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]

2 hours ago, BlackDragon said:

Nice work as always

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

2 hours ago, 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.

 

 

[DieselTech]

16 minutes ago, 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. 

[bruce johnson]

Those look really good Tom!

[TomE]

8 hours ago, 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. 

7 hours ago, bruce johnson said:

Those look really good Tom!

Thanks, Bruce.  I appreciate your vote of confidence.

[DieselTech]

2 hours ago, 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. 

[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]

5 minutes ago, 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. 

[TomE]

24 minutes ago, 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.