Cordage practice

S

Saunterer

Joined
Feb 4, 2003
Messages
487
After seeing a few threads here about cordage, I figured I would try to build my skills in making it. Over the years, it has been something that I knew how to do in theory, but never really tried actually to make any. So last weekend while walking around my favorite lake, I found a patch of dogbane and made myself a 6 inch piece of cordage. OK, not bad.

So fast forward to last night. I had to pick up a mattress and tie it down on the roof of my Jeep, using some sisal rope that I had laying around. After I got home, one of the ends of the rope was starting to unravel, so I taped it up and hacked off about 5 inches. Then I realized that this is great practice material. So if you have any around and need to work on making cordage or splicing in material, this is cheap and easy to practice with.

DSCN4744.JPG


DSCN4747.JPG


DSCN4749.JPG


--Chris
 
Last edited:
Nice job man I practiced the reverse twist cor making method for monthe with jute twine and 550 before taking it to natural fibers... making cordage is right up there with friction fire as one of those "for real" bushcraft skills.
 
Great job and thank you for the inspiration. I have plenty of sisal rope laying around that I can practice with.
 
Thanks folks.

I spent about 20 minutes today and finished up the rest of the scrap sisal rope I had laying around. Just a small 4" x 1/2" piece produced about 30" of cordage and I estimate it has a breaking strength of about 40#. I used to be an avid archer and just guessed the strength when I tried to pull it apart. I could feel it just trying to come apart most likely where I had some splices.

Here's the finished piece with Endura 4 for reference and gratuitous knife porn.

DSCN4765.JPG


I also took a stroll around the lake with my mutts and found some more dogbane. So before spring gets here, be on the lookout for it. Plus the seed pods have fluff in them, that can take a spark really easy, but it's more flash tender.

DSCN4758.JPG


DSCN4757.JPG


Oh, and here's one of the mutts...

DSCN4761.JPG


--Chris
 
Last edited:
Husky? Nice lookin' pup.

I once tried to make cordage with nettles... at least it looked like nettles... wasn't about to touch them without gloves to find out. For wearing over-sized leather work gloves, it didn't turn out too badly, but it sure doesn't rank up with yours. Nice work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top