The lack of cooperation on the rawhides part may be due in part to its thickness being a bit too much. It doesnt take much rawhide to hold strong, I sand mine with 80 grit and get it construction paper thin. It was easy as pie wasnt it?
It was as thick as a dime. Easy? probably more so ...next time! the extra width also gave me some trouble. next time it will be thinner and more close to final width also.