Search the Community

I have started learning a bit about braiding with rawhide lace. However, I can’t afford the tools for prepping and refining the lace. Like cutting, thinning, beveling. Does anyone recommend some more rustic/ DIY ways to make those tools. Ie, resources or guides to make my own tools.

Does anyone know of good detailed dvd's on plaiting for whips and round braids with knots? I was hoping to find copies of Bernies dvd's (em brand whips) is there are any still in circulation? I already own marlinespike knot works dvds, looking for more in plaiting specifically.

Hello, Im Mac recently ive been renewing my interest in attempting to make some plaited rawhide objects, got some cow rawhide made up and have been wrking on dehairing it. so while im casing a smallish circle to cut into string, figured id introduce my self and slip a couple questions out there too... ive read both "braiding rawhide horse tack and a good portion of bruce grants book...and spent the last week going threw old post on here and while it has answered alot of questions it has created some new ones as well either from contradictory statements or etc... sooo when plaiting rawhide hair side out or in? ive heard it both ways does, is it different for reatas than for bosals, reins, hobbles etc? once i have my initial rough string cut from the hide, the "BRHT" book says to stretch the string, then jumps into making string cutters etc then comes back to string, does the string "NEED" to be stretched and left to dry and cased again or can if at the right temper it go straight to final sizing and beveling...? the book says some folk like to omit the stretching leaving to dry and then re casing as it "takes the life" out of it... well thanks hope u all will be able to help with these and the other questions ill be posting in the near future! Mac couple practice pieces to get the plaiting and knot wrk rolling in my head, yea plait got a weee bit twisted on this "RAIN DAY" bosalita but eh is only paracord... double loop lace stitched the nose button cause plaiting it was just WAY to bulky for a bosalita and the plain spiral wrap was just to Plain looking.... this was 3rd piece i made of paracord....6 plait cheeks over 3/16' rope rolled in athletic tape has a surprising li good feel to it considering the materials... 8 plait hobbles 6x7 TH made into pineapple knots... 2nd piece i made... plait came out way more straight on this bosalita...1st piece ive made

Hello, I am looking to buy a splitter for latigo whip plaiting and general splitting with low production volume (3-5 whips per week). What spliter does everyone recommend? I have been thinking a landis 5 in 1 or similar would work well for my shop but is it accurate enough? I see the most plaiters use the C.S. Osborn manual type, why is this? Thanks, Travis

I'm having trouble figuring out how thick to make my roo lace for making both turksheads and standard plaiting around a core. I've been able to make do so far by just stepping up the turkshead until it fills up the space provided for the knot, however this is only good when I don't care about consistency between knots. I would like to be able to just measure the diameter of where the knot will be and apply a simple formula and arrive at how thick the lace needs to be. I've used bernie46's method for regular plaiting (take diameter, multiply by 4.5, divide by number of strands) and it seems to work ok. I'd like to know if there is a different multiplier if you want the braiding angle to be different (ie so it results in differently shaped diamonds when braiding).

Heres a sheath I made for a Crocodile Dundee knife. Its veg tanned leather and crocodile with kangaroo lace around the border. Handle braids and sharpening spike lanyard are kangaroo.

G'day All. I just finished uploading my latest video to my youtube channel http://www.youtube.c...eature=mhee on how to make a stock whip thong.This was #3 in a set of 3. I have quite a few videos on my channel, about 35 at last count that cover making a bull whip, 3 1 hour videos,knots,fancy plaiting and different types of plaiting. If anyone is interested just go to my channel and you might find something useful there. You are very welcome to download them onto your computer to watch at your leisure,there are numerous free programs out there that will allow you to do this and if you use Firefox for your browser there is an add on that you can attach to your toolbar. Hope these can be of some help to anyone starting out and if you have any questions regarding whip making or plaiting feel free to get in touch with me through email.I would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.

The whip is not done yet. First attempt. Still have the last layer. Going to be 16 strand, diamond handle into full plait....... Lets see if I can git er done.

Found a 270 page PDF called Bush Leather Work by Ron Edwards. http://blog.survival-goods.com/LIBRARY/Manuals/bushcraft%20leather%20work%20PDF.pdf Lots of info on lace cutting, plaiting, making pouches, bags, belts, etc. Hope you enjoy looking through it. Tom

Hello All. Been visiting the site for a while and appreciate the variety of projects and skills displayed...thought I'd add to the mix. I split my time between Port Townsend and Portland. Been tying knots since the Boy Scouts (that would be 50+ years ago) and plaiting for the last 7-8 years. Have worked with Gail Hought and stolen ideas from more folks than I can remember. I'm not a horse person so I've only made a few pieces of horse gear (bosal and reins), but a lot of jewelry, hat bands, bolos, bracelets etc. My latest focus has been on whip making. I've attached a few pics of an Australian Stock whip finished last week. Cheers, Doug