Raw hide lace questions

[Sean Gadhar]

How tuff is 5/32" Rawhide Lace by Tandy

I have a project that I'm not sure I can show here

It is a wooden pack frame, but all parts are held together with tension only (something like a buck saw) Right now I have 550 cord twisted with a carpenters pencil taking the strain. But would like to go to traditional components even if the end result is not HC.

It has a 3 1/2" jute webbing lower back strap & will have about a 7" disk of saddle leather for support at mid back. I was thinking about lacing these to the frame with 5/32" Rawhide Lace.

If not, what would you recommend?

 

[tenngun]

The only thing I ever did with it was to make a set of snow shoes. Never used them and gave them to a fellow from colorado. It was tough and worked well. Since then Ive used home made in much wider and shorter pieces out of deer.... never have had a chance to snow shoe since before I made those. I wonder if dog bones would do you as well and be cheper.

 

[LRB]

If in fact real rawhide, and not the boot laces many people call raw hide,it may be fine, but I think I would want it in maybe 1/4". Crazy Crow has some pretty good raw hide lace.

 

[thecapgunkid]

Wick is right. You should also practice working with the stuff....particularly when you have to varnish/shellac the lacing. It's gotta be waterproofed to work well, just like on snowshoes.

 

[crockett]

Hey Sean- I think it is ok. Been a while since my last Tandy store visit but I think it is stiff as a board and you have to soak it. There are other types called "rawhide" that are more supple and like boot laces.
You can cut your own but it is sort of a chore. Get a dog chew toy and soak and tack out flat, then cut. Try to get a circle and then peel 1/8 lace in an ever decreasing circle- if that makes sense.
BUT...I'm pretty sure that the Tandy stuff is the real deal.

 

[nwtradegun]

lousy get it from Moscow hide and fur http://www.hideandfur.com/inventory/1999.html

1999-0033
Small picture of this lot

 

[nwtradegun]

I made one using 1/2 in rawhide lace. wet it wrap and streach as u go. when dry use copal varnish.

 

[crockett]

Thanks, so far I've cut mine from rawhide. The stuff is stiff as a board and sort of corkscrew after being cut (start with a round piece and keep shaving 1/8" off the edge until it is turned into lace/thong. Once soaked and used it dries okay.
I won't buy the Tandy stuff.

 

[nwtradegun]

don't forget to varnish it. if it gets wet it can
rip apart or streach.

 

[Sean Gadhar]

Thanks all :thumbsup: and thanks rj morrison for the link.

While I have been thinking about this, I was ticking through my links, looking for other rawhide or another idea.

After being reminded by you folks that I would need to varnish rawhide to keep it water proof, I am thinking I'm going to try the 170 pound test hemp cordage from Turkey foot. If it will hold the strain, it may be a better choice.

:idunno: I want the ability to readily assemble & disassemble the pack frame.

My first idea had been to make a pack frame that could be made into a bucksaw, and I don't want to let that thought go quite yet.

:idunno: Who knows, I'm making it up as I go along :wink: But the hemp is $8 for 200 feet so I think I'll play with that.

Again thanks for the help

Post script: I'll try to post some picks here, once I get it with all traditional components maybe the photos won't get the boot. Oh and I'm hand sewing a canvas pack to go on the frame :grin: I'll try to get a pic or two of it up as it comes along.

 

[Rifleman1776]

hemp cordage

I bought a ball from a small shop that had a picture of a funny plant in the window. :hmm:
Have used it for several projects. Very strong stuff, works easily, isn't artificial sinew, inexpensive. It can be pulled into finer strings for sewing, etc. For the stuff we do, I have found it to be very versitile and useful. And, the appearance should be acceptable to even the most persnickity of the PC police.

 

[Billnpatti]

hemp cordage

I bought a ball from a small shop that had a picture of a funny plant in the window. :hmm:

Sounds like you might be able to put it in a pipe and smoke it or chop it up and put it in brownies. :haha: :haha:

 

[Sean Gadhar]

hemp cordage

I bought a ball from a small shop that had a picture of a funny plant in the window. :hmm:

Sounds like you might be able to put it in a pipe and smoke it or chop it up and put it in brownies. :haha: :haha:

Dose make one wonder :hmm: will my pack frame's hemp cordage set off every drug dog I get within 10 feet of?

Post script, I was home most of today and between honey do jobs I managed to (I think) sew enough on the canvas pack to be able to call it 1/2 done, maybe even a bit past half I'm going to wait to restring the pack frame incase I need to adjust it to the pack it's self.

 

[Sean Gadhar]

So I thought I would throw up this update. Sorry my camera work is :td: and the sound as well but this should give you a glimpse of my project in the ruff.

[youtube]gZi9m4-mNAI[/youtube]

 

[Woods Dweller]

This is how I have made Rawhide Lace, I have used it for moccasins Lacing, pack Lacing, tie down Lacing. Cut strips of Rawhide 1/4" wide as long as you want. [I have used 10 to 20 feet, cut circular strips from hide] 3 to 6 foot work best. Soak in warm water for a few min, tie one end to a nail in a tree. Now start twisting, & twisting, & twisting, until it starts to knot up. Stake that end off to anything you have and let dry. Seal as you want. you got Rawhide Lace. For rope I braid 3 together, for moccasin Lacing I cut rawhide 2/16 wide. Try this with buckskin [when it's soft and before you smoke it / water proofing.]