Cordage

Codger I took a willow branch about thumb size and tried putting my thumb under the edge . It would just break up into little parts . I tried splitting the branch in two and then running my thumb along the split edge , It would come off and fall apart . This is a weeper . Its making me weep . L:O:L
 
Temper said:
Some great info here Codger64, makes a nice change from arguing about blade grinds ;)
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:D :D :D LMAO Temper. Good point.

I am printing some of this post out. Next weekend I will be out and about. Thought I would give it a try.

Question, did any of you wet the strands before you braided them???
 
If they are fresh, it isn't needed. But if they are dry, it helps to dampen them. Some basketmakers and chair caners soak their materials to make them pliable. I've soaked lumber to form radiused facias for rounded decks. It just helps the fibers to bend without breaking.

Try soaking your willow withes first. The sap may not be up in them just now, and the bark clings tighter. I've always been able to strip off full lengths with the willow we have here in the mid-south, except is dry summer or some winters.

There are some tough grasses that make good cordage too. Just experiment with what you find.

Codger
 
Codger_64 said:
If they are fresh, it isn't needed. But if they are dry, it helps to dampen them. Some basketmakers and chair caners soak their materials to make them pliable. I've soaked lumber to form radiused facias for rounded decks. It just helps the fibers to bend without breaking.

Try soaking your willow withes first. The sap may not be up in them just now, and the bark clings tighter. I've always been able to strip off full lengths with the willow we have here in the mid-south, except is dry summer or some winters.

There are some tough grasses that make good cordage too. Just experiment with what you find.

Codger
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Thanks Codger.... great info. As I mentioned before... this thread is a good print and read. :thumbup:
 
tarmix101 said:
Question, did any of you wet the strands before you braided them???
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No, they were fresh and very moist, they did weaken severly (As mentioned by Codger64) when they dried, or more to the point they didnt loose too much tensile strength only pliability. So, had they been made and then immediately used to bind something up that wasnt subject to too much movement, then I think they would have performed admirably.
 
Kevin the grey said:
I am from Southern Quebec . There is some milk weed here . I do seem to see less of it the last few years . Spruce root is interesting as there is a place I camp in late summer that has an abundance of them . It,ll give me a good camp fire activity . I have never seen bass wood . Not surprising as I don,t know what it looks like .

When I do things like this It is usually as a secondary skill to learn while I learn more about archery . It helps to stop my life from having too single minded a goal . I don,t camp that much . I hope to be able to set up a semi primitive camp eventually . I think learning about cordage , lashing and the different knots or fastening must be an important part .
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Kevin,
According to Trees of Canada, Basswood (Tilia americana) is found in Southern Quebec, as is Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis) and Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium) [according to National Audubon's Guide to Wildflowers]. All of these are excellent cordage fibre plants. Check the following:
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/cordage/basswood/index.html
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/cordage/dogbane/index.html
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/cordage/nettle/index.html

Doc
 
Here's mine. It's milkweed. Good, strong cordage.

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Cordage
 
Another cordage seldom mentioned any more is one I learned in the middle of the previous century while in the Boy Scouts, and again in the military. Those web belts will unravel into excellent threads that you can braid to suit your needs. I've fished and made traps more than once with an inch or two of webbing.

A good job with the milkweed there! Anyone done this with saw palmetto or yucca?

Codger
 
Codger ? What about bull rushes ? Those long thin leaves look like they might be good cordage . How would I use/prepare them ? In case bull rushes are called something else other places it is the long reed/canes with the hot dog shaped brown seed pods on top of them . Frequently seen in marshy ditches and swamps .
 
Cattails. Yes, the stems make cordage, the roots and young catkins are edible, and dried mature catkins make good tender.
 
Kevin the grey said:
Codger ? What about bull rushes ? Those long thin leaves look like they might be good cordage . How would I use/prepare them ? In case bull rushes are called something else other places it is the long reed/canes with the hot dog shaped brown seed pods on top of them . Frequently seen in marshy ditches and swamps .
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You have underscored the problem with common names for plants. The plant you are describing is usually called Cattail (Typha spp.) (long leaves and hot dog shaped brown seed pods). Bulrush on the other hand, generally have short leaves and no hot dog shaped seed pod, and belong to the Scirpus genus.

The leaves can be used for cordage (although not some of the stronger stuff) by gathering the leaves splitting them in narrow lengths, letting them dry, and then when ready to use, spray them with a hose, etc., shake off the excess water and store them between damp towels, etc., overnight and they will be ready to use. You can also just take dry ones, soak them, and then use them, but my experience is they are not as strong. The former technique is also used for preparing Cattail leaves for basket making (without the splitting, though, although you could split them for finer applications.) Also if you want large diameter cordage, you don't need to split the leaves.

588c2914.jpg

Twined Cattail basket on left

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Small Cattail basket with lid

BigCattailhat2.jpg

Cattail hat

:) Doc :)
 
Codger_64 said:
Another cordage seldom mentioned any more is one I learned in the middle of the previous century while in the Boy Scouts, and again in the military. Those web belts will unravel into excellent threads that you can braid to suit your needs. I've fished and made traps more than once with an inch or two of webbing.

Codger
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You can also cut an inch off the bottom of your jeans (assuming of course, you can spare the inch off the bottom - some kids today could spare enough to make a tow rope.), unravel the denim and make cordage out of the fibres. I have used this to make a bow string for bow drill fires.

:) Doc :)
 
Doc ? why are they called cat tails when they look like hot dogs ? L:O:L
Can I use the green ones or must they be dried and dampened first ?

Its a funny thing I have only heard bull rushes talked about here and its really cat tails . I agree on the scientific name being used . Unfortunately when talking with my peers which are mostly common folk(and French) they would be as clueless as I to which plant we are referring to . Unless there is a picture reference we can co-relate to the name .
 
Depends on the intended use, I guess. I've woven expedient baskets for gathering wild grapes and berries afield from the green leaves, but these were intended as short term containers, and didn't require a lot of art or strength, just volume..
 
Codger_64 said:
Depends on the intended use, I guess. I've woven expedient baskets for gathering wild grapes and berries afield from the green leaves, but these were intended as short term containers, and didn't require a lot of art or strength, just volume..
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As the green baskets dried/seasoned would they gain strength ? Or is strength gained through the drying and wetting process ?
 
Kevin the grey said:
Can I use the green ones or must they be dried and dampened first ?
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I've never been successful using green ones - I find they break unless split very thin, and then they break :(
Once dried, and then rewet and mellowed (kept overnight between damp towels) they are totally different - very easy to work. I left a piece of Cattail cordage with my boss to take a picture (I don't have a digicam) and if he gets around to it soon, I'll post a picture.

Its a funny thing I have only heard bull rushes talked about here and its really cat tails . I agree on the scientific name being used . Unfortunately when talking with my peers which are mostly common folk(and French) they would be as clueless as I to which plant we are referring to . Unless there is a picture reference we can co-relate to the name
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Binomials should be used on discussion forums with widespread membership because of the problems with common local names as you've pointed out, and for your French friends, Quenouille à feuilles larges . Let us know how you make out.

:) Doc :)
 
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