I don't get to work with Dogbane in Brazil but I have made some cordage. Down there we use Yucca, Buriti Palm, Imbira bark, and Eucalyptus bark mainly. Sun is the critical component of the the ice fire, that is for sure. You do have tinder fungus there. Sun, clear ice, and tinder fungus, given those three its a snap.
Dogbane is very strong cordage. 60 lbs is a lot of bow and it would depend on the quality and thickness of the string you make. I haven't tested this for breaking strength.
Thigh rolling is very fast when you are good at it. I can't match that speed but I do well enough for my purposes. I'm not making hammocks. In the bush I work mainly with Imbira bark and I can't get it to roll well only pants leg.
This is almost like the way my father taught me how to make cord while in the outdoors. My first fire bow was made using dogbane cordage when I was 7. Good video!
I think you had asked me a while back what method I used to do my 31 foot poplar bark two strand, and I didn't know how to reply. You showed in this video what I think should come natural to a lot of us if we practice making cordage on our own. I used the tension method of twisting about 4 inches on each side tight and letting it naturally come together. Thanks for having the words I didn't have.
Thigh rolling is by far the fasted way to make cordage but it is difficult to do with some pants and my bare legs are far to hairy. I find the one at a time reverse twist method painfully slow.
Mesmo eu não entendendo o inglês esse vídeo foi muito instrutivo, pois as imagens foram auto explicativas. Sei que essa planta não existe aqui no Brasil, mas a forma de trançar as fibras vai me ser muito útil. Um abraço
If you fold the end of a splice that would stick out onto the other ply (is that the word?). That way nothing will stick out and the splice is secured after a few turns. Or you could burn off the ends that stick out by pulling it quickly through a fire/flame..
@USASF160 I shot this video in Pennsylvania, it's pretty much all over the place. It's best to collect it in late winter. It is hands down the best cordage material in PA. Look for it in overgrown fields, along fence lines, briar patches, etc.
I went out to identify and harvest some today. I think I identified the correct plant. It just wasn't as malleable or indicative of twine-capable material. Is it possible to attempt to harvest it too early?
That is a Brazilian Zebu slipjoint. Unfortunately they aren't sold outside Brazil that I have ever seen. The blade style here is a called "Pica Fumo" or tobacco chopper. In rural areas here people use these to chop up braided tobacco for corn husk cigarettes.
I am totally confused about using dogbane for cord, you scrape off the outside skin in an attempt to get at "inner fiber"...look at this Dave Cantebury link where he uses a stone to smash out the inner pulp! Dave says he only wants the skin. Are we talking about two different plants?
It is kind of hard to tell without seeing what you were working with or how your were doing it. I have never had a splice come apart doing it the way I show it the video.
Dogbane makes very strong cordage but since I have no control over your ability to make it I can't make a recommendation on it for that use. Be careful with bowstrings. I had a commercial bowstring snap on me once at full draw. Trust me it leaves a mark.
Great video!
I don't get to work with Dogbane in Brazil but I have made some cordage. Down there we use Yucca, Buriti Palm, Imbira bark, and Eucalyptus bark mainly.
Sun is the critical component of the the ice fire, that is for sure. You do have tinder fungus there. Sun, clear ice, and tinder fungus, given those three its a snap.
Excellent info! Thank you for sharing.
Great tip, 5/5 thanks for sharing. Ed
very good video here!
Very good, 5/5
Good to know.
@enjoythewildUSA Dogbane is harvested in mid to late winter for making cordage. In summer you should be looking for nettles.
Dogbane is very strong cordage. 60 lbs is a lot of bow and it would depend on the quality and thickness of the string you make. I haven't tested this for breaking strength.
Fire makes quick work of the splices and protruding fibers.
Thigh rolling is very fast when you are good at it. I can't match that speed but I do well enough for my purposes. I'm not making hammocks. In the bush I work mainly with Imbira bark and I can't get it to roll well only pants leg.
This is almost like the way my father taught me how to make cord while in the outdoors. My first fire bow was made using dogbane cordage when I was 7. Good video!
awesome i cant wait to try this
steve
Awesome stuff pict, thanks for sharing.
Great video. I love making cordage. Where I live, we only have nettle. At Yosemite I get milkweed. Really cool thanks!
@Colhane Thank you very much. Do you mean "stinging nettles"?
Excellent vid, mac.
Thanks, Iz
Thanks for sharing. I love the small scissors on a Swiss Army knife for trimming the frays.
I think you had asked me a while back what method I used to do my 31 foot poplar bark two strand, and I didn't know how to reply. You showed in this video what I think should come natural to a lot of us if we practice making cordage on our own. I used the tension method of twisting about 4 inches on each side tight and letting it naturally come together. Thanks for having the words I didn't have.
Thigh rolling is by far the fasted way to make cordage but it is difficult to do with some pants and my bare legs are far to hairy. I find the one at a time reverse twist method painfully slow.
Mesmo eu não entendendo o inglês esse vídeo foi muito instrutivo, pois as imagens foram auto explicativas. Sei que essa planta não existe aqui no Brasil, mas a forma de trançar as fibras vai me ser muito útil.
Um abraço
If you fold the end of a splice that would stick out onto the other ply (is that the word?). That way nothing will stick out and the splice is secured after a few turns. Or you could burn off the ends that stick out by pulling it quickly through a fire/flame..
Ja ví alguns de seus vídeos, valorizo muito seu trabalho e ja aprendi muito contigo.
Obrigado por dividir sua experiencia conosco.
@USASF160 I shot this video in Pennsylvania, it's pretty much all over the place. It's best to collect it in late winter. It is hands down the best cordage material in PA. Look for it in overgrown fields, along fence lines, briar patches, etc.
I went out to identify and harvest some today. I think I identified the correct plant. It just wasn't as malleable or indicative of twine-capable material. Is it possible to attempt to harvest it too early?
@enjoythewildUSA Yes, they make good summer cordage. Willow bark is also good in summer.
So what is the best time to harvest it?
Harest it in late wnter before the sprng rains start
That is a Brazilian Zebu slipjoint. Unfortunately they aren't sold outside Brazil that I have ever seen. The blade style here is a called "Pica Fumo" or tobacco chopper. In rural areas here people use these to chop up braided tobacco for corn husk cigarettes.
i tried splicing together shoestrings to make a rope, but somehow, it didn't work... does the splicing only work with natural materials?
that was not the first time you make a piece of string, :0)
i stil dont get sun shine here,
so have not get the opportunity to make fire with ice yet,
I am totally confused about using dogbane for cord, you scrape off the outside skin in an attempt to get at "inner fiber"...look at this Dave Cantebury link where he uses a stone to smash out the inner pulp! Dave says he only wants the skin. Are we talking about two different plants?
I hit the thumbs down by mistake Mac, real sorry! :( I was going to say that I wish we had Dog bane here in Brazil too man!
It is kind of hard to tell without seeing what you were working with or how your were doing it. I have never had a splice come apart doing it the way I show it the video.
Tenho vários outros vídeos sobre como fazer cordas que demonstram o mesmo método. Infelizmente, eles estão todos em Inglês.
Dogbane > milkweed >nettle
IMO
Dogbane makes very strong cordage but since I have no control over your ability to make it I can't make a recommendation on it for that use. Be careful with bowstrings. I had a commercial bowstring snap on me once at full draw. Trust me it leaves a mark.