custom leashes and collars for dogs

[ck9a]

I've recently made a number of custom leashes and collars for dogs. Comments invited.

Tony Starratt

[Mike Craw]

Tony,

Ever since I tried to braid a lanyard at Boy Scout camp about 102 years ago, with predictable results, I have been impressed by anybody who can braid. I think those collars look great.

Mike

[ck9a]

Thanks, Mike. I think that's about how long ago I learned to braid ...

I've been braiding leads and collars for 6? years now. Trying all the time to improve my products. I've recently ordered the Decorative Knots and Braiding dvd to that end. I'm curious as to how he handles the matter of what to do with the ends once one has finished braiding. I have worked out a technique that disposes of them quite neatly. And I don't worry that they will work themselves free.

Tony Starratt

[The Major]

What kind of leather do you do your plaiting with? Is the core plaited too? If not what did you do for the core?

[Mike Craw]

I wouldn't know, I never got to the end...

[ck9a]

Kangaroo. I was thinking of using calf leather lacing with metallic finishes to add knots to leashes for those who like a little bling, but my husband is doubtful that the finish would stand up to the usage.

Tony Starratt

[ck9a]

Never got to the end of the dvd ... ?

Tony

[Beaverslayer]

Tony, those look real nice. The roo lace you use, do you dye it yourself?

Ken

[ck9a]

I'm not that brave . Heck, I don't even cut my own lace.

Tony

[ck9a]

As for the core, I use nylon mason's line. It has a rated breaking strength, with a steady pull, of 135 pounds. It too is braided, with its own twisted core. I form the initial loop, where the clip or ring is attached, by bringing the short end through the long end where I want them to join, then the long end through the short end next to the initial join. I then unbraid the short end halfway, remove as much of the core as I can, cut off half the loose strands, and using a needle, trying hard not to intersect the twisted core inside, I bring the loop of a bridge floss threader (see http://dentistry.about.com/od/replacingmis...bridgemaint.htm) through the line towards the join, where I insert half the length of the remaining loose strands and pull them through the line. Once I get them pulled through, I grasp them with a hemostat and work the rest of the loose end through and cut off. For the handle of a leash, or around a ring for a collar, I take the end through where I want the join, then through itself above the join, then through below the loop once again, then deal with embedding it in the core as previously. More than you wanted to know?

I'd like to try commercial braided fishing line with a strength of over 200 pounds, but I have to find a source first and get a sample to ensure that I would be able to manipulate it in this fashion.

I'm curious as to the strength of braided kangaroo alone. Has anybody rated it, beyond the standard "When split to 20% of original thickness kangaroo retains between 30 to 60% of the tensile strength of the unsplit hide"?

Tony