18th and 19th century rope

[Black Hand]

Here's some ropes I made a couple of months ago. There all about 30' long. There made from hemp twine, 3 plait to 9 plait. Whipped with beeswax that has been melted and linen dipped in it. The one one the left is a 9 plait and is re weaved and is a couple years old has hauled 3 deer and hung them. I always wash any blood off hemp. I have made ropes 100' long but you need help and alot more weight.

You can use a rope machine to make traditional rope but don't use the middle spinner or it does look different.

Jerry

Are they 2-ply reverse twist or made with 3 plys? In this case, ply = strand (each ply made of one or more individual cords)
What do you mean by 3 to 9 plait? Plait usually suggests a braid of 3 or more strands and when I've done plaiting, the final product is flat not round.

Please clarify.

 

[jackley]

I'm calling a strand a plait. These are groups of 3 twisted 2-2-2 to make 6 plait rope. If you want to make a 6 plait rope and use two groups of 3 you will get a flatter looking rope. I found that a 3 groups will make a better looking rope. Sorry my terminology is not the same as yours.

Jerry

 

[Black Hand]

I'm calling a strand a plait. These are groups of 3 twisted 2-2-2 to make 6 plait rope. If you want to make a 6 plait rope and use two groups of 3 you will get a flatter looking rope. I found that a 3 groups will make a better looking rope. Sorry my terminology is not the same as yours.

Jerry

No apology is necessary - just wanted made certain I understood.

 

[jackley]

There kind of fun to make. I put them on the blanket at times for a prize.
When a kid comes over I tell them were going to make a rope, they roll there eye's but when we start they get into it. Then they get to go home with a new hemp rope.

Jerry

 

[Carbon 6]

Does anybody sell new rope makers?

 

[Sicilian Hunter]

Thanks for all the replies. I found a site called animatedknots.com that shows a ton of knots sorted by categories and usage: splicing, loop knots, sailing, and many others. (It even has a section for tying ties, which, I am glad to say, I no longer need.) The article on hemp and flax was fascinating. For some reason, I find fiber arts in a primitive or frontier setting very interesting: rope and cordage, yarn and thread making, and weaving. I'm amazed at how effective even the simplest hand made tools for these matters were.

There was even a trip down memory lane when I realized the Boy Scout Manual I used was the 1960 edition. My copy is long gone but I recognized the cover when I searched on Amazon. :grin:

Jeff

Jeff,
Thanks for the link!
Awesome resource!!

 

[jackley]

Does anybody sell new rope makers?

Ebay has some. The only new one that I know of is Lehman's.

I have the one we had when I was a kid.
Jerry

 

[Carbon 6]

It's interesting to note that the Lewis & Clark expedition of 1804 carried a rope machine on the trip to make rope from animal hides, namely bison and elk. The machine was reputed to be a three strand machine with sun and planet gearing.

 

[Crown_Pointer]

Does anyone know of books that deal with the materials and making of rope in colonial and early America? Also, what knots might have been in common use back then?
My ability with knots ends with tying my shoes and attaching a hook to fishing line. After that, things go downhill quickly. But I find the subject interesting.
Jeff

The book you likely want for ropemaking is this;
http://www.makerope.com/making_rope.php

Greg Davis is a great guy and will help get you going. He sells ropemaker's too. I got a Bradshaw head and a ropemaster machine from him. After that you just need to chose/get your fibers

 

[Rifleman1776]

Ropewalks - narrow covered sheds sometimes several hundred yards long

Would make great indoor shooting ranges.

 

[BullRunBear]

Daryl, Thanks for that link. He has an interesting site.
Jeff

 

[Crown_Pointer]

Daryl, Thanks for that link. He has an interesting site.
Jeff

No Problem. That book "Making Rope With Hand Operated Machines" I would highly *highly* recommend. It covers all aspects including best ways to do your lay-ups. It even touches on Patent Lay rope making (~1798) which doubles the strength of rope (not for beginners). I'll give you another link to 350 other books (for reference only) but all you really need is the one above.

http://www.ropecord.com/new/dl/biblliography.PDF

FWIW & just for fun here's my design how I turned the 6 Strand Bradshaw head into a portable miniature ropewalk machine - adjustable speed (For/Rev) constant torque DC motor with controller. The separate pulley arrangement for setting constant tension (pulling back) on the Bradshaw is not shown nor is the optional foot pedal. You can have a lot of fun making rope

 

[BillinOregon]

The classic reference on the subject of knots is "Ashley's Book of Knots."

 

[Carbon 6]

Don't know how relevant it is but I would suggest The Ashley book of knots.

Great minds think alike.