jpg by ss1442, on Flickr

I got to about 36' last week then Thursday I hit the road for Alturas CA and the Vaquero Fiesta. That was 2 days of driving hauling my horse. Roped in the intermediate class Saturday (and my team won). Hung out with friends Sunday watching the Cut and Rope and Stock Horse classes. Then back on the road for Monday and Tuesday. Worked and rode yesterday that left no time to braid. So I am just about to go pick it back up again right now. Hope to get 2' or 3' done tonight. Hope to make some good progress over the weekend. Mike

I have them both at this point my original post was from 2009.

:clapping:

Wow! That is sure one nice looking bosal for your 10th or 20th one, for your first it is out of this world!

Slightly bigger than 5/16" (.3125") at about .335". 3/8" would be .375"

Still a long ways to go and I doubt I'll pick it back up before I get back from Alturas, but I sure like the way this rope is looking so far. reata braiding by ss1442, on Flickr

Out West Saddlery isn't my site just one that had pictures of what I was talking about. I have bought stuff from them in the past though and they are good to deal with and they do have nice stuff. Not sure on making the hair rope, I've never made one (yet).

That plays a part but the other reason for the buttons is to keep the body of the reins off the horse's neck. Buttons are easier to replace than the body of the reins, so the buttons get the sweat while the body stays cleaner.

I'd say mane hair, but that's just me. bosals, mecates and fiadors

Well I am making progress although it is slow. I think I get about 2' per hour, sometimes a bit more sometimes a bit less. I am up to about 34'. It doesn't look like I'll get it done in time to take with me to Alturas but I certainly have a good start on it.

The one I did was 6 strands no core. New bosalita by ss1442, on Flickr

Ok, all you reata braiders out there, I have a question. How do you managae your tamales? What I am doing is I pull the top string tight, plait it and then move the tamale to the back moving the back one to the front. Does that make sense? Is there a faster way to do this or is this pretty much what you need to do to keep things from getting tangled?

Time for a beer break. At the rate I am going I should have this done in time for the Fiesta 2012. :smack: ;D reata string by ss1442, on Flickr tameles ready to start braiding by ss1442, on Flickr ready set go by ss1442, on Flickr finally started by ss1442, on Flickr braiding rig by ss1442, on Flickr

About a minute and a half. I get the water boiling real good before I put it in too.

I think it mostly depends on the dog. Mine has eaten a scarf slide or two but never bothers his leash. Then again it generally gets put up when not in use.