Cap'n Black Jack

I s far as I know, yes. If it says TAR most likely it is TAR. I do know that Stockholm Tar and Pint Tar are used interchangeably. Capt Black Providence Trading Company

There is a lot of good advice here, and I thank you all. I believe the plan of acyion I am going to take is a few boards across the center and under the ropes, it`seems to be the best option, they should flex a bit but give some support to the sides. If that doesn't work then it is going to be 4x4 for the side boards, heavy but effective.

I have bow of a 1/2" with the ropes tight, once I get on it it greatly increases! I think this might be the next step. I just don't want it to feel like a 1970 pull-ou sofa bed.

Once again I am making a rope bed. My first attempt many years ago ended in me and my wife on the ground between piles of rope and splinters. This time I use oak, a bit heavy but strong. My newest rope bed seems to have similar properties to the old; the sides are bowing a lot! I strengthened up the sides with oak 2x2"s on the inside. This did not work as well I would have hoped. Any suggestions? Really anything I'll take whatever it is you have, please help! On a sort of unrelated note, my Great-grandmother slept on a rope bed all here life, it may have even been her mothers, don't know. But it came over on the boat with them, and she slept in that until the day she died at the age of 97. We had that bed in our house, against the wall in the garage for many years. One day I noticed it was gone. Oh how I wish I had that bed today.

Also, an earlier source for understanding and learning penmanship is George Bickham's "Pennmanship Made Easy (Young Clerk's Assistant)", originally published in 1733. It's available as a reprint from Dover. OK, I'll shut up now. My English Major button got pushed ;-) You can download a copy of the Young Clerk's Assistant from Google Books. Capt Black

This site is pretty good http://dohistory.org...it/writing.html, it explains a lot about how to read the writing of the day. I am trying to reeducate myself to write in 17-18th century form. It is like learning a new language. Capt. Black

I need to make a bed ASAP. I like the one that started this post. I have a question! The bed needs to be wider, around four ,feet, has anyone tried this? I am worried about drilling all those holes and breaking down the integrity of the wood, as well as sag that might be caused by the extra width. I tried to make a rope bed before and had little success. I will be using oak if that helps. Can anyone help? Captain Black

I'll give it a shot and let you know! Thanks Capt Black

I too have used the pitch from Townsend, and never had a problem with it. I will grant you that it does have a yellowish hue, but when you apply it to leather, it darkens the leather (if the leather isn't already dyed dark), and the yellowish hue disappears. I have yet to see anything I have made with the pitch from Townsend crack or become brittle, but then I don't still have everything I have made with it, but I hope if such a thing happened, one of the folks who bought one of my leather costrels would have let me know. Can I ask how you are applying the pitch? I think your problem may be more one of method than material. Well, I heat it until it melts, pour it in the vessel, then flip and roll. I do this as many times as needed to coat the inside. It's the method I was taught by a Scotsman, but we were using a black pitch that was a bit more pliable.

Thanks. Didn't mean to sound like a bastard there, sometimes i can't help it...pirate and all... Capt Black

Can you give us a reason why? The stuff I am looking at is a 100% organic with no health warnings or anything else. I have two tankards from England with thick black pitch in them that seem to be fine, been using them for years. According to the FDA pine pitch that is 100% pine is food safe, however it cannot have additive that make it a liquid. This naval pitch seems to be the stuff i need but more research is needed. Any help would be great. Capt Black

Not sure if that will work, I have a line on NAVY PITCH which comes in 55lb solid blocks. However I don't really need that much seeing how a pound will do 10 to 15 mugs! I'll look into it. Thanks. Capt Black

I am on a hunt for pine tar for pitching mugs, cups, tankards, pitchers, and all sorts of Jacks. I realize that Jas. Townsend has "Brewers Pitch", I have used it. Unfortunately what they have is yellow in colour, not dark brown or black, and it is brittle. If you drop you jack it will crack! Does anyone know here I can find the dark pitch? Capt Black