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Post by sidehillwompuscat on May 21, 2014 16:55:30 GMT
A key skill for bushcraft is the ability to make cordage. What are se of the best materials use, and where are they found? If possible include pictures and instructions/ demo.
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Post by DOC-CANADA on May 23, 2014 2:01:33 GMT
The best cordage materials are specific to the area you are in. Where are you located?
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Post by rollingsnare on May 28, 2014 14:44:47 GMT
wompus cat- if you are just looking for materials to practice with then look for reeds or cat tail leaves. neither make the strongest cordage but both are strong enough to be plenty useful. Personally my favorite is yucca. It doesn't grown here (Md) naturally but is commonly planted as a decoration. Many fast food "restaurants" have it in their lots and no one notices if a leaf or ten disappear. Here are some pics that walk you through the basic reverse twist or two ply cordage. This was in a 7/11 parking lot  Snag a few leaves for demo  Rub leaves over a stick to loosen up the fibers. Its ready when the whole leaf looks wet. and shiney. Second pic shows rubbed leaf top and not yet rubbed leaf bottom.   Split leaf into rough strips by hand. It will pull apart easily now.  After you have a few strips, squeeze off the mushy parts hanging on the fibers and begin to twist with the reverse wrap method. There is no good way to show it on pictures so go to youTube to see the technique in motion- this was mainly to show you how to process the leaves themselves.  Before you run out of thread on one side splice in a new piece. Stagger the splices so there is no part where the splices occur side by side. After the cordage has dried it will shrink a little. Trim the splices and burn the little "hairs" with a lighter. This Yucca cordage has an apx breaking strength of 60-80 lbs.   |
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