Split Reins

[TomE]

Not everything I make is black, it only seems like it.  After making 3 black halters in the past month, I treated myself to some brown leather.  These split reins are made from 12/13 oz Hermann Oak chocolate harness leather.  5/8" x 8 ft long.  I dyed the edges and back with Fiebings Show Brown.  The strings on the water loops are cut from HO latigo and beveled with a nice Ron's edger that I bought from @bruce johnson.  Learned a lot about split reins by reading old posts on this forum.  Think I will try making reins from latigo vs harness leather, sewn reins, and weighted reins.  I welcome your ideas and feedback.

 

  

[BlackDragon]

Nice work as always

[DieselTech]

Beautiful work! They look nice. I got a guy that wants me to make a set of them type reins. I wonder if my HO Brown Latigo side is 8ft long? 

[TomE]

  On 12/18/2024 at 12:17 AM, BlackDragon said:

Nice work as always

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Thank you.  Resting my wrist today after all that burnishing.

  On 12/18/2024 at 1:00 AM, DieselTech said:

Beautiful work! They look nice. I got a guy that wants me to make a set of them type reins. I wonder if my HO Brown Latigo side is 8ft long? 

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Thanks, as always.  As best I can tell (I mainly dabble in English tack) most folks are happy with 7-8 ft. long split reins.  If your side isn't long enough, can request a "rein selection" side that is a larger and without serious defects in the bend. I thought this thread was useful.

 

 

[DieselTech]

  On 12/18/2024 at 3:28 AM, TomE said:

Thank you.  Resting my wrist today after all that burnishing.

Thanks, as always.  As best I can tell (I mainly dabble in English tack) most folks are happy with 7-8 ft. long split reins.  If your side isn't long enough, can request a "rein selection" side that is a larger and without serious defects in the bend. I thought this thread was useful.

 

 

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Thanks. So on your split reins you made, was there any stretching of the leather to take the initial stretch out of them? 

 

Thanks. I'll book mark that link. 

[bruce johnson]

Those look really good Tom!

[TomE]

  On 12/18/2024 at 3:46 AM, DieselTech said:

Thanks. So on your split reins you made, was there any stretching of the leather to take the initial stretch out of them? 

 

Thanks. I'll book mark that link. 

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I did not stretch the leather.  I used the butt end of the hide for the billet/water loop rein end.  The water loops are 7" long with #5 holes spaced 3/8" from each end and another hole 1/2" inboard from the first.  The 1/4" strings are 12 in long and made from 6/7 oz latigo.  I beveled the strings by clamping a straight edge on my bench to support the string and using an edger to bevel. 

  On 12/18/2024 at 4:49 AM, bruce johnson said:

Those look really good Tom!

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Thanks, Bruce.  I appreciate your vote of confidence.

[DieselTech]

  On 12/18/2024 at 12:29 PM, TomE said:

I did not stretch the leather.  I used the butt end of the hide for the billet/water loop rein end.  The water loops are 7" long with #5 holes spaced 3/8" from each end and another hole 1/2" inboard from the first.  The 1/4" strings are 12 in long and made from 6/7 oz latigo.  I beveled the strings by clamping a straight edge on my bench to support the string and using an edger to bevel. 

Thanks, Bruce.  I appreciate your vote of confidence.

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Thank you very much for the info. I appreciate it. I'll try to make a set in the near future. 

Thanks for the help. 

[Goldshot Ron]

They look real good Tom.  To answer DieselTech's question, when I make split reins I use harness leather also (but the natural color).  After cutting the reins and edging, I but an end of the rein into my bench vise, apply saddle soap to a piece of canvas, and rub the "hell" out of the edges.  The reins are dampened and the rubbing will stretch the reins.

[DieselTech]

  On 12/18/2024 at 7:50 PM, Goldshot Ron said:

They look real good Tom.  To answer DieselTech's question, when I make split reins I use harness leather also (but the natural color).  After cutting the reins and edging, I but an end of the rein into my bench vise, apply saddle soap to a piece of canvas, and rub the "hell" out of the edges.  The reins are dampened and the rubbing will stretch the reins.

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Thanks. Appreciate the info. 

[TomE]

  On 12/18/2024 at 7:50 PM, Goldshot Ron said:

They look real good Tom.  To answer DieselTech's question, when I make split reins I use harness leather also (but the natural color).  After cutting the reins and edging, I but an end of the rein into my bench vise, apply saddle soap to a piece of canvas, and rub the "hell" out of the edges.  The reins are dampened and the rubbing will stretch the reins.

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Thanks, Ron.  I am on the steep end of the learning curve for western tack and appreciate your advice.  That sounds like a time saver compared to my approach for finishing the edges.

[Goldshot Ron]

Tom,

I wish I could offer some timesaving tips, but everything seems to take longer than I would expect.  I didn't mention rubbing in conditioning after rubbing the edges, or sewing a loop to put around the reins.  Ugh...now I have to go make Christmas tomales.  Merry Christmas.