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PostPosted: Thu Sep 26, 2019 6:57 pm 
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Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2011 9:29 am
Posts: 288
Hello Fellow enthusiasts. There has always been a need for Raffia Replacement Fences. I have watched as many of our fellow hobbyists have experimented and created nice Raffia fences for there own projects. Most people have calculated that these fences were sewn together. I have know for at least 12 years that these fences are woven and not sewn. I tried to convince our good friends Papa Ted and Tom Hull that this was the case but they refuted my claims. LOL Now with the right equipment I can demonstrate the original Japanese technique.

First let's start with IS IT RAFFIA?
As you can see in the picture there are strands of material that make up the basic fence. When wet I have unrolled the original Japanese fibers and used a digital microscope to take a picture at 500X magnification. In the same picture I have used the same process on a strand of new Raffia. Although I can’t be 100 percent sure of the exact material we can see that it IS a plant material and not crepe paper. Conclusion; Raffia is a contender.

WOVEN NOT SEWN.
The pictures show that the Raffia Fences are constructed using bundles of Raffia and the woven in a 3 over, interlaced, 2 under method. (see pictures) This method uses 5 individual strings. In a loom you can just keep repeating this pattern until you have a lengthy piece of fencing. Smaller houses use a 3 string; 2 over, intertwined, 1 under pattern.

PROCESSING RAFFIA FOR FENCE:
I found that you can get the perfect Raffia on Ebay in the form of a cheap Hula skirt. Bundles are made up of 2 strands of Raffia. When you wet them they curl up perfectly into the desired bundle. Now all you have to do is mix food coloring to a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar to tone your replacement fence. Mix colors to the desire tone.

WEAVING:
Using the 5 string pattern you can now feed your bundled strands (Weft) into the Strings (Warp). When you have a length of woven fence you can now glue a cardboard backer to the back for the needed support just as the Japanese did.

FINISHING:
You can now cut your replacement fences to the desire length for your repairs.

Hope this is an informative piece and I know we must have a weaver in our midst?


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 26, 2019 7:00 pm 
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More photos...


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PostPosted: Fri Sep 27, 2019 7:56 am 
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Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:46 pm
Posts: 2249
Pete...
Outstanding research and fact finding...(I always thought they were sewn...I had never seen any actual vintage raffia fences...only photos)...your analysis is 100% spot on...dissecting under a microscope tells all...woven, cut to height and propped up against a low cardboard fence...it is so simple...

Great dye tip, too...food coloring and vinegar...gotta try that...(chemistry...another high school class I probably failed)...

My very best regards...
Howard

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PostPosted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 8:13 am 
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Pete, you did a great job gathering all the info and putting together instructions and pictures.
Thank you!

Talking about weaving it brings back childhood memories of making those potholders on those plastic frames.... :)


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PostPosted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 12:44 pm 
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Posts: 153
Wow Pete - thats some pretty serious research and quite a bit of perseverance!

Plus, look at those delightful houses in the background of the one image! :D

John


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PostPosted: Wed Jan 22, 2020 3:32 pm 
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THAT IS SERIOUS RESEARCH INDEED!


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Note: To ask a question, sign up for our "Christmas Times" newsletter, or learn how
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Note: All content on this forum is Copyright (c) 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 by Paul D. Race
and by the posters who have contributed specific content. All material is for your personal use only. No content
or plans may be republished or sold, nor may any plans be used to make products to sell without prior written
permission from Paul D. Race and the individual who contributed the content or plan in question.
For permissions or for questions about this policy, please contact us using our Contact page.



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