Where do I start

[GMorris]

I have just recently found this site, and found it most interesting and informative. I have been working with leather for some time doing minor saddle repairs etc. I have always been interested in braiding, but know nothing about it. can someone direct me to a good resource to start. (Books, videos, etc.)

Thanks.

Gary

[Regis]

Gary,

I can't help with the braiding but, welcome to leatherworker.net. There are a number of braiders here to help you.

[GMorris]

Gary,

I can't help with the braiding but, welcome to leatherworker.net. There are a number of braiders here to help you.

Thanks for the welcome Regis. I have sold tools for Chicago screws & conchos on ebay, and several of my customers have refered to this site. I am so glad they did, I have found a wealth of information here.

[paris3200]

Well first off welcome to the forum. I've just started braiding myself but I know there are a number of resources available.

Books

Braiding Fine Leather by David W. Morgan

Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding by Bruce Grant

How to Make Cowboy Horse Gear by Bruce Grant

Gail Hought also has a series of books out on braiding. I haven't read them, but I have heard other people recommend them. The only downside is that they are expensive and my understanding is that they all reference one another. Some of her books are available from http://ubraidit.com/supplies-thumbs.php?cat=64. I believe you can get them cheeper from another source, but I can't remember where.

Videos

I've only heard of 2 videos on braiding. Once again I don't have any experience with them but I've heard others say they are good. They are Introduction to Rawhide Braiding and Advance Rawhide Braiding by Bryan Neubert. They are available directly from his website at http://www.eclectic-horseman.com/mercantil....php?cPath=2_41.

Hope this helps,

Jason

[Opagon]

There are a couple of books and videos that have been referenced here quite a bit.

Bruce Grant - Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding

How to make Cowboy Horse Gear

Leather Braiding

Gail Hought - The Art of Braiding Series

Bryan Nuebert - Videos - Introduction to Rawhide Braiding

Advanced Rawhide Braiding

Robert Woolery - Braiding Rawhide Horse tack

Tom Hall - Books

I am sure I am forgetting some,

Heather

[rawhide1]

Gary

Welcome to the site. As far as your question I always talk up Bruce Grants books I think they are very good books although some find them hard to follow. And reasonably priced another good set of books would be by Gail Hought although they are alot more. These are the only two authors whos books i've read and used. There are several other books and videos out there by accomplished braiders. Although since I haven't used them I will let someone else discuss them. Hope this helps Mike

[GMorris]

Thanks for all of the help. I ordered Bruce Grants book on line today!

[crow]

Hi,

Time to time when somebody asks directions to braiding books people mention 2 B. grants books together, Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding and how to make cowboy horse gear. But nobody mention that these books are almost identical- same pics and text, except" how to make cowboy horse gear" has a lot less pages, so as the information. There is only one different chapter: how make western saddle in "how to make...".

So if you need a braiding book, the Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding is the way to go. All the informataion you need is there.

I`m bringin it up because i bought both of them, at first Encyclopedia and then how to make... and i was really disappointed because i was expecting an book with different content. If i knew back then I would have spent these bucks on a different book.

brgd

Crow

[GMorris]

Hi,

Time to time when somebody asks directions to braiding books people mention 2 B. grants books together, Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding and how to make cowboy horse gear. But nobody mention that these books are almost identical- same pics and text, except" how to make cowboy horse gear" has a lot less pages, so as the information. There is only one different chapter: how make western saddle in "how to make...".

So if you need a braiding book, the Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding is the way to go. All the informataion you need is there.

I`m bringin it up because i bought both of them, at first Encyclopedia and then how to make... and i was really disappointed because i was expecting an book with different content. If i knew back then I would have spent these bucks on a different book.

brgd

Crow

Thanks for the headsup Crow, I order the encyclopedia, and was in fact thinking of the others, you just saved me some money.

Thanks again.

Gary

[paris3200]

Crow I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you. While its true that 99.9% of the material in How to make Cowboy Horse Gear is covered in The Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding there are some differences. Yes the pictures and diagrams are the same but the text has been edited and updated between the two. Some material has been added and other material has been taken out. There has been several times where I've been confused by one of them and read the same chapter in the other one which made more sense to me. So to say that How to Make Cowboy Horse Gear is irrelevant if you have The Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding is a little unfair.

Jason

[crow]

Crow I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you. While its true that 99.9% of the material in How to make Cowboy Horse Gear is covered in The Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding there are some differences. Yes the pictures and diagrams are the same but the text has been edited and updated between the two. Some material has been added and other material has been taken out. There has been several times where I've been confused by one of them and read the same chapter in the other one which made more sense to me. So to say that How to Make Cowboy Horse Gear is irrelevant if you have The Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding is a little unfair.

Jason

no hard feelings. It was just my two cents and subjective opinion.

i`m thinking of buying "braiding fine leather" by David W. Morgan and any comments about this book are welcome.

brgd

Crow

[TwoCrow]

A book I like to refer to for making buttons and inserting interweaves is "Braiding Rawhide Horse Tack" by Robert L Woolery. The book isn't a great "Starter" book but helped me a lot with the "long button" and the inserting of different interweaves.

[paris3200]

i`m thinking of buying "braiding fine leather" by David W. Morgan and any comments about this book are welcome.

If you already know the basics of braiding I'd say skip this one. If your looking to learn knots, look elsewhere. In my opinion this book was written with a beginner in mind, but Morgan missed the mark. I found the directions and pictures difficult to understand. He also failed to explain some of the terminology he used before using it. I was very frustrated with this book but by cross referencing Grant's books and the internet I was able to muddle through it.

Unfortunately I have yet to find a good absolute beginner book, but that seems to be the nature of working with leather in general. Seems like trial and error, this forum, and reading every book you can get you hand on is the only way to learn.

Jason