New to braiding and leather work

[megabit]

Found this site a couple of weeks ago. I think I found it with a link by Alan Bell on the Californio email list. I am interested in learning to braid and work leather. I started riding (horses) about a year ago and would like to make my own tack and maybe someday a saddle. I've made several rope halters and braided a curb strap out of para cord. I'll try to get a picture up soon.

My questions are:

1. Is working with para cord or rope a good way to learn the basics? Seems much easier to work with and is cheaper to get.

2. When I move to rawhide/leather how can I get precut lace beveled? I am not ready to drop $300 - $400 on a nice cutter yet.

Thanks,

Mike

[rawhide1]

Mike

Welcome I'm always glad to see more people get interested in braiding. Sometimes it will make ya want to pull ya hair out but in the end it's worth it. Just have some patience and keep after it. I think working with para cord or rope is a great way to learn. And then once ya start getting the hang of it go on to a cheaper leather lace to see how your knots and braids lay different than with the cord or rope. I would not start with roo because of the expense or rawhide due to the fact that ya don't have a whole lot of time to work with it before it loses its moisture. I can't help ya with a source to bevel your strings. You may have to make a homemade one like the one rgerbitz showed in a previous post. Good luck Mike

[wolvenstien]

Before the site crashed... We had a new member who came and posted some paracord work... think it was whip and then posted the second one they did too... was nice work.

I havent started braiding anything myself, but I did pick up a decent book called "Leather Braiding" (http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/products.asp?number=6022-00)

[megabit]

I havent started braiding anything myself, but I did pick up a decent book called "Leather Braiding" (http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/products.asp?number=6022-00)

I have that book too, very good when it doesn't just leave me more confussed than I started. I also have "Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding" on it's way from Barnes and Noble. It is written by Bruce Grant as well.

Mike

[wolvenstien]

thats my next purchase.... and you make a point of it being confusing a bit....

[rgerbitz]

Whoops I put my relpy to your question number 2 on the post for string width, sorry about that.

[HorsehairBraider]

I often have people ask me how to braid horsehair, and I tell them to learn on *something else* FIRST and then try and tackle horsehair. So I think you are going about this the right way. Learn all your braids and knots in cord, baling twine, string, whatever - and *THEN* start using that expensive really nice leather lace or rawhide strings. It's going to look different when you start in leather but that is OK. You need a lot of practice to build up that special tension in your hands, so that you can braid all different parts for a headstall, and when you put it all together ALL the braiding is at the same exact tension.

All sorts of places sell leather lacing and rawhide strings. For one thing Tandy Leather does. There is a company called U Braid It. Look on eBay... it will scare you how much there is for sale. Plus there are many more I am not mentioning.

And remember to have fun!

[Elton Joorisity]

I always tell beginners to buy either Tom Hall or Gail Hought's braiding books. I personally own both sets and have learned more from them than I ever did with Bruce's. As far as pre cut and bevelled rawhide strings, there is a guy in Idaho and be darned if I can't think of his name right now, that sells pre cut and bevelled rawhide strings in different widths.

[greg gomersall]

Mike and Cindy Beaver. Greg

[Gremlin]

Pick up one of Ron Edwards whip braiding books. Very well written and illustrated. This one is excellent:

http://www.amazon.ca/How-Make-Whips-Ron-Ed...s/dp/0870335138