Braided Hackamore Headstall

[Melanie Wilfong]

You can braid over anything you would like but something to think about is how the core material will react to water and heat. Most nylon cord should be fine and not shrink, but paracord is notorious for shrinking when it gets wet. This is why I try to preshrink any paracord that I am going to use BEFORE i start braiding. The cover doesnt actually shrink, but the core inside each strand does, and that can disfigure your braiding for sure. Also, most nylon cord that you will find at hardware stores is some what mushy (for lack of a better term) and I dont feel would make a very good core. Look for something that is fairly stiff so when you pull your strings in tight, it actually has something to pull against. I would suggest looking for Halter material (same stuff thats used for rope halters). Columbia Basin Knot Co carries a lot of different sizes, types, and colors of not only halter cord but lots of other ropes. Give them a call and Im sure the would even send you just a few feet for this first project.

You can even braid over steel cable. I think Grant makes reference to bosals that were made using steel cable for cores, and I bought some the other day for pretty cheap. Hopefully I can find time to actually do some braiding and put these cores to work.

Hope that helps,

CW

This is a huge help. Thank you all for your suggestions. My practice braids were done on a core that was too mushy, so I don't want to make that mistake again. My favorite hackamore (that I've worn out, and the old man who built it has passed) has a bosal made of stiff rope with 1/4" braided leather noseband. If anyone has any suggestions about the bosal, I'd greatly appreciate it. We have old lariats, I hate to cut up a good one, but was going to use one not really good for roping anymore.

[Melanie Wilfong]

I either use a nylon core (3/16 for 1/8" string) or a braided 4 plait with 1/8" string.

I highly recommend using 3/32 for a headstall. Much finer work. The same with your buttons 3/32". Keep the plaiting nice and tight and split your string to just under .1 mm and it should loop without being able to see the core.

Thank you. I want a finer braid and will use 3/32". How many strand plait do you think for the headstall at beg. of this tread? Sorry, but split string to under .1mm? When/where do I do this?

[entiendo]

I braided a few years without splitting my string so I'm sure you will be fine. I've just seen a rather large improvement in the smoothness my braiding once I started splitting my string. If you can get a hide that is between .08-.1mm that would be great. The bevel is important too. It's the little things that set your braiding apart from others.

I just started braiding my own cores. I like it a lot, worth the time once you have a little speed. I use the outside of the hide for the core string. I still have plenty of nylon core though, just in case. I actually like the softness of the nylon core, reminds me of the kangaroo.

Defiantly 8 plait! 4 plait is to petite for my taste. 6 plait is OK, but 8 is best. You can do 8 plait without a core. You can roll it round but it will have a smaller diameter than an 8 plait with a core. You won't have to worry about the core showing through though.

[Bevan]

I braided a few years without splitting my string so I'm sure you will be fine. I've just seen a rather large improvement in the smoothness my braiding once I started splitting my string. If you can get a hide that is between .08-.1mm that would be great. The bevel is important too. It's the little things that set your braiding apart from others.

I just started braiding my own cores. I like it a lot, worth the time once you have a little speed. I use the outside of the hide for the core string. I still have plenty of nylon core though, just in case. I actually like the softness of the nylon core, reminds me of the kangaroo.

Defiantly 8 plait! 4 plait is to petite for my taste. 6 plait is OK, but 8 is best. You can do 8 plait without a core. You can roll it round but it will have a smaller diameter than an 8 plait with a core. You won't have to worry about the core showing through though.

Long time no talk mate , but i would not do a 8plait with out a core , it will look like a square circle !!!! 4 plait with out a core ,,, fine ,, anything else ,,, i would use a core and if you have a prob with the core showing thru then you havent got your string size right!! remember the golden rule ,

dia x 4.5 =?

div by the number of strings you want to use =?

now that is the size strings i would cut for a perfect cover !!!

When i do a 12mm / 12inch bosal i know the finaloverlay will add about 3 mm to my finnished work so the core size will be about the 9mm mark or 3/8 for my USA mates

Cheers from down under

www.bwrwhips.com

Edited February 3, 2011 by Bevan

[entiendo]

I know it has been a long time!! A square circle...that's funny. Kind of true though. I've had pretty good luck rolling it round without a core. Some of my customers like a smaller bracelet but don't want a 4 plait. I have no idea if it goes "round square" over time though as I haven't made one for myself. It still has a very nice look even if it's a little square.

I found the thicker string will sometimes show the core on a turn back. I had a hide that was pretty weak so I left it pretty thick and had a heck of a time with it. I rolled and rolled and rolled..I guess you can't roll it thinner though. I guess that's why we use kangaroo instead of cow hide.

[roo4u]

sometimes whether or not the core shows is determined by how you tighten your braiding...do you pull more down or sideways

[entiendo]

I think I pull more sideways. I swear it was the thickness of the hide though, could be wrong. Perhaps seeing the core is inaccurate; with the pieces from that hide I couldn't see the chore as much as the the plaiting separated on the turns. The core was there though, it didn't flow an nice as some of the other hides.

Edited February 4, 2011 by entiendo

[roo4u]

well the thicker the lace the less tightness you get in the lay of the braid, if that makes sense. so then you would get more movement in the lace as the braid moves and bends.

[Bevan]

I braided a few years without splitting my string so I'm sure you will be fine. I've just seen a rather large improvement in the smoothness my braiding once I started splitting my string. If you can get a hide that is between .08-.1mm that would be great. The bevel is important too. It's the little things that set your braiding apart from others.

I just started braiding my own cores. I like it a lot, worth the time once you have a little speed. I use the outside of the hide for the core string. I still have plenty of nylon core though, just in case. I actually like the softness of the nylon core, reminds me of the kangaroo.

Defiantly 8 plait! 4 plait is to petite for my taste. 6 plait is OK, but 8 is best. You can do 8 plait without a core. You can roll it round but it will have a smaller diameter than an 8 plait with a core. You won't have to worry about the core showing through though.

Gday again darl xoxox lol

have you ever tried twisting a piece of 4mm wide roo for a core ??

cut it 4mm wet it , then twist , roll it and let it dry ,,,, then i grease it and have a perfect core for a thin braclet

The twisted core will be about 2mm in dia

if i want to use a 8 plait to cover this I would cut my strings 1.125 mm wide remember the rule of thumb ,,

dia (2mm)x 4.5 =(9)div by the number of strings i want to use (8) = 1.125

The finished project would end up at about 5 mm thick with no gaps and nice and round

This is why i like using roo too mate ,, it is as tuff as !!!!! plus we have plenty

Cheers

Bevan

www.bwrwhips.com

Edited February 4, 2011 by Bevan

[entiendo]

No, I've never tried that Bevan...Thanks!!! how cool!!! I can't wait to play around with that one. How thick is the 4mm piece of roo?