Unintended cordage.

[aznboi3644]

So I was just walking along the creek in my friends back yard last week and found a small sapling with a vine around it.  Figured I could make a walking stick or something.  Cut it down and brought it home. 

Well I fell asleep around 9pm last night and woke up at 2 am and couldn’t sleep so I went out to the shop.

As I was debarking the sapling the bark was pulling off in long strands.  I figured I’ll give it ago.  It was my second time making fiber cordage.  I think it turned out pretty well.  I was able to make 7.5ft of cordage. I plan on using it for a handle wraps on a couple bows. 

There’s something peaceful about making fiber cordage.

[Pat B]

Nice work. Do you have any idea what the sapling was?

[YosemiteBen]

aznboi - can you clean out your mail box. I tried to send you a pm but your box is full.

[sleek]

That's good looking stuff. Outstanding job.

[aaron]

I have found that cordage made from fresh inner bark will shrink and become loose. To remedy this, dry it completely for a few days or more and then rehydrate slightly.

[sleek]

You could stretch it while it dries out, that would keep it from getting loose.

[aznboi3644]

PatB I have no idea what the sapling was.  The leaves are all gone and the bark was so general I don’t know. 

Sleek, thank you.  I’ve always wanted to try and make some flax fiber bow strings.   This was just a step towards that.  I plan on growing flax in the yard this year for some
Bow strings.

Yosemite sorry I just cleared it out.  Lol I was at 103% capacity.

Aaron and Sleek I will hang this with a small weight to keep it tight as it dries.  The first cordage I made has dried out and is still quite tight.  I do twist it pretty tight as I work it.

[WhistlingBadger]

Very nice!

[wstanley]

making cordage to me is some the most rewarding work in primitive tech. I love dogbane. Curious to find out what you used. Just finished a necklace with puka shells

[aznboi3644]

Gorgeous.  I like that dark look of the dog bane.  The rewarding feeling of making my cordage is great.  I’m most likely the only person in my area that even makes wood bows or has even made cordage. 


I’m curious as well to what the tree was.  Some of the inner bark strips were pulling off the tree in 2ft lengths.

Also has anyone ever soaked and rubbed hot hide glue over Cordage to make it stronger and bind all the fibers together?

I may start experimenting with this and do strength tests before and after the hide glue.

[wstanley]

Your sapling kind of reminds me of flannel brush the way it peels off in multiple layers. So it was a single sapling,no other shoots with it?

[Pat B]

Hopefully in the spring when the leaves come out you will be able to ID it.

[aznboi3644]

It was a single sapling. I left about a foot of trunk left. I hope it sprouts this spring and I can ID it. 

[sleek]

I was a single sapling. I left about a foot of trunk left. I hope it sprouts this spring and I can ID it.

With any luck, it's good arrow material  and you can have some shoots to make arrows from.

[Pappy]

Good looking cordage.
 Pappy