Bosal progress

[megabit]

I am undecided if I think the core plaiting is good enough or if I will cut it off and try again. I think the string is a touch too small in width and a bit to thick for the size I was wanting as well. I was shooting for 3/8 but this is more like 7/16 or 15/32. Oh and it does have a bit of twist to the pattern too. I am trying to decide between finishing it out for practice and then doing another one to use or redoing it trying to get it right. Thoughts?

The braided core:

Here is the covered core with 8 plaits:

[rgerbitz]

When venturing into unknown territory I tend to have plenty of extra string so if an 8 plait won't cover, I can add 2 or 4 more strings to cover. And not very many people will look to see if the pattern is O2,U2 or O2,U3 or U2,O2,U3. Another thing that can help a little is that when you are short on string to cover is to be sure and grab hold of your core and shove everthing up everytime you bring a string around. And now you have a nice core for a 1/2 to 5/8 rig. The sting thickness looks good to me, but I'm not real fond of the real thin string outfits.

Rob

[Opagon]

I really like the consistency in your width and your strings look very good. I would also like to see your strings closer together and agree with Rob that you need to push up your strings when braiding. If it was mine, I would just braid over the top of it rather than start over as I like a larger diameter for starting my young ones.

Keep Braiding,

Heather

[megabit]

If it was mine, I would just braid over the top of it rather than start over as I like a larger diameter for starting my young ones.

True enough, but this one was for a move down in size on a older horse I started over in the spring.

[CWR]

Mike,

If I were you I would go ahead and finish it. Since its your first one you will probably have issues with other parts as well. You will get a bosal under your belt and work some things out in your mind by finishing it. You will at least have one to use while you make another one. Theres plenty of cows out there so we won't run out of rawhide in our lifetimes.

Yours looks alot better than my first one. I still have it to keep me humble.

Keep us posted.

CW

[megabit]

Well after thinking I'd just finish it then that I should redo it and then that I'd just finish it... I think I'll redo it. I haven't done anything on it in like two weeks, I got the damn flu and haven't felt like doing anything. I am starting to feel human again and worked on cutting some new string last night.

Man I sure am having trouble getting split down to what I would like though. I have this hide that had lots of black gunk on the flesh side. I would like to get it all split off so the string isn't black and I don't trust the black gunk not to cause problems if left. I either get too much bite and split down to paper thin or get almost no bite and don't scrap anything off. Anyone else ever have that problem? I have a big disk of a better hide that I soaked last night, I may just use it instead.

Mike

[CWR]

Well after thinking I'd just finish it then that I should redo it and then that I'd just finish it... I think I'll redo it. I haven't done anything on it in like two weeks, I got the damn flu and haven't felt like doing anything. I am starting to feel human again and worked on cutting some new string last night.

Man I sure am having trouble getting split down to what I would like though. I have this hide that had lots of black gunk on the flesh side. I would like to get it all split off so the string isn't black and I don't trust the black gunk not to cause problems if left. I either get too much bite and split down to paper thin or get almost no bite and don't scrap anything off. Anyone else ever have that problem? I have a big disk of a better hide that I soaked last night, I may just use it instead.

Mike

Mike,

Glad your feeling better. I had a hide I get from Bill Confers that was like that. It didn't cause any problems though. You could see it a little after it was braided up if you were looking for it. As far as the splitting goes, just take the little bites until you get to the thinnest part of your hide. You won't cut your string in two and it won't stretch it as bad if its a little too damp. This can cause some weak spots. It may seem like your wasting time but sometimes you have to slow down to be quick. Saves lots of cussing too.

Good luck,

CW

[megabit]

Ok, here is a bit more progress. First a shot of the core while I was plaiting it:

And then after I finished it. I am much happier this time around. It has a little twist to it and it is 7/16 when I was really shooting for 3/8 but I think it will get the job done. I certainly covers better than the first attempt.

Comments, criticisms, suggestions?

Thanks for looking,

Mike

[Alan Bell]

NICE!!!

Vaya con Dios, Alan Bell

[megabit]

A bit more progress. I think I like the bigger ground work in the middle one minute and think I'll cut it off and make a matching knot to the outside ones the next. What do you guys think? Three matching knots or leave the middle one larger?

Edited December 2, 2009 by megabit