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making cordage
- Thread starter Foilist
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Here's a start. http://www.primitiveways.com/cordage.html
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2003
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Or you make prefer: http://www.abotech.com/Articles/Kidder01.htm
Paleoplanet is one of my favorite sites. If you look at the 'Pottery, Basketry and Fiber Arts' forum, you should find some very useful information about cordage and cordage plants etc.
There is also a wealth of other good knowledge there....and some very nice and clever folk. I mainly visit for the hunting and trapping discussion, but I am also fascinated with the metallurgy (includes primitive blacksmithing and knifemaking), edible and useful plants etc etc
http://b16.ezboard.com/bpaleoplanet69529
There is also a wealth of other good knowledge there....and some very nice and clever folk. I mainly visit for the hunting and trapping discussion, but I am also fascinated with the metallurgy (includes primitive blacksmithing and knifemaking), edible and useful plants etc etc
http://b16.ezboard.com/bpaleoplanet69529
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- May 1, 2007
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Yessir! I don't post there much, but its a great forum!
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- Jan 7, 2003
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Adding extra fibers is not hard at all once you get the hang of it. It sort ofdepends on what type of material you are working with. Experimentation will show you what you need to do in short order.
When I work with palm fiber the material tends to run out very evenly on each side. I just lay a new bunch of fiber, 1 - 6 strands depending on the thickness of cordage I'm making and twist it in on that side. Don't worry if the new material sticks out at the top end. It will, you just clip it off with a nail clipper or the scissors ona SAK when you're done. It won't pull out.
When I work with yucca type fiber that resembles hair they tend to be all different lengths. I just add new material as each side tends to get thin. The cordage ends uplooking quite fuzzy but it is very even.
Working with bark seems to be the hardest to get even cordage from. You just have to keep you material as consistant as you can. I hope this helps. Mac
When I work with palm fiber the material tends to run out very evenly on each side. I just lay a new bunch of fiber, 1 - 6 strands depending on the thickness of cordage I'm making and twist it in on that side. Don't worry if the new material sticks out at the top end. It will, you just clip it off with a nail clipper or the scissors ona SAK when you're done. It won't pull out.
When I work with yucca type fiber that resembles hair they tend to be all different lengths. I just add new material as each side tends to get thin. The cordage ends uplooking quite fuzzy but it is very even.
Working with bark seems to be the hardest to get even cordage from. You just have to keep you material as consistant as you can. I hope this helps. Mac
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- Mar 26, 2007
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Mewolf: The pictures you show looks like you are just twisting two bundles around each other. How do you keep them from unraveling when you are done and release the tension, and just becomeing two parallel lines? How do you tie off the ends? Wouldn't using three lines and braiding it like hair be better and not unravel?
Sorry if my questions are ignorant or insulting, but I don't know the first thing about making cordage.
Sorry if my questions are ignorant or insulting, but I don't know the first thing about making cordage.
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It is easier to show than explain, but the over hand twist you put on the top bundle, while pulling the bottom bundle under will lock them together. Lay the top bundle over your middle finger, then use your index finger and thumb to twist it away from you, while at the same time you give a downward twist to the bottom bundle while pulling it under the top. (Re-reading that, I think I confused myself!)
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As mentioned, a lot easier to show than explain...
To add more length I like taking my next set of fibers and put the middle of that length up in between the last bit of what I have already made. Basically I am folding in half my next length of fibers. Seems to make it much easier to get a new portion started. I am sure other tribes did this as well, but I got it from the Timucua who made lots of fishing nets.
To add more length I like taking my next set of fibers and put the middle of that length up in between the last bit of what I have already made. Basically I am folding in half my next length of fibers. Seems to make it much easier to get a new portion started. I am sure other tribes did this as well, but I got it from the Timucua who made lots of fishing nets.
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Look up cordage on Youtube- I did it and caught on with my first try the next day- really must be seen to learn IMO. Splicing isn't too bad- but be warned it is addictive (especially if you have long hair like me!!). Trying to learn more I did my first splicing when petting my girlfriends cat and realizing how much I was getting. Completed the cat hair rope and even though it was weak it was rope.
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I swear I've heard some strange and gross stuff on this forum, but wow...
:barf:
mewolf1
Gold Member
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Nothing insulting or ignorant about it.
The bundles are twisted clockwise and they naturally want to untwist, but when in parallel they twist together and lock themselves together.
Study the pics abit and see what I'm saying.:thumbup:Better yet, twist two bundles of most anything to see what happens.