Looking For Some Braiding Advice

[moeg]

Hi all,

this piece was my first attempt at the round braid/ mexican basket weave, I think it came out ok, but when you look at the closeup the top left is where I started. The lace looks good there, but at the bottom the edges are frayed and stretched. The lace was about 18 feet long (don't laugh too hard). How do you splice this braid? or is there some way of using that length and still making it work right? I have one of the Bruce Grant books, and haven't found out how to splice that braid.

Is there something else that I can do to improve what I did?

Thanks, Moe

[roo4u]

first what kind of lace is that...some kinds of leather fray on the edges like that more than others....one factor could be it isnt beveled on the edges, that would have removed some of the part that frayed.

second...yes splicing is possible, not too hard really the hardest part is making sure that the splice is mostly buried under so that it is as protected as possible. i use one of those tandy skivers that uses the same blades as my lacemaker. cut the end of one lace 45degrees on top and the other the same on the bottom making the bevel about the same length on each lace then glue together with elmers glueall...its a casein glue that penetrates the leather fibers really well and yet stays flexible..then clamp the pieces together for a few minutes to get a good bond and ready to go....practice on a few scraps and youll get it.

hey it takes alot of lace to do those type of braids if you use one long piece.

i do think if you bevel those edges a bit you might not have to splice to get a better result.

first what kind of lace is that...some kinds of leather fray on the edges like that more than others....one factor could be it isnt beveled on the edges, that would have removed some of the part that frayed.

second...yes splicing is possible, not too hard really the hardest part is making sure that the splice is mostly buried under so that it is as protected as possible. i use one of those tandy skivers that uses the same blades as my lacemaker. cut the end of one lace 45degrees on top and the other the same on the bottom making the bevel about the same length on each lace then glue together with elmers glueall...its a casein glue that penetrates the leather fibers really well and yet stays flexible..then clamp the pieces together for a few minutes to get a good bond and ready to go....practice on a few scraps and youll get it.

hey it takes alot of lace to do those type of braids if you use one long piece.

i do think if you bevel those edges a bit you might not have to splice to get a better result.

[moeg]

Thank you very much roo4u, I'll be practicing to splice it the way you described. The lace is veg tan 2oz that I cut with the tandy lace maker tool, no beveling at all. Is there a tool that would be a no brainer to use, because I can see myself cutting through that lace easily if I do it by hand

What kind of an angle do you want when you bevel the edges of the lace, is it more like # 1 or 2, or some other angle?

Thanks again, Moe.

[KnotHead]

To prevent that frayed out edge like you're getting, you will have to split the strands thickness down to a point where when you shove the working end through the slotted hole, the slot does not take the edge off the lace. Beveling helps a bunch. This will let the lace lay down flat on top of each other giving it a more defined look to the pattern.

Or,

You might consider using a punch to make a round hole for the thickness of the lace to pass through the hole without getting that top edge shaving like you are.

Brian...