Main Discussion Area > HowTo's and Build-a-longs
Plant String Build Along
swamp monkey:
Elbow splice:
A regular splice involves placing a new fiber bundle in one leg of the cordage. An elbow splice puts that fiber bundle in both legs. This works as easily as the other method but can lead to sudden bulges in the cord. This is not very strong or pleasing to the eye. My suggestion is to make sure any fibers you elbow splice are thinner for one side. Proper thickness where the bundle bends is vital to making a splice that doesn’t create a bulge.
BTW: I went back through the thread and posted a few new pix in key spots so if you have been keeping up thus far you might want to go back and skim for those inclusions.
swamp monkey:
Cleaning up fuzzy string:
You can give your string a haircut with some sharp scissors or use a candle. I do both. Big sections that will not burn well get trimmed. The rest of the thin stuff gets toasted.
The picture below shows a fuzzy string and one with a huge fuzzy section. That one gets the scissors. NOTE: Fuzziness is not fatal. I remove it as a matter of craftsmanship. Fuzzy strings work just fine.
swamp monkey:
Process for trimming with heat:
Hold the cord above the flame. Too far above and you look really silly with a fuzzy rope that never gets any better looking. Too close to the flame and you get scorch marks on the cord or worse end up with two ropes. >:D >:D
Not cool.
You will figure it out.
The set up and process are depicted below. I worked on Marsh milkweed and dogbane.
swamp monkey:
The end product is a nice neat cord that is both strong and beautiful. I will need a few more days but want to get some pix of a bow with a plant string as well as some miscellaneous notes and tips I have learned over the years. I have a busy week ahead so it may be next week before I post again.
I may even post some pix of primitive skills items you can use cordage for. . . just as inspiration.
Thanks for reading along and I hope you feel the urge to make plant fiber string.
swamp monkey:
The April/May 2012 issue of PA just hit my mail box. Inside is an article on Flemish string construction. The pix show how to reverse twist if you want to see an example of how that is done.
BTW: Flemish strings were made possible because flax plant fibers were long enough to allow the process without splicing new material. Those plant strings are cool stuff eh?
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