Hi everyone,
What's happened to the hot tips section of the forum? I haven't been on for a while - has it been dis-continued?
Anyway, I have a hot tip for plant fibre cordage. Like a lot of you guys my favourite is nettle but find it wears quicky if not treated some how...
1. Have some prepared fibre to hand - no more than half a nettle stem (longways).
2. Make the fibres as loose as you can.
3. Holding both ends, put the fibres over your head against your hair (this works better if you haven't washed your hair for a couple of days).
4. Run the fibres back and forth through your hair. Do this for a minute or two SLOWLY, then turn the fibres over and do the other side.
5. To do the ends; draw them through your hair while holding them down in your hair with your free hand.
After doing this the fibres become soft, pliable, easier to twist and water resistant which greatly increases the strength ( by up to half in my tests) and life of the fibre; but the hair does have to be oily enough and you will want to wash it when your done!
I only discovered (re-discovered?) this a few weeks ago and haven't had time to do thorough testing. I don't really know if the hair oil rotts the fibres. So far, I don't believe it does...
Maybe archers keeping the bow string under their hats had a purpose.
Cheers,
Bear Stone
What's happened to the hot tips section of the forum? I haven't been on for a while - has it been dis-continued?
Anyway, I have a hot tip for plant fibre cordage. Like a lot of you guys my favourite is nettle but find it wears quicky if not treated some how...
1. Have some prepared fibre to hand - no more than half a nettle stem (longways).
2. Make the fibres as loose as you can.
3. Holding both ends, put the fibres over your head against your hair (this works better if you haven't washed your hair for a couple of days).
4. Run the fibres back and forth through your hair. Do this for a minute or two SLOWLY, then turn the fibres over and do the other side.
5. To do the ends; draw them through your hair while holding them down in your hair with your free hand.
After doing this the fibres become soft, pliable, easier to twist and water resistant which greatly increases the strength ( by up to half in my tests) and life of the fibre; but the hair does have to be oily enough and you will want to wash it when your done!
I only discovered (re-discovered?) this a few weeks ago and haven't had time to do thorough testing. I don't really know if the hair oil rotts the fibres. So far, I don't believe it does...
Maybe archers keeping the bow string under their hats had a purpose.
Cheers,
Bear Stone