San Juan Honda

[curlyjo]

Vaquero1, I'll try to get pictures on here as soon as I get some tech. support. Meaning my wife since the grandkids aren't here. Brad

Heres some pictures. One is the long taper of the shaping stick, One is the pins I use to form the rope hole and let dry with a finished honda next to it, and the last is the big end of shaping stick. It measures about 1 1/4 on small end to 2 1/2 on large end.Overall 9 inches. I build my hondas so I can just get them over the small end and drive them down to the large end. That takes out all the stretch with the boiling after . It can get pretty tight but thats what works for me.

[Vaquero1]

Brad, thanks for your fast and helpful answer and for making the fotos. now i can build some bolts and a shaping stick from an old axe handle...

i boild a test honda and now it is very stiff but i can break the whole with my hands... what was wrong? do i have to use lots of saddle soap?

how do you boil the honda 11min and the burner only 30 sec?

i have a nice san juan honda braided from the great braider ALBERT FRUNZ from germany. his material looks and feels more like leather than rawhide- does anyone know how i can become this consistence?

Edited January 2, 2011 by Vaquero1

[curlyjo]

Brad, thanks for your fast and helpful answer and for making the fotos. now i can build some bolts and a shaping stick from an old axe handle...

i boild a test honda and now it is very stiff but i can break the whole with my hands... what was wrong? do i have to use lots of saddle soap?

how do you boil the honda 11min and the burner only 30 sec?

i have a nice san juan honda braided from the great braider ALBERT FRUNZ from germany. his material looks and feels more like leather than rawhide- does anyone know how i can become this consistence?

Vaquero1, thats supposed to be 1and1/2 minutes,( 90 seconds.) Sorry about the misunderstanding. And when you boil the burner, place it on the the honda then drive it back on the shaper stick. that will open up the honda. then just enough water in the pot to stick the burner end in the water. It will get a little of the honda on each side but thats never been a problem. When that dries it will retain that shape for a long time. Another thing you might try is braid a honda with wedges or whatever and when you get a size and shape you really like then build your shaper to that honda. Thats what I did and have 3 sticks identical so all is the same. Also have a round one. Hope that helps, Brad

[Vaquero1]

Hi Brad, i can´t reading but i still try it- 90sec will work better- thanks ;-)

[Vaquero1]

after trying a lot i found a way it works good for me.

i braid about 8 inches, wrapping the honda over a broom handle and making my knot. by putting the burner on it will be tighten.

the ropehole is the last i do and finally i cook for 1-1,5 min.

Edited March 11, 2011 by Vaquero1

[roo4u]

lookin good!!!!

[ljensen]

I braided up a new honda last night and thought I would share a different method to stretch them. This is similar to a picture in Bruce Grant's book but slightly modified.

I took a large steel cable eyelet and cut in half saving only the rounded end.I hang a hook over this and then attach a 10 lb. weight.

[megabit]

I don't think that burner is ever going to wear through!

[ljensen]

Definitely wouldn't have to worry about the tip closing up on your rope. Also think of the weight it would add instead of all that wire.

MB - Feel free to use this idea, I will only claim half of your proceeds as royalties.