Rawhide braiding

[SmilinJim]

Awesome braiding. I have no idea what most of your horse gear is but that doesn't stop me from admiring your work.

[KAW]

Thank you all for the comments

Alan I went to that deal and saw some very nice braiding I know Vince well and have talked to Huffman alittle at Sheridan and Jordan Valley and Sharon in OK she does some intresting knots Jeff came to a little braiding gathering at Vinces place acouple of years ago, that was a fun day Vince demonstrated how he makes his hides it was a good day to learn different ways of doing things. IMO Vince is the most consistant and straightest braider I've ever seen his work inspires me more than any other braider including Ortega and Vinces boy is doing some nice work and is only 15 or 16. I told him he better be doing good work you only have the best teacher as a dad. This is what KAW stands for

[Alan Bell]

Ok Kevin, I'd have to agree with you about Vince and consistency but I think Nate is learning some neat things in Argentina and he has managed to incorporate them into what we do over here nicely. Vince is also the fastest braider out there and he really cranks out those bosals but does not sacrifice quality for speed. Have you cooked a hide like Vince does? I have a print out of the style of knots Sharon does she and Ray learned them from Ed Pass if you are interested when I get home I can scan them and email them to you. Sounds like I probably met you in OK too, I was the only Black guy there so I'm a little noticeable. When I met Vince's son he wasn't doing much braiding but Nate's son had made a set of reins so I was teasing Vince's boy that he better get to braiding, LOL, I'm glad to here he is doing some now and I'm sure he probably can already put me to shame! I'll tell you seeing your work has inspired me too! At any rate I'm sure we will run into each other some day.

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

The sun shall not smite I by day nor the moon by night!

Bob Marley

[KAW]

Alan,

I make 95% of my hides that way now, it can be alittle tricky once in awhile but I really like the way they turn out and are alot less messy, most all the calf hides I make I still lime them, they make good fine button strings, the hide in the picture is cooked. Were you at the Sheridan show with Ray a few years back? Nate does some nice work. I am working on a knife I forged that I'm going to braid the handle on I will post some pics when I finish it.

Edited August 7, 2007 by KAW

[Alan Bell]

KAW, I Haven't made it to the Sheridan show yet but hope to someday. I have a video of Vince explaining his rawhiding technique I will have to review. I also visited with Dale and Rod a little about what tree makers do to make rawhide and it seems to take a little less time. I had heard about it from a deer tanning standpoint but had not tried it. It uses a chemical that is normally used in processing photographs and I was thinking of trying it next. Have you done it? Can't think of the chemical name right now but it is easily found at camera shops.

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

Yes, I've been abused many a time and wrongly accused now. But, through the powers of the MOST HIGH they've got to turn me loose

Bob Marley Edited August 7, 2007 by Alan Bell

[KAW]

Alan,

I've never tried it that way. I'll be making a hide tomorrow, I'll take some pictures.

[Johanna]

KAW,

Since you control the quality of the rawhide you work with from start to finish, do you think that makes it better quality than what is available commercially, or is it more economical to do it yourself? Your work is so precise and meticulous, and I am really glad you shared pictures with us. I like the way you use the knots in your braids for function as well as aesthetics.

Johanna

[KAW]

Johanna,

I like to make my own rawhide so I can get the quality I want, I use grass fat hides and this way I know where the hides are comeing from and I can get the size I need for certain projects, different breeds of cattle produce different rawhide as in the thickness, shades of color and grain structure. I use mostly Hereford and Longhorn hides. It is not very expensive to make your own hides, just labor intensive, and you get the satisfaction of taking a raw natural material and creating something useful and funtional as well as a little artistic. The first thing in making quality horse gear is the function, after that you can play with the aesthetics but the piece must fit and function correctly above all!!

[Romey]

Kevin does excellent braiding, likely top 1-3 i have seen and it is working gear.

Toodles

[Cowboy Crafts Online]

Kevin or Alan

I have been thinking about getting Brian Neubert's video on braiding so I can start. What do you guys think of the videos? Also what would be the best to start out on? What I want to b able to end up doing is Bosal's, Romal Reins, and Reata's

Ashley