Sailor's paste times - Knotting

[theM.A.dDogge]

ok...here's me first attempt at needle hitching.....

used jute...the neck seemed right...but then everything got big tryin to get over the onion bottle!?!

not as purty as Skynner's.....but i's got a braided handle on mine....

...wonder how long before i break this one two??

Edited February 1, 2009 by M.A.d'Dogge

[MadL]

M.A.d'Dogge; did ye 'add a stitch gradually' as th' bottle began t' grow? I was just reading about needle hitching over an uneven surfface and they say ye need t' either 'add' or 'remove' a hitch as th' surfface grows or shrinks.

Could we see th' bottom, how ye finished it off? I have a store bought one where they used some kind of round Turk's tie t' anchor th' lines. What method did ye go for?

I just finished un-tieing my first attempt at a monkey fist....actually about me 10th try, I have trouble when it comes t' tightening it, always seem t' get stuck with a few somewhere in th' middle that just will not cinch down and I get lost finding which ones they connect to.

Ye know, a handle like that, braided down int' a triple braided line with a monkey fist on each end - A Pirate Bola

Look Out Sea Kangaroos!!!

::Aye, I said 'Sea Kangaroos', I seen one I did, a whole school o' them!::

[Animal]

Nice work 'Dogge. I've been playing around with monkey fists since PIP. Most instructions show the tailing line being placed back into the fist but I like your way better. I need to get back to it, so your've inspired me to get off me arse and get ti work.

Animal

[sutlerjon]

For what it's worth, I just finished turning my 1st 8" marlin spike. I'll post a pic soon as I get it stained and oiled.

[Capt. Sterling]

ok...here's me first attempt at needle hitching.....

used jute...the neck seemed right...but then everything got big tryin to get over the onion bottle!?!

not as purty as Skynner's.....but i's got a braided handle on mine....

...wonder how long before i break this one two??

WAIT!!! Ye actually DID this??

[Patrick Hand]

OH yeah M.A.d'Dogge.... ye can use a musket ball or a round rock in the monkey's fist........ it gives it more weight... but Hervey Garrett Smith says in The Arts of the Sailor...

it must be weighted to achieve the desired distance and accuracy by enclosing within it a ball of some sort - of rubber, wood or metal as your fancy dictates. A ball of lead has often been used, but since it then becomes a lethal weapon to the man who tries to catch it there's a question of how much weight is sporting.

[MadL]

it must be weighted to achieve the desired distance and accuracy by enclosing within it a ball of some sort - of rubber, wood or metal as your fancy dictates. A ball of lead has often been used, but since it then becomes a lethal weapon to the man who tries to catch it there's a question of how much weight is sporting.

Well, that would depend; How drunk is he, 'n is there any Rum left over?

[sutlerjon]

Here's a shot of the hand spike, fid, I mentioned yesterday. This one is about 8" long.

Made from poplar.

[MadL]

I was go'n t' do me boot knife's handle but then got t' think'n ('n drink'n rum fer th' pain) that now I have Shoes so I have no place for t' carry a 'Boot' knife!!

So after much rum it occur'd t' me that I do not like th' look nor feel o' th' cheap leather grip'n on me stage sword, So....

Here be me first stage, a simple graphing o' Tarred Hemp twine. I am think'n ('n hurt'n again) that perhaps a Turk's Head on each end t' finish her off, just gotta find th' correct size twine...either th' 4-strand hemp I split int'a two 2-stand (kinda fuzzy thou) or I have some 1mm tarred left from some lanyards I was make'n.....blond pirates HATE decisions, but as th' answer always involves Rum, it aint so bad.

Stage #1, th' graphing:

she feels so much better in me hand now already, smells sweet too!!

[michaelsbagley]

I was go'n t' do me boot knife's handle but then got t' think'n ('n drink'n rum fer th' pain) that now I have Shoes so I have no place for t' carry a 'Boot' knife!!

So after much rum it occur'd t' me that I do not like th' look nor feel o' th' cheap leather grip'n on me stage sword, So....

Here be me first stage, a simple graphing o' Tarred Hemp twine. I am think'n ('n hurt'n again) that perhaps a Turk's Head on each end t' finish her off, just gotta find th' correct size twine...either th' 4-strand hemp I split int'a two 2-stand (kinda fuzzy thou) or I have some 1mm tarred left from some lanyards I was make'n.....blond pirates HATE decisions, but as th' answer always involves Rum, it aint so bad.

she feels so much better in me hand now already, smells sweet too!!

MadL, that looks freaking awesome!!! You need to get drunk and do stuff like that more often... that is just inspiring.

[MadL]

The Turk's Head has been driving me nuts, I can tie a simple one on me hand but when I try to do one with more then 4x5 I get all turned around....th' size cord I am using (about 1mm tarred marlin from American Rope) I think needs as least 5x7. But I think I figured out my own way, go around twice with the main line then back around with the standing end - kinda half arse backward but it worked on me hand....after dinner I will try it on th' handle.

[MadL]

Ok, so I finally figured out what I was do'n wrong with me Turk's Heads...besides try'n t' follow too many tutorials and gett'n one step wrong (going U th' lead when I was suppose'd just follow it) I was try'n t' feed it horse fodder when camels eat only straw!

So here is me Turk's Head. Still needs some tightening, working alongside th' guard is a real pain. I tried waxing th' tarred marlin t' see if it would work any easier, but actually I think it may have made it harder, kinda made it more 'gooey', plus there is a spot where I think th' fiber lengths are seized and that produces a lump which made it even more tricky

Stage 2, the first Turk's Head:

[MadL]

Now see'n as how this is th' "Captain Twill" forum; has anyone seen any examples of sailor's knot working from th' GAoP?

I know they said it was a very common past time (except'n for them what ate th' 'paste') but When did it become common practice? They say Turk's Heads and other rope/twine wrapping has been popular since th' days o' "wooden ships" for railings and other such for their ideal gripping and decorative stature but did this really extend back int' GAoP?

I know braids and stuff go all th' way back into Ren period, but where are th' reference o' sailor's fancy work during th' 1700s?

[MadL]

Ok, now I have th' Needle Hitch down...probably not 'perfectly' straight they lay, but hey it tis me first attempt.

I saw th' bamboo needle cases at FrayedKnots sight (only he use small sized synthetic line) so I went t' me local canyon 'n cut me own self some bamboo shoots (hey, only "Natural Fauna" be protected - bamboo NOT be 'natural' for it twas brought t' Southern California...but don't tell th' rangers where I got it!!). I am using 5-ply 100% hemp sail twine, started with a Constrictor knot and wrapped a few more time as I will top both ends with a Turk's Head then began th' Needle Hitch'n. I think I will only go a bit further with Needle Hitch then switch t' a French Hitch, maybe a center Turk's head too, have not decided yet Then I have t' figure out th' Star Knot t' top off th' cork and fix a lanyard t' it. It houses me sail needles up t' 5inch, still got room enough fer a tiny fid (fer tiny knots fer tiny wenches ). Th' glover's palm just be an old Navy surplus I found, but it works (not really using it for this project, but it looked cool)

This line is not tarred, but I got a pint o' Stockholm com'n so I am gonna tar it when I am done. Also read somewhere that sailors use'd t' keep a wad o' hemp fiber (or other such fiber) inside what would be soaked in oil t' keep th' needles from rusting, they would wipe th' needles down before return'n them t' storage for needles in th' GAoP were expensive...somewhat like today with our new economy

Edited February 18, 2009 by MadL

[silas thatcher]

INSPIRATION !! finally finished a bottle of me own !! used some "el cheapo" jute, a regular bottle ( but it is rum ) ... need to do a little something at the top, though..

then, using some hemp string and a smaller "weave", started on another....

the first one turned out fairly decent... finished the bottom merely "ok", but overall i am pleased :)

[MadL]

I LOVE TH' SMELL O' TAR IN TH' MORN!!

...oh, 'n th' taste o' rum!

Nice bottles Silas Thatcher!!

[oderlesseye]

OK MadL..Eye ordered the Marline line of both types..

I look forward to working on my cutlass...

[MadL]

Careful now Oderlesseye, that Stockholm tar be some addictive stuff now, once ye get over th' initial shock o' th' overwhelming smell when opening that package it will soon grow on ye, ye will look forward t' go'n home and opening th' door t' some 'fresh air'.

Funny thing t'day at LORE, Capt'n Syn was having everyone smell th' Stockholm hand lotion, claiming it be t' make ye "stink" like a pirate - I actually like th' smell, but at first I kept it outside for th' sent was so strong at first, then after working with it a bit and getting th' smell on me hands, it became quite a pleasant smell.

Aye, I will be ready when ye are; perhaps together we can figure out that blasted Star Knot, that one has been kick'n me arse big time. I get t' step 5 or 6 and completely loose which end be which and it all goes t' sunder on me!!

[lady constance]

INSPIRATION !! finally finished a bottle of me own !! used some "el cheapo" jute, a regular bottle ( but it is rum ) ... need to do a little something at the top, though..

then, using some hemp string and a smaller "weave", started on another....

the first one turned out fairly decent... finished the bottom merely "ok", but overall i am pleased :)

HEY SILAS... i got some jugs you can make a covering for!!!--- and a booty too!!!

any one want to see the hemp bikini silas' is working on???????????

see-- if ever silas looses his day job, he will strike it rich making hemp bikinis to sell online for piratical folks!!

wench constance.... errr i mean lady constance........

[silas thatcher]

AWWW !! keep er clean !! besides, i have to practice a little more

[callenish gunner]

now that is naughtywork i'd pay t' see ....i mean knotwork yeah right

[LadyBrower]

The bottles and things look great! I just receive the Art of the Sailor from Alibris (I got it for 2 bucks!) and am going to try my hand at some knot-work. What kind of needles are you using?

[oderlesseye]

Funny thing t'day at LORE, Capt'n Syn was having everyone smell th' Stockholm hand lotion, claiming it be t' make ye "stink" like a pirate - I actually like th' smell, but at first I kept it outside for th' sent was so strong at first, then after working with it a bit and getting th' smell on me hands, it became quite a pleasant smell.

MadL ..that was by my suggestion as I put the same in Capt. Syns hand to share out at LORE during his shpiel.. I gave my crew mates a few jars of the stuff.... Odoriferous! I had some bottles done Like silas thatcher awhile back by Capt. Macnamara and so ..I know wot smell to expect.. Wicked Cricket don't be liken it so much but I love the stuff.. I have some 3/4" manila rope werk out back I wanna coat. But that be later...

Edited March 2, 2009 by oderlesseye

[MadL]

What kind of needles are you using?

I just got a Osborne Bent Needle, 6 gauge, that I really like for medium size twine, for smaller stuff I curved th' end o' one o' me #17 sailor needles with a vise 'n hammer. Th' curved end really helps.

[MadL]

I Bent Me Pricker!!!

How am I t' tighten me Turk's Head with a Bent pricker?!!?

Blast these cheap Taiwan made prickers!!

Bent needles be useful but Bent Prickers will n'er do t' tighten me Turk's Head!!!

....now I gotta buy a new pricker!!