San Juan Swivel Tutorial

[megabit]

I start out with 4 strands of rawhide about 50" - 60" long and 1/4" wide. Middle the strands and move a inch or two to one side to start the 4 plait loop. You could also do this part with a split braid.

sanjuanswivel_start loop by ss1442, on Flickr

I have the 4 plait wrapped around a 3/4" dowel and have started the 8 plait body of the honda here. Bruce Grant's book "Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding" has a good illustration of going from 4 to 8 somerwhere around page 200 (I'll get the page and plate numbers later).

sanjuanswivel_8 strand started by ss1442, on Flickr

Here I have the body of the honda plaited out to 6" or 7". You can go shorter or longer depending on how big you like your hondas. I have also pounded it some and ran it threw a rein rounder before I took this picture. I like running it threw the rounder because it streches it some and I want to get as much of the strech out of it before it gets used.

sanjuanswivel_ready 2 start neck by ss1442, on Flickr

Now I pull the strings threw the 4 plait loop.

sanjuanswivel_starting neck 1 by ss1442, on Flickr

That is Grant's "Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding" in the picture page 213 plate 82. It has a pretty good illustration of how to do the neck.

sanjuanswivel_starting neck 2 by ss1442, on Flickr

I have the neck part way done in this picture. It is a lot like doing a multi string nose button on a bosal.

sanjuanswivel_neck started by ss1442, on Flickr

I finish the neck by cutting 4 of the strings off and using the other 4 to tie the Spanish Ring knot. Then I use a hammer handle and some wood blocks to strech things out. I will leave it in the strecher to dry for a day or two longer if it is real humid out. Once I feel it is thoroughly dried out I will pull it out of the strecher but leave the dowel in place and boil it for about 90 seconds. That will make the rawhide harder so it is less likely to close up on your rope in use. Then it goes back in the strecher to dry back out again.

Once it is dry then I'll frequently coat it with polyurethane or spar varnish. Then it is time to put on the burner. I'll also wrap the area that will be under the burner with some wire to give it weight and to keep it from closing up.

sanjuanswivel_streching by ss1442, on Flickr

[acox4t4]

Thanks for showing us how you make those. A picture says a 1000 words, thanks for taking the time to teach us. Greatly appriciated.

[CharlieR]

You are the man! Great tutorial. Thanks for taking the time.

[GrampaJoel]

Thank you for taking the time to post these pictures.

I don't do much braiding, but your pictures sure simplified what you are doing for me..

Nice Job!!

Joel

[Denise]

Thanks for taking the time to do this, Megabit. It really is appreciated!

[rgerbitz]

Thanks for taking the time M. Could you show how you lace your burner on.

Thanks,

Rob

[megabit]

Thanks for taking the time M. Could you show how you lace your burner on.

Thanks,

Rob

I'll try to remember to take pictures I still haven't finished up this one yet.

[Amanda Powell]

Awesome I agree, pictures of lacing the burner on would be great too Thanks!!

[ljensen]

Thanks for taking the time to show the steps with pictures.

[megabit]

I finished up the honda.

Photo 8

Boiling honda after it has been streched and dried.

sanjuanswivel_boil by ss1442, on Flickr

Photo 9

Boiled, steched, dried and varnished with spar varnish.

sanjuanswivel_varnished by ss1442, on Flickr

Photo 10

Starting wire wrap of burner area. This adds weight and keeps it from closing up.

sanjuanswivel_start_wire by ss1442, on Flickr

Photo 11

Wire wrap done.

sanjuanswivel_wire_done by ss1442, on Flickr

Photo 12

Test fitting burner and trimming as needed.

sanjuanswivel_start_burner by ss1442, on Flickr

Photo 13

More test fitting burner.

sanjuanswivel_fit_burner by ss1442, on Flickr

Photo 14

Punching lace wholes in burner. I sharpened an old fork to punch 4 even spaced holes at once.

sanjuanswivel_punch_burner by ss1442, on Flickr

Photo 15

Starting to lace burner on.

sanjuanswivel_lace_burner by ss1442, on Flickr

Photo 16

Run end back under lace to the middle.

sanjuanswivel_burner lace by ss1442, on Flickr

Photo 17

Done!

sanjuanswivel_done by ss1442, on Flickr

[Amanda Powell]

I've never done rawhide work before....Why do you boil the honda before putting the burner on?

[megabit]

I've never done rawhide work before....Why do you boil the honda before putting the burner on?

It makes the hide harder and stiffer, you don't want it closing up on your rope.

[Amanda Powell]

It makes the hide harder and stiffer, you don't want it closing up on your rope.

Ah, ok. Thanks!

[rgerbitz]

Thank you Mike for taking the time on this.

Rob

[seveneves]

I've never done rawhide work before....Why do you boil the honda before putting the burner on?

How long do you boil the honda? Thanks.

[megabit]

How long do you boil the honda? Thanks.

About a minute and a half. I get the water boiling real good before I put it in too.

[seveneves]

Great tutorial I've made several this week in prep for a ranch rodeo. I accidentally forgot one in the water for about 4-5 mintues. HOpefully it's not ruined. Seems fine though.

[oobuckshotz]

How thick are the strings? 1/8"?

[TexasLady]

Love it! Thanks for showing us how to make something "authentic" and useful.

Edited July 11, 2015 by TexasLady

[megabit]

How thick are the strings? 1/8"?

That sounds more or less about right. I generally split the hide down to about the thinnest part to make it more or less even. If it had a real thin part I wouldn't go down that far and would likely not use the thin parts.