Song Wai (Thai Rattan Knife Sheath, Sop Pha To) — Split Rattan Woven to the Blade's Length, a Plain-Weave Mouth, a Phai Kao Braided Rim, Worn at the Waist

"The phai kao pattern generally uses six small rattan strands, woven lift-three-down-three all round the sheath's mouth." (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author ธันวดี สุขประเสริฐ (Thanwadi Sukprasoet), CC BY 4.0)

Use rattan neither too small nor too large, such as wai hang nu or wai sawang. Split it in half and shave it neat.

Weave it to the length of the machete, with the mouth in plain weave, large enough to take the blade easily.

Braid the outer rim of the mouth with six small rattan strands in the phai kao pattern, lift three, down three, all round, for looks and so the sheath does not come apart easily.

Photos of a real song wai (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author ธันวดี สุขประเสริฐ (Thanwadi Sukprasoet), CC BY 4.0).

Slide the machete into the sheath and tuck it at the waist, tied with a cord or a pha khao ma loincloth, or hang it up at home.

Knife sheaths are made of wood, hide, metal, bamboo strips or rattan; rattan is the favourite. Villagers use the machete to hew wood, cut firewood and grass, and tap toddy palms; the sheath keeps it safe even when not in use. Take care with the blade when sheathing it. Source: Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Traditional Objects of Everyday Use database, "สบพ้าโต้", author ธันวดี สุขประเสริฐ (Thanwadi Sukprasoet) (CC BY 4.0 licence). **Limits** The source gives no rattan size and no method for binding the lengthwise rods, and there is no listing for rattan, so it is named in the text.