Rawhide

[Don Case]

Is rawhide really the stuff of legend? Would a strip of it tied around a whitemans head actually crush his skull like movies say or would it just shrink to fit? Any stories that might indicate its shrinking power?
Don

[BowEd]

That's a good question.Working with it in different applications I'd say if the rawhide was thicker the stronger it is.Like 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick when wet.If it was sewed tight and stretched around your head I'd think it would become very uncomfortable.Probably cutting off blood flow for sure.

[Don Case]

I guess I could tie a strip around a basketball or something and see if I actually compresses it.

[BowEd]

It will if the strip is an inch wide or so.Be sure to show a picture if you can......LOL.

[lostarrow]

 This is all theoretical, right, Don?............................Don? 

[Don Case]

Ya sure!  Of course! Heh Heh Heh What did you think!

[Don Case]

I did a couple of tests. I didn't have a basketball so I cut a strip of wet rawhide(dog chew) an inch wide and about a foot long. Dry it was about 1/16" thick. I punched a hole in each end and put a 25# fishing scale in one end and anchored the other to a 2x4. I pulled the scale to about 3# to get the slack out, anchored it and let the rawhide dry. When dry the scale read 13#. I didn't know if the rawhide had shrunk completely so I resoaked the rawhide and did the same test starting with the rawhide stretched to 17#. When it was dry the scale said 17#.  The way I read this is a piece of rawhide 1/16x 1x12" will pull about 10 to 15#. Not enough to crush a skull but I bet It would hurt like hell after a couple of hours. It also means that a piece of rawhide wrapped around a "Z" splice would add quite a lot of safety.
Don

[sweeney3]

Interesting.  Hence why a rawhide backing provides good protection. 

[PatM]

If somebody tied a rawhide headband on you chances are the amount you were sweating would preclude it from drying out.

[Don Case]

Ha! Good point!

[bubbles]

I've stretched dog bone rawhide so that it dries flat by nailing to a board with finishing nails. The thicker stuff bends those nails over no problem. If they're not in there good they just get pulled right out.