How To Cut Rawhide From A Horsehide

[Likla]

I have practiced on making rawhide on 3 deer hides.

Im pretty happy by the result and now I try with a horse hide.

The fleshing was very time-consuming and hard labor, but the dehairing was surprisingly easy using lime.

Is there something I can do to make the fleshing easier?

I am unsure as to how to cut the hide when it has dryed.

Do you have any advice for how I do that?

I really appreciate any help I can get.

I would rather not destroy the rawhide by cutting it wrong

This is my first bosal made the rawhide from a deer.

[25b]

Some people have reported using this successfully...

http://www.amazon.com/75mm-Twist-knot-Wire-Brush-Wheel/dp/B00AJ6QTI2

To cut...you know what? I'll send you a PM...

[Likla]

Thank you.

What I am thinking about is that there is a big difference in the thickness of the hide. If I cut it round in a soga, I will get strings that goes from thind to thick.

Maybe someone has experience with horsehide and knows which part of the hide should be cut together.

I have a strapcutter and a combination beveler from Y-knotlace.

[25b]

Most braiders I've watched split them down so that they are the same thickness...

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

I don't know how to cut up a horsehide, but the bosal looks very good, especially considering it's your first one. Keep up the good work.

[oltoot]

Probably a little late but the very best for braiding horsehide is done thusly, I think. Take the hide off down the backbone instead of the belly so that sogas, then strings can come from rounds that are straight belly then smaller rounds for buttons, etc can come from side, butt, shoulder areas yielding uniformity in sets of strings. You can probably still salvage quite a few rounds from the different parts of the hide with the aim of making each one as uniform as possible. Sad but true, be prepared to waste a lot of material in ending up with nice strings. And remember that round is just a general term, ovals work, too. The result is a small, thoroughly stretched string. Be sure and stretch before your final cut and any splitting you do which you want to keep to a minimum by carefully laying out the rounds.

[Likla]

Thank you oltoot.

That helped me a lot. Now I have an idea how to cut when the hide has dried.

I'm avare that there is pretty much waist. I tried that with the deerskins.

I cant deside how to take the hide of. I pick the hide up by the butcher.

How hard should I be streching the strings?

[oltoot]

As hard as you pull when you are braiding, maybe just a little harder

Edited November 25, 2015 by oltoot

[Likla]

Thank you.