Scrapwood Jolly Roger

[Sylvrfalcn]

If I may ask where and how did you pick up all the skills to do all the things you do?

Always, and I do mean always, had an interest in folk crafts and how people did stuff before industrialization and electricity. Learned to sharpen a knife and whittle about the same time I learned my ABCs. Made my own knife from an old file sometime in my early teens. Didn't have a bench grinder or a belt sander, had a storebought grinding wheel mounted on an old electric pump motor, and I'd sit out on the front porch and grind knives with it. No toolrest, shields, or guards, it was the definition of freehand grinding.
When folks see some of the stuff I make, they don't realize they're looking at the results of a layering of skills accumulated over a long, long, period of time. Ironically to an old primitive like me, who tries to do stuff "authentically" whenever possible, the internet has provided an incredible vehicle, for research and learning new skills. I've never really needed to be taught anything by an actual person. Books are teachers too, and experience, as they say, is the best teacher.

Sarge

 

[Kevin the grey]

When folks see some of the stuff I make, they don't realize they're looking at the results of a layering of skills accumulated over a long, long, period of time. Ironically to an old primitive like me, who tries to do stuff "authentically" whenever possible, the internet has provided an incredible vehicle, for research and learning new skills. I've never really needed to be taught anything by an actual person. Books are teachers too, and experience, as they say, is the best teacher.

Sarge

A layering of skills . An apt way of describing it . I will proabably end up closer to where you started than where you will end up . Still I understand what you are saying about the layering . We hone our judgement as much as we sharpen our tools . There is more to measuring than a slide-rule . To be able to judge a materials reaction to tools , ways of accomplishing goals and the accomplishments themselves . I am sure if you do not write a book yourself you should keep a journal with sketches .

 

[TomFetter]

Good post, Kevin.

The lessons are transferrable too. Maybe one first learns to develop judgment from really observing the nuances of a craft, but once having learned to pay attention ...

 

[Sylvrfalcn]

Good post, Kevin.

The lessons are transferrable too. Maybe one first learns to develop judgment from really observing the nuances of a craft, but once having learned to pay attention ...

Even marlinspike seamanship can be applied to some non-standard applications. On a friend's property they have a very large pre-fab metal building we call "The Hall". Inside we've built a professional grade kitchen, a pub, a feasting area, a sewing area, and a workshop area.
Sitting in the "pub" one day, I remarked that a ceiling fan would make a very nice addition. My friends looked at me like I'd finally lost it, "you couldn't mount a ceiling fan in here, there's nothing to mount it to unless you know some way to make one float in empty space". As it happened I did. Next day they came down and there was the ceiling fan centered above the card table and running on high. It's attached to a heavy wooden cradle that's suspended by rope rigging. The electrical wiring is sheathed and lashed at four foot intervals along one of the rigging ropes. Scoping out the lofty upper attachment points of my rigging ropes, they asked, "how in hell did you get up there?". I started to explain that I didn't have to get "way up there", that I simply used a monkey fist on the end of a heaving line, but that monkey fist and heaving line reference just had 'em looking at me funny again. Durn lubbers.

Sarge

 

[TomFetter]

I'd a grand time teaching my son to make a monkey's fist last summer. We got some cheap 3 strand manila, 'cause natural fiber ropes are a lot grippier than trying to tie stuff in polypropolene line. Then we had contests to see who could toss the end into a hula hoop down the other end of the backyard.

A friend who used to work tugboats 'round Boston said that he kept the monkey's fist on his heaving line loaded with a walnut sized chunk of lead on the inside. Seems when some deckhands on another boat were acting like idiots, Ian "accidentally" tossed it right through their deckhouse window.

 

[Sylvrfalcn]

I'd a grand time teaching my son to make a monkey's fist last summer. We got some cheap 3 strand manila, 'cause natural fiber ropes are a lot grippier than trying to tie stuff in polypropolene line. Then we had contests to see who could toss the end into a hula hoop down the other end of the backyard.

A friend who used to work tugboats 'round Boston said that he kept the monkey's fist on his heaving line loaded with a walnut sized chunk of lead on the inside. Seems when some deckhands on another boat were acting like idiots, Ian "accidentally" tossed it right through their deckhouse window.

I used a marble sized steel ball bearing in mine, worked like a champ, took out a couple of flourescent light tubes though. . . . . . .

Sarge

 

[jefptw]

Sorry for the double reply. I was a little groggy last night. Posted at about 3a.m.

James

 

[Svashtar]

Sarge, my Dad would have loved to have known both you and Yvsa I think. Kindred spirits. I have a fraction of the skill he had with his hands, but still manage to come up with some fun stuff now and then.

One thing that amuses my wife, is that I very rarely throw out anything that could possibly be used later. Lumber, odd chunks of metal or plastic, leather scraps, etc.

I love the Jolly Roger. Just the thing to post on your gate instead of a "No Trespassing" sign.

Norm

 

[stevomiller]

Fun stuff Sarge! Sure looks like you are enjoying your "retirement". Your friend that scored the wrought iron really got lucky. I have only worked with it once, but man did it forge and weld nicely. Also, if you polish and etch it, it has a neat grain to it like damascus steel.

The one time that I worked it was when my friend Jack and I fixed an old set of andirons that had burned through in the center; the lady that brought them to us said that they had been in her family for many generations.

BTW, saw your last slew of knives, and I must say that I was very impressed, especially with the back seamed sheaths.

 

[Dave Rishar]

Just for the record, the monkey's fist is still alive and well in the USN, as well as the fancywork. As one of the guys that had to put lines over the sides, I never got the hang of the knots. Most didn't. On the Sac we used rubber projectiles launched from M14's with heaving lines attached. Before that, we used rubberized weights slung by hand. The monkey's fist is seldom if ever used today but the knowledge remains, believe it or not. There's little use for some of the knots currently but they're still taught for tradition's sake. I'm just a slow learner.

The part that I enjoyed most about "Master and Commander" was the enemy captain's trickery towards the end.

An interesting aspect of historical piracy is the privateer. I've argued semiofficially several times in the past for a revival of this practice; public opinion aside, it would probably produce results. Unfortunately no one else agreed with me. I still think that it would solve problems in certain areas of the world while saving the gummint a couple of bucks and if you think about it, we're very nearly there in some respects. The main problem with it was accountability ("Is he a privateer, or a pirate?") but with today's technology and media coverage, this probably wouldn't be an issue.

 

[Kevin the grey]

Monkey fist , Turks head whenever I read about knots those names creep in . I have rwo marlin spikes I usr for throwing and one on a sailors knife . I know a couple of basic knots and should know more . I would like to see the rigging for the fan .

 

[Sylvrfalcn]

There's little use for some of the knots currently but they're still taught for tradition's sake.

That's me in a nutshell, little use for such an anachronistic relic, but I'm fun at parties. Still, there's some who appreciate my outmoded "technology".
A friend of mine who's a first lieutenant (which means he can wipe his own nose now ) told me the boys sure missed me on this last trip to Afghanistan. They all heard the stories about how I hewed a washboard out of wood with my khukuri and taught a colonel how to wash his clothes in a bucket. Things are way more "civilized" there now, but he said there were definitely times they could have used my "talents".

Sarge

 

[munk]

There are knots for use, and some for art and the technique to tie them.


I wouldn't want to live in a place that had forgotten all of them.



munk