multiple string button

[rgerbitz]

I have seen several different ways of doing this and thought that I would post a couple of pictures of how I have been doing it. The only reason I have for doing it this way is that I haven't been able to figure out how to do it any other way. I know, its a great reason.

Rob

[rdb]

I don't braid, but what you show makes some sense to me.

But what I really like is the idea of using the shaving brush for saddle soaping. Thanks for that tip.

[rawhide1]

Rob

The few times I've used the multi string I've done like it's showed in Bruce Grants book. Are you braiding this down and then making your bights at the end and then coming up and making pairs. And do you met in the middle with both ends. One more ? how do ya figure your length of strings for this. After I finish this headstall I'm working on I'd like to try making a bosal. So this is a great topic for me and the pictures are worth a thousand words. Thanks for taking the time.

Mike

[rgerbitz]

Hey Mike,

Each end gets turned back and run back the length of the button. Depending on what I want I will either bury the ends around the end buttons or make a row towards the ends which when it is rolled out forms a kinda of flat spot this seems to be the way that Gail Hought buries her ends at least in the one book I have. When I get to burying the ends I will try to put some pictures up.

Rob

[HorsehairBraider]

Here's another reason to do it that way: when you do it with one long string it has to be a *REALLY* long string. It seems to take nine years to pull it through all the passes.

That said, when I do my tiny bosals I sometimes use one thread as it is hard enough to control one thread working that small, multiple threads just add to the confusion. And sometimes I use the multiple threads like shown in the Bruce Grant books, where you lay them parallel to each other and wrap the core, then turn back and basically get to where you are in your picture. Well you see, I can get a different pattern in my interweave when I do it that way. Instead of zig-zags, I can get a two-color spiral. So sometimes there's a reason to do it a different way besides convenience.

[rgerbitz]

Mike here are some more pictures, sorry, I didn't really take them at the right time now that I look at 'em. But maybe you can make some sense of it. And as far as the length of string goes I cut each string 6 foot long. I have about a good foot to a foot and a half extra, but my math isn't very good and I have had to cut several buttons off cause I ran out of string. That makes me cuss alot. I would rather waste about 10 foot of string instead of 60 foot cause I can't properly work a calculator.

Rob

[rawhide1]

Rob

Thanks a lot for taking the pictures. It will be nice to have a another source to go back and look at when I attempt to build one.

Mike