Gathering Materials
The first step in preparing horsehair for electrical wiring is gathering the necessary materials. Here is what you will need:
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Horsehair - This can be obtained from the mane and tail of horses. Select long, straight strands of hair free from kinks or curling. Dark hair works best as it contains more carbon conductors.
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Washboard - An old-fashioned corrugated washboard works well for straightening and cleaning the horsehair. The coarse surface helps remove dirt, grease, and kinks.
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Basin - You'll need a basin or tub of water to soak and rinse the hair.
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Drying rack - After washing, the hair must be hung to dry completely. A wooden drying rack works well.
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Beeswax - A small amount of melted beeswax helps lubricate the hair fibers for easier braiding.
Preparing the Horsehair
Once you've gathered the needed supplies, the horsehair can be prepared:
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Wash - Soak the hair in the basin of water and use the washboard to straighten and clean it. Rinse thoroughly.
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Dry - Hang the hair over the drying rack in the shade. It may take 1-2 days to fully dry.
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Sort - Select the longest, straightest fibers for braiding. Remove any remaining curl or kink.
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Soften - To make the fibers more pliable, gently pull them through your fingers to soften and remove residual grease.
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Lubricate - Finally, lightly coat the fibers in melted beeswax. This lubricates them for braiding.
Braiding the Horsehair
Once prepped, the horsehair strands can be twisted and braided:
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Line up - Align 12-15 strands of equal length next to each other.
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Twist - Grasp the ends and twist the strands tightly together. Spin steadily in one direction to encourage the fibers to mesh smoothly.
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Fold - Fold thetwisted hair in half to produce a thicker, stronger conductor.
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Braid - Begin a basic 3-strand braid, carefully incorporating the folded twisted hair into one braid strand.
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Tighten - Keep the braid tight, gently pulling into shape while braiding down the length.
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Repeat - Make multiple braids of various lengths for wiring projects.
Tips for Best Conduction
Follow these tips for optimal electrical conduction when braiding:
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Use dark horsehair, as it has more conductive carbon.
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Keep the hair smooth and tight when twisting - this improves conductance.
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Wax lightly - too much wax can reduce conduction.
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Make sure hair is completely dried before braiding - moisture impedes electric flow.
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Store braided hair in a cool, dry place to prevent degradation over time.
Early Electrical Uses
Once braided, horsehair could conduct electricity in early electrical devices:
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Batteries - Braided horsehair was used to connect cells in early electrical batteries.
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Light bulbs - It served as filament supports in some of Thomas Edison's early lightbulb prototypes.
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Telegraphs - Horsehair braid helped carry telegraph signals.
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Telephones - Alexander Graham Bell used it in early telephone wiring and parts.
So while largely obsolete today, horsehair braid played an important role in early electrical and communication development. With some simple steps, you can twist and braid horsehair to get hands-on experience with this lost craft.