How To Wrap 3 Inch Bell Stirrups With Rawhide?

[cowboy bill]

got a pair of oak w/ galvanize metal cover to be here in a few days. thinking i want to cover with rawhide.

i guess make template out of paper in two parts? i do know rawhide will be soaked. what should use to lace? any other help will be much appreciated.

[Randy Cornelius]

When I do these, I have a pattern for the rawhide, of course soak it good in warm water. I like to use latigo to lace them, but have used rawhide lace too, just depends on what the customer wants. When the rawhide is ready wrap it around the stirrup and then trim to fit. Then punch #6 holes for the lacing, use 1/2 lace. Be sure to work out any wrinkles before it drys. Then after they are dry come back with a clear laquer finish. I use a simi gloss polyurathane finish, water based. Seems to hold up well to the elements.

RC

[cowboy bill]

thanks for the repl;y. thats about what i figured. Bill