Aidenfox Report post Posted February 4, 2011 Hi, My name is Karen and I am brand new to the world of leatherwork. I am doing mostly leather brainding but can see that this obsession is going to expand the more I learn. Although I have only been on the site a couple of times I am already finding it to be a wealth of information. I started the hobby because I wanted to make my horse a bridle...well, it has only been a month and I am totally hooked. My husband and I have a cattle ranch in the Turtle Valley just outside Chase BC (we are retired...if you call ranching retired) and I also have several dogs...so I have no shortage of projects I would like to do. Although I have been working mostly with Kangaroo leather, a friend sent me up some 1/4 inch rawhide she picked up in Arizona...now there is a complicated endeavor!!! I have purchased Bryan Neuberts vidoes to try to figure out how to cut this stuff so I can use it...what a learning curve!! I can see I will have to think about purchasing a Lace Master or something like it. If anyone has any suggestions to help me along I would appreciate it, until then I will continue to cruise the site to find some more info. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Myriam Report post Posted February 4, 2011 Hi Karen, Unfortunately, I can't help you with the rawhide, I haven't worked with it yet, but I wanted to take the time to welcome you to the forums! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hedge Report post Posted February 4, 2011 Hi Karen, Welcome to the forum! It's been awhile since I've been on (we have our little ranch here, too) Busy, busy. I'm not as advanced as some of the rawhide braiders, here. But, I can share some of my experiences. I use a Lace Master for all my cutting and prep. (stock up on razor blades...rawhide uses 'em up quickly). Some people just use their thumb and a sharp knife, but that takes lots of practice. You'll need to work with finding the proper tempering for the rawhide so that it cuts easily without stretching. It's not something someone can tell you. You will have to get the feel of it from actually trying it. Also, don't get frustrated and just yank it through when you hit a hard spot . Go easy and pull smoothly. Develop a steady and consistent procedure. Beveling your strings will take practice, as well, to keep the string positioned properly for a consistent cut. If it gets hard to cut and the temper is correct, adjust your blade for a fresh edge or replace it. Don't try cutting with a dull blade just to finish. You'll ruin the string. Also, watch your blade for deflection as you draw your string through. If it's anything but vertical, it's getting dull or you are not pulling straight. As to braiding rawhide, not much different from 'roo except to be careful not to stretch it out of dimension as you braid and keep the temper. I don't know what the video you have contains, so, I'm not sure what to add. Except, be patient; work slowly at first. You can always re-temper the rawhide when it starts to dry out. I'm sure you'll get plenty of help from the more experienced rawhide braiders here. Good luck and post some pics of your progress! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aidenfox Report post Posted February 5, 2011 Thank you for the welcome and all the information!! Every little bit helps!! I am looking into a Lace Master and the folks there also suggested the Osborne #86 splitter. I can see this is going to be a costly pursuit!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
