Members megabit Posted January 17, 2011 Members Report Posted January 17, 2011 I've seen the pictures of his cutter but noticed in his WH ad that he has a splitter now based on a Dorrance design. Has anyone seen it? Do you have a picture you could post? Mike Quote
Members Aggiebraider Posted January 18, 2011 Members Report Posted January 18, 2011 If its based off the splitter that Tom Dorrance used in the DVD, I am pretty sure its just a planer blade that is attached to a rod that is then run through two sleeves that are somehow attached to bolts on either side that allow you to adjust the height of the blade in relation to the wood block that is used for the base. I also think if my memory serves me right is that there are springs that are around the bolts (not sure what they do though). The sleeves around the rod that the blade is attached to allow the blade to rotate away from you so you can get your string in underneath it and then it rotates back down to perpendicular to the wood block. This design works well when you are using wetter lace, because it kind of just scrapes the flesh side off. If you were used to using drier lace, I dont think it will do anything but frustrate you since this design wont actually cut the flesh side off. I can try and draw up a picture if this doesnt make sense. Not sure how Bryan has changed it from the way Tom made his, but for as many riatas as Tom made with that splitter, Im sure it works pretty darn well just the way it is lol. CW Quote
Members megabit Posted January 18, 2011 Author Members Report Posted January 18, 2011 I think either Woolery's book or Grant's has a picture of Tom's splitter. The picture isn't very good though and I couldn't figure out how it worked looking at it. I have one of the Clint Sims (whitebuf) ones but would like to get away from the utility razor blades. I think it would work better with a blade that is just beveled on one side (like a plane blade). I wish I knew a machinist I'd have an adapter for a plane blade rigged for my Sims splitter. Speaking of the Dorrance DVD, is it worth spending the considerable funds on? I have a new reata at home but it still looks like a dried cowhide. Quote
Members Leatherpownder Posted January 18, 2011 Members Report Posted January 18, 2011 I think either Woolery's book or Grant's has a picture of Tom's splitter. The picture isn't very good though and I couldn't figure out how it worked looking at it. I have one of the Clint Sims (whitebuf) ones but would like to get away from the utility razor blades. I think it would work better with a blade that is just beveled on one side (like a plane blade). I wish I knew a machinist I'd have an adapter for a plane blade rigged for my Sims splitter. Speaking of the Dorrance DVD, is it worth spending the considerable funds on? I have a new reata at home but it still looks like a dried cowhide. Mega. If you are looking for a fixed blade splitter like that I have the splitter off of a Hansen that I'd sell for $100. I'll try to post a pic. Quote
Members roo4u Posted January 18, 2011 Members Report Posted January 18, 2011 in one of grants books there is a picture of a guy using a woodworking planer to split his rawhide....i always wondered how well that would work. they can be pricey but on the other hand they are highly adjustable and there are a variety of sizes. i currently use a homemade splitter from plans someone had posted on this board a couple of years ago. Quote TRACY MONSTER FARM SPECIALTIES-custom tack for dog, horse and human
Members megabit Posted January 18, 2011 Author Members Report Posted January 18, 2011 Mega. If you are looking for a fixed blade splitter like that I have the splitter off of a Hansen that I'd sell for $100. I'll try to post a pic. I would indeed be interested. Quote
Members Aggiebraider Posted January 19, 2011 Members Report Posted January 19, 2011 The DVD is good for a beginner, and I got alot out of it just by watching how Tom and Randy did things. I understood the process but it was nice to see someone go through all of them. I also really enjoyed hearing Tom talk about some of his horse training ideas and policies. I got the dvd as a christmas gift, so I didnt have to worry about the price lol. I think its definitely worth every braider to have just in case they stop producing them and you wouldnt be able to get one. CW Quote
Members curlyjo Posted January 19, 2011 Members Report Posted January 19, 2011 I believe you are talking about Four Strands of Rawhide, is Randy Rieman and Bill Dorrance. Tom was Bills younger brother and was an exceptional horse person that started the Horse Clinicians we see today mainly Ray Hunt. I started braiding at Bills place when I was a teenager. The tool you are referring to is a wood plane blade set at 90 degrees in a framethat can be adjusted up and down for different thicknesses of rawhide. This is the tool Bill Used until someone built him a splitter similar to an Osborne. He still used it on occasion. Bryan told me he uses his quite a bit. You just have to make more passes and keep it sharp. I'm pretty sure rawhide only. I have one somewhere but could never get it sharp enough. A friend built it for me in Salinas 35 years ago. I need to get that video just to remember the time I spent in Bills rawhide room making strings and visiting. I would come home from Nv or Or and go visit about the different outfits I was working on and listen to his stories of his younger days in northeast Or. But thats another story Brad Quote
Members Leatherpownder Posted January 20, 2011 Members Report Posted January 20, 2011 I would indeed be interested. Here's the splitter Mega let me know what ya think. Quote
Members Handwerker Posted January 20, 2011 Members Report Posted January 20, 2011 that is the small Splitter i am looking for wher make this on ?? Quote http://www.arnobuck.de
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