Bosal tutorial

[Alan Bell]

Well, I guess it's safe to go back in the water now so I'll try again. This is how I go about making a 1/2" bosal with a braided core. These are 3 cores in the different stages I use a reata type piece And then if I need to I cover it with a piece of lining leather or chap leather to make the desired finished size. I figure the lace thickness at 1/8th" which is basically the thickness of 4 strands since the strands cross over each other in the braid AND the thickness can be thought of as on the front and back. Then I add that to the radius of the core and the difference is made up in leather. . Then I braid over this with whatever I've decided on in this case it is a 16 strand braid. Next I cut strips put glue on them glue on the bosal and then nail them in place with small brads I then put them on with one in the middle and one for each end of the noseband. to be continued...

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

We're going to a party so I hope you are hearty!

Bob Marley - Punky Reggae Party

[Alan Bell]

OK so the next thing is to get some floral tape (Walmart, Michaels, or on line) it sticks to itself and doesn't have glue and also it can be shaped some or I can double it over on itself to increase low spots. I start at one end and work towards the middle. The first layer goes all the way up to the center button and then I make a few extra turns next to the center button to start that build up. When I wrap back and forth I will not go back over the very end I don't cross over the center button until I've built up that side and then i cross over and do the other side Next I will measure and mark the noseband with guide lines and I use those guidelines to make sure the taper is even Now I am ready to start the braiding first I get the string into thirds When i start my braiding I put 2 thirds to my left and 1 third to my right. To be continued.....

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

Rise up this morning, rise with the rising sun

Bob Marley - Three Little Birds

[Alan Bell]

With 2/3 of the length of my strings to my left I start the braid by going under one over one. and I continue with each string in succession moving from top to bottom Once I have all of my strings done i set it into my vice to hold it while I braid Once I reach my goal I start the turn back. I finish my braid with an over so I can start my braid with an under. This is with the strings that are still going the left. I'll come to a place where the strand will need to work itself back into what has already been braided. Then I go parallel to the string on the left I do this with each string in succession first working 4 of them to the left and then i go back and work them in succession to the right of where I started. This helps me from putting a twist into the finished noseband. Here I am half way back up creating pairs. . At this point I started getting late so I wrapped the noseband in a moist cloth and let it set on my bench to preserve the moisture content. To be continued...

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

To see his hurt is their greatest ambition

Bob Marley - Ride Natty, Ride

[Alan Bell]

So now we are going to finish the noseband by working all the strings up to the other end and creating pairs and then at the end crossing under 3 and working back towards the middle splitting the pairs as you come to them. This is what creates the diamond pattern. The same will be done with the strings at the other end until the meet in the middle . Now you have to make the junction appear as if it is one string by burying the ends. If the strings are a little dry you can soap them Here is a normal under two pass and here is an under 3 pass to hide the string and here is the interchange done with both strings I pull each strand and cut it close so that it draws back up under the 3 to bury it. Next will be the interweave but that will have to wait to be posted...

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

Well I see you. You pass my way again!

Bob Marley - Touch Me

[ArtS]

Man, I could never do that! Thanks for the instructions. I have an even greater appreciation for braiding now.

ArtS

[CharlieR]

Mr. Bell-thank you so much for your time and effort in putting this tutorial together. It gives us beginners the inspiration and encouragement to keep at it and just goes to prove that this forum rocks!!

[Alan Bell]

Now for the interweave. I didn't know how to actually take the pictures that show what is needed but will say that I am filling the gaps made because the end and center diameter is greater than that just inside of the end buildups so the braiding in tight in the narrowest point but does not quite cover the wider portions. To do the interweave I start under three and go up parallel to the string to the left and follow that the length I want then cross under 3. I will often double check where the pattern will be to make sure I am going under the proper 3. This series of pics show how I continue and the finished after I added color to the ends to balance the pattern.

It is easier to show the interweave on the side buttons so I'll post that later.

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

I and I no come to fight flesh and blood but spiritual wickedness in high and low places!

Bob Marley - So Much to Say

[roo4u]

alan

this is great, thanks for doing this. what knot are you doing for the nose button? i noticed you have strings going in both directions and did not recognize it...i just use a multistring knot from b.g.s book and you only have strings going in one direction. yours looks very interesting. i like the lines drawn on the foundation to keep it straight..excellent idea will have to try that for next time. now i have to build a bosal so i can try the interweave...havent been able to get one done yet.

[Alan Bell]

Hey Tracy and everyone, Thanks for the compliments but I am the one who is benefiting the most! There are strings going both direction. That is the reason for having 2/3ds of the strings on the left and 1/3d on the right. What happens is this; you braid with the strings uneven as I said, when yo get to the end of the braid you take the longest strands and do a turn back that matches the way you started and work those strands back up through the previous braiding creating pairs. When you get back to the starting end you do what ever turn back you desire depending on how you want that end to look. There are 3 different turns to make a "pineapple" or standard end and one to make a "gaucho" end. You work those strands back towards the middle splitting the pairs you made. You should still have enough length to the original "short" strands to do a matching turn back at their end and work those strands back towards the middle. When the two ends meet is when you have to bury each end under the other by going under 3. Actually, you can have the ends meet anywhere along the length of the noseband and on a smaller noseband you may not want all of your strands meeting in the middle because it will make a bump there. Hope this explanation make a little more sense to everyone. If there are any questions or if I've created some confusion please ask and maybe I can find a better way to say things that might make it clearer in your mind.

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

Feel alright now, Feel alright now! Said I feel alright now! Good Lord hear me!

Bob Marley - Put It On

[roo4u]

alan

so let me make sure im getting what your doing....where i start mine about 1/3 the distance from the end of the knot, then wrap the strands on until i reach the end make my bights, braid down thru the wrapped ends of strings then wrap my working ends for the remaining 2/3 of the knot then turn back make my bights braid back to the ends of my strings at the 1/3 point where i start building pairs...you are basically skipping the wrapping process by doing the skeleton braid right from the start? is that correct? if so then that is probably easier to do as it is hard for a rookie like myself to correctly guage the space to leave between strings when doing that initial wrapping on of the strings. COOL! learn something new every day! the interweave doesnt work if you do the gaucho pattern does it?

thanks again