TomE Report post Posted December 17 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlackDragon Report post Posted December 18 Nice work as always Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DieselTech Report post Posted December 18 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? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomE Report post Posted December 18 On 12/18/2024 at 12:17 AM, BlackDragon said: Nice work as always 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? 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DieselTech Report post Posted December 18 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. 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bruce johnson Report post Posted December 18 Those look really good Tom! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomE Report post Posted December 18 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. 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! Thanks, Bruce. I appreciate your vote of confidence. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DieselTech Report post Posted December 18 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. 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Goldshot Ron Report post Posted Wednesday at 07:50 PM 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DieselTech Report post Posted Wednesday at 07:56 PM 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. Thanks. Appreciate the info. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomE Report post Posted Wednesday at 08:17 PM 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. 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites