4 Part Round Braid - Need Help!

[Rocknrodeotack]

I am attempting to create a braided air horn tug or pull, whichever you may wish to call it. It seems the tug consists of a 4 part round braid. The finished product should have the diameter of a quarter.

I decided to go with 4 oz latigo leather 1/2" straps, based on some pictures, no cord.

I've been watching video after video on YouTube but cannot seem to master the braid effectively.

Is there a better tutorial of doing it? Or am I using the wrong leather?

Edited November 23, 2014 by Rocknrodeotack

[Rawhidelady]

I would assume with 1/2" wide throngs that you would need a core for the braid to look good.

Latigo leather should be fine, not sure about the weight (4oz).

Can you post a photo showing how your braid is ending up? I may be able to tell more from the photo.

I will try to see if I have some latigo of that weight and make the throngs from it and see how it turns out for me.

I'll post the results tomorrow.

and if you can post a photo of the tug that you are attempting to recreate

it would help too.

and if you can post a photo of the tug that you are attempting to recreate

it would help too.

[Rocknrodeotack]

Thank you for the response, however, I do not have a picture of my attempted work as it's not braiding nicely. Here is a picture of the pull.

Edited November 24, 2014 by Rocknrodeotack

[TwinOaks]

There is a ratio that you need to follow, (Braiders, chime in here if this needs correcting). Basic instruction: Take the circumference of the size braid you want (or of the core if you have one), and divide by the number of strands you want to use, and that gives you the width of the strands. In this case, 1" x Pi (3.14) --> 3.14 / 4(strands)---> .785"....or 3/4 inch. 1/2" would work, but would not have the same diameter without some gaps.
Another thing to consider (since we cant' see what your strands are doing) is that you may need to taper the edges of the strands so that they lay down neatly. You can purchase or build one of several variants fairly inexpensively.

[KnotHead]

For the size of a quater you'll need 4 strands cut at,

1.072125 inches. So, I'd round it down to about an 1 inch in width.

Brian...

[TwinOaks]

?!? where'd I go wrong in the calculation?

[KnotHead]

Diameter * 4.5

Take that and divide by the number of strands you want to use.

Brian...

[bergjes]

There is a ratio that you need to follow, (Braiders, chime in here if this needs correcting). Basic instruction: Take the circumference of the size braid you want (or of the core if you have one), and divide by the number of strands you want to use, and that gives you the width of the strands. In this case, 1" x Pi (3.14) --> 3.14 / 4(strands)---> .785"....or 3/4 inch. 1/2" would work, but would not have the same diameter without some gaps.

Another thing to consider (since we cant' see what your strands are doing) is that you may need to taper the edges of the strands so that they lay down neatly. You can purchase or build one of several variants fairly inexpensively.

If I'm not mistaken, the circumference of a circle = 2 * Pi(3,14) * r ???

[Rocknrodeotack]

Thanks for the tip, but I can't seem to physically braid the braid correctly. Is there a tutorial or diagram that is accurate for leather?

[KnotHead]

Well then. I think that the one I got this from is a whip braider and has been using it for about 30yrs. He don't seem to have an issue with it.

If I'm not mistaken, the circumference of a circle = 2 * Pi(3,14) * r ???

[TwinOaks]

If I'm not mistaken, the circumference of a circle = 2 * Pi(3,14) * r ???

so...2*r = d, yes? and that's what I did......Pi * diameter

But I like Brian's method....it's easier! So, I'll just use that one from now on.

Here's the tutorial for round braid that I usually send people to: http://myriam.dakotabraiding.com/Tutorials/Leash/Leash.html

Step by step picto-tutorial, and you can click each pic to get the instructions that go with the individual pictures.

Also, look up Bernie46 on Youtube - he's a whip maker and shows how to bevel the lace with a homemade lace beveler..which will help the strands lay down correctly.

[Rocknrodeotack]

Thanks so much!

[wlg190861]

To find the circumference of something its simply radius x pi(3.14

[Northmount]

To find the circumference of something its simply radius x pi(3.14

You are half way there.

C = Pi * D

or

C = Pi * 2 * r

I think where estimates for strand widths for braiding are concerned, the 4.5 rule of thumb is likely a better estimate since the strands are not running parallel to the axis, but rather cross the axis on a diagonal.

Tom

[bucksnort]

I think I'll use Brian's method & eat the pi. Buck

[Northmount]

I think I'll use Brian's method & eat the pi. Buck

Where's the like button? Eating pi is the best!

Tom

[Sovran81]

Well that was hard to follow. No offense Brian I have great respect for you and your skills. I have learned a (probably same but) different formula that hasn't failed me yet.

Circumference X 1.5 / number of strands = strand width.

Easy peasy. I measure diameter and use an online calculator http://www.onlineconversion.com/circlesolve.htm to give me circumference(pi is for eating not figuring). From there its a simple math calculation. Any three numbers will give you the fourth. The circumference and 1.5 are standard to that job. Choose width or number of strands and you have the 3 you need to define the fourth. As a math calculation it works with any three as long as 1.5 is your constant.

[KnotHead]

I'm not offended. Whatever works for you. That's always been my thing.

Brian...

Well that was hard to follow. No offense Brian I have great respect for you and your skills. I have learned a (probably same but) different formula that hasn't failed me yet.

Circumference X 1.5 / number of strands = strand width.

Easy peasy. I measure diameter and use an online calculator http://www.onlineconversion.com/circlesolve.htm to give me circumference(pi is for eating not figuring). From there its a simple math calculation. Any three numbers will give you the fourth. The circumference and 1.5 are standard to that job. Choose width or number of strands and you have the 3 you need to define the fourth. As a math calculation it works with any three as long as 1.5 is your constant.

[Sovran81]

No mathematician here. Do the formulas work the same? As a dummy I try to use the easy way out unless extra work nets better results.

[KnotHead]

they'll work the same. only difference is the numbers.

[Ccastle27]

Circumference X 1.5 / number of strands = strand width.

They are approximately the same formula

Circumference is ~3.14 x diameter

3.14 x 1.5 = 4.7 (~4.5)

So the only difference is the starting point. I typically use calipers to measure a starting diameter, so I start with "D". Therefore it is faster for me to use the 4.5 x D version.

Since I deal in diameters that probably won't be much larger than ~1", the small numbers make the difference between 4.5 and 4.7 negligible.

Happy Plaiting!

-C

[GrampaJoel]

Hey buck I'm with you.

I had left over cherry pie for breakfast.

Where's the like button? Ha, ha!

[bucksnort]

Joel, That's my kind of subtraction. Buck