9 Strand Flat Braid

[Rayban]

Rayban,

Sorry I haven't got it done. I promise I'll get to it. I have a couple of things to finish first.

Tim

Okie Dokie

[Somawas]

I've braided a bunch of string, not so much leather. I use hemostats to hold the strands, and they work great. Buy cheap, Made in Pakistan, stainless hemostats on ebay.

[entiendo]

How do I add a couple of strings to this braid?

thanks

[bullrope braider]

Sorry I haven't kept up with this post. McJeep is correct.

I'll fix it if I can figure out how to edit posts.

Tim

I know this is an older post but thought I'd add a little more for those that were asking questions on braiding. in the area of braiding rope which can be used to braid leather, rawhide, para cord or anything else that you can hold in your hands, the topic list's this post as a 9 plait flat braid but it is only because it has a flat appearance to the finished project for the sake of the original post topic . let me explain this, in my world of bull rope braiding the standard nine plait braid for bull rope building would be called "9 plait" which in rope terms is using the 9 strands/bundles with the one outside strand/bundle going over two then under two. the true 9 plait flat braid made on a bull rope tail braided flat is actually over one then under one. the 7 plait flat braid is just the same - over one, under one. but the 7 plait braided like the 9 plait standard braid is braided - over one, under two which is what us bull rope braiders call a "cheater nine" braid, other wise simply called "7 plait" when I get an order for a bull rope with a 7 plait tail I'll braid it out in the "cheater nine" style. Most braiders use the standard braiding technique of over two, under two for all the handle and tail braiding when asked for the 9 plait handle and tail combination. very few bull riders use a flat braided 7 or 9 plait anymore, they all or most of them want the tail braid to look like traditional nine plait even though it may be braided with 7 bundles or strands. for instance if you look at some of the bull rope pic's on my website at http://www.jwebullropes.com you'll see we braid the bottom handle on most of our bullropes in the true 9 plait flat braid but all the handle's are braided standard 9 plait (over two, under two) and the tails are mixed braids of 9,7 or 5 depending on what the customer has asked for. the only other braid on the tails might be if someone wants the tail braided 5 plait then it's a true flat braid of over one, under one.

if you would like to try this take nine strands of colored chute cord attached to a small steel ring to make a key fob. I'll actually use ten pieces five foot long (you can shorten this up but the finished two foot is easier to work with) and fold them through the ring using one strand to wrap around the others so you have about two foot of the 9 strands hanging, use the tutorial in the above posting to start your braiding from the center out and braid out your fob using that over two, under technique. if you braid it out tight and even it will make a really cool looking key fob. at the end of the braiding when it's the length you want wrap up the strands with waxed sinew thread using the rope whipping/cable whipping method to seal the end leaving the strands about an inch long past the whipping. I made some of these for christmas presents once and everyone loved them, I'll make one up soon and post the pic's here

thanks, John

[Timothy]

Bullrope Braider,

Thanks for that explanation. Most of my experience with bull ropes was trying to hang on to them.

Tim

[Jock54]

Glad this helped.

Carr52,

For length of lacing I use the finished length I want times 1.5. This usually gives plenty of leftover for terminal turks heads leaving tassels hanging, etc. For simple braids I usually wind up cutting off several inches, but I'd rather have too much than not enough. I'd be interested to see how others figure this too.

Timothy

[Jock54]

Hi Timothy, this is Jock54, from Warwick, Queensland, Australia. I have been plaiting kangaroo leather lace for the last four years. I make lots of leather plaited belts, hat bands, with turks-head knots, this allows you to adjust the band to the size of the hat, usually a cattlemans hat in Australia. I also plait dog and cat collars, and dog leads. The hat bands, I plait them flat or round. When I make a belt for a customer, to find how much leather lace is needed so that it is not short, I need to get their waist size, for example, I am 40inches, add another 6 to 10 inches, that makes 46inches, then multiply 46x3=138inches. That means each strand of lace will be 138inches long, or 11feet 6inches. I use this formula for plaiting all my belts, and it works every time. When I have time, I will put some photoes up of my leather belts and things. I f there is anything else I could help you with, just contact me, I am a member of leatherworker.net.

[sherlockian100]

I am wondering if anyone know of any end pieces that could perhaps be purchased at Tandy, that could attach to the ends to make this a beacelet? Any help would be appreciated.

[WinterBear]

You might try looking for a jewelry finding used for fabric chokers and bracelets sherlockian. It is commonly called a "ribbon crimp end". They are sold by most places that sell beads and stringing supplies, as well as online (I use Fire Mountain Gems for much of my beading supplies), and materials range from plated metal to platinum, with corresponding prices. Anyway, once you've attached a ribbon crimp end to each of the ends of your braid, a regular bracelet clasp (lobsterclaw, toggle, magnetic clasp, etc.) can be attached to the crimp end for the actual clasp.

[sherlockian100]

Thanks, I'll look into it.