cordage and the reverse twist

mewolf1

mewolf1

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I've been making cordage this fall out of Dogbane fibers and have seen some express interest in making cordage too, so:

here's a bundle of fibers
dogbanefibers.jpg


and the ends of the bundle
dogbane.jpg


Twist bundle one toward yourself
reversetwistbundleone.jpg


twist away and over bundle two and hold it
rolloverbundletwo.jpg


twist bundle two and then over bundle one
reversetwistbundletwo.jpg


After you get into the groove of this you can make about 4 feet and hour.
Trim the ends with a nail clipper or a knife.
trimwithnailclipper.jpg
 
Try for consistancy in your bundles
tryforconsistancy.jpg


about five feet trimmed and untrimmed and about 3/16 dia.
about5feetsofar.jpg


Google this topic to find what makes cordage in your local and start on this skill for fun, you'll have the knowledge always.:thumbup::
 
thats a great looking job.... I got to try my hand at it my self. It should be one of the top things to learn about survival and out doors for me.
Thanks
 
That's very good looking cord. The real key is being consistent. I've been making cordage out of Imbira and Eucalyptus. I can't tell from the photos, are you working with it wet or dry? Mac
 
Dry. Dogbane is best collected after it dies and is easier to prosess too.
It doesn't shrink or swell in water either, nor does it lose strength when wet.:thumbup:
 
mewolf1 said:
It is, and I couldn't break it in that diam either; cut my fingers instead.;)
Click to expand...

I have been looking on google and dogbane grows in NC but is uncommon. I am going to be on the lookout for it. Know anything else that makes good strong cordage that grows on the east coast. Chris
 
Nettels,

Collect them, dry them, then pound the stems to break the wood stalk down. Then twist them up.
I sit and twist cordage when I'm bored hunting. I usually come out of the field with a piece around my neck.

Badge54
 
pict said:
Chris,

Willow is pretty much universal. Use the inner bark. Mac
Click to expand...

Mac,
I have made cordage from willow and tulip poplar but none I would consider strong enough for fishing or a bowstring or a fire bow, which is what I would like to learn to do. I save deer sinew and have used that which works great for lashing points to arrows or spears and darts and for sewing. Maybe it is my technique and not the material I am working with.:o

BTW I am back at work and feeling better, I think I will make my atlatl out of cedar. It is pretty tough yet fairly easy to work and is beautiful wood. I just need to find some dried and suitable. Chris
 
runningboar said:
I have been looking on google and dogbane grows in NC but is uncommon. I am going to be on the lookout for it. Know anything else that makes good strong cordage that grows on the east coast. Chris
Click to expand...

Hey Chris,

A quick check of Wild Flowers of North Carolina says you have Indian Hemp (Apocynum cannibinum) - a first cousin of Spreading Dogbane (A. androsaemifolium) and a better cordage plant IMHO.

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) - another very good cordage plant - the outer layer of the stalk can be used as is,at this time of year, without cording for a quickee lashing. A buddy and myself, 3-braided some and used it successfully as the bowstring for bow drill firemaking. Got one coal, but string too beat up for more.

Also Swamp Milkweed (A. incarnata) - another great cordage plant. The book also mentions some other Milkweeds but I have no knowledge as to their suitability for cordage. I would bet they work, though.

The inner bark of American Basswood (Tilia americana) makes an excellent cordage, although the preferred time to gather is in the spring when the inner bark is more easily separated from the outer bark.

Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) makes a great cordage, although I don't see it listed in the book. It grows up here and also in Kansas so I'm betting it also grows in your area.

Another is Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) although not as strong as the ones already mentioned.

And, of course, there is Cattail (Typha spp.) which makes a much weaker cordage, but if large enough can make suitable lashing for things such as tying a shelter together.

Anyway, that should get you started.

Doc
 
Mewolf1,

Thanks for posting the great pictures. That looks like some awesome cordage. I'm still a little fuzzy on the technique, and couldn't quite make it out from your pictures. Do you seperate your fiber bundle into two parts, or three?

I think cordage making skills, as well as knowledge of suitable plant and animal sources for fibers, are a critical survival skill, and one that I am woefully unprepared.

-- FLIX
 
FLIX said:
Mewolf1,

Thanks for posting the great pictures. That looks like some awesome cordage. I'm still a little fuzzy on the technique, and couldn't quite make it out from your pictures. Do you seperate your fiber bundle into two parts, or three?

I think cordage making skills, as well as knowledge of suitable plant and animal sources for fibers, are a critical survival skill, and one that I am woefully unprepared.

-- FLIX
Click to expand...

I use two bundles, but I am in no way an expert and am certain that there are many ways to do this. In my feeble attempt to explain, I may have created more questions than answers.:o
All you do is twist the bundles clockwise and wrap them together counterclockwise. If you can get a couple of inches twisted of both bundles at the same time they will want to naturally twist together in the direction that they need to. Hope this helps.
 
mewolf1,

Good on you for stirring up this Wilderness Survival forum. Learning how to make fire by friction, cordage from plant materials, shelters from natural materials, how to secure safe drinking water without the use of man-made filters/sterilizers and so on, is more valuable than all the BOB's in the world IMHO.

S**t happens! as they say, and you could be caught without all the wonderful toys you keep in your GAG BAG (Grab And Go), but the skills are like the Energizer bunny - they just keep goin' and goin'.

Don't think that this is an anti-BOB post. It's not, but all the BOB's and GAG'S in the world should supplement the skills, not take the place of them.

I know that mewolf, Magnussen, Mountain Ron, Pict and whole lot of others know this, but, alas, some of you don't. Buy the RC-3's (me), the BK-7's (me again), the Fenix flashlights (oh damn, me again :o) but also take the time to learn the skills. You won't regret it. In fact, to this end, if any of you forum members are ever coming by my way (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada), let me know in advance and I will gladly take a few hours and help you with these skills.

BTW, runningboar, Indian Hemp makes a fine bow string:
PB3.jpg


Doc
 
Have any of you guys tried to make three ply cord? I have a large bundle of cord make by the Krikati Indians up north (remember, north for me is still south of the equator!). It is really good looking cord, very tightly spun, made from palm fiber. The other night I unraveled a section and discovered it was three ply. I had never really examined it closely before. This bundle of cord is one of the things that spurs me on to learn cordage making. My cordage looks caveman simple by comparison.

I recently made a 30 foot length of Imbira, and another 15 feet of light rope/heavy cord out of Eucalyptus. The Imbira is much stronger but also much harder to work with. Eualyptus is loaded with tannin and does a number on your hands. It has to be worked wet and the tannin, basically tans your hide.

Making cordage is a real confidence builder. It is like being consistent at friction fire, or trapping, it makes you feel apart of the place and much less dependant on your kit. Not that these things are a substitute for planning and prep.

The thing about making cordage is to just keep making it until it starts looking like decent cordage. Other than the basic twist, it is just a matter of learning how to splice in new material one side at a time and to add more material when one side starts to get thin. Keep the twist rate and bundle thickness consistent and you're making rope.

I think it is pretty cool to be able to look at a sapling and see it as a pack frame and shoulder straps, shelter frame, 30 feet of durable cordage, bird traps, snares, a trotline. Beyond wilderness survival, if you are going to be living in the wilderness it pays to learn bushcraft. Mac
 
pict said:
Have any of you guys tried to make three ply cord?
Mac
Click to expand...

Some people make 2 ply cordage and then add in the 3rd ply. I find this to be very awkward. I do it as outlined in the picture below.
3plycordageII.jpg


This applies to hand cording, not thigh rolling, of course. I have never tried 3 ply using the thigh rolling technique.

Doc
 
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