I needed some rope

Its a 40 mile round trip to the store where I would buy rope. Its a day of drizzle so I hauled out my rope maker I built 25 years ago.

Back then I was teaching knot tying, Emergency preparedness and wilderness survival to scouts so I constructed a rope maker so they could make their own ropes for our camping trips.

Lashing things together keeps scouts busy building things and keeps them out of mischief.

I was working alone today so I only made a 20 foot rope. Any longer than that and a 2nd person makes the job a lot easier.

This rope is 1/2" diameter and made of sisal. (bailing twine) Its safe working load is over 800 Lbs.

What you dont see is the whipped end of the rope being dipped in paint.

Ron! that's AWESOME! I wish I had learned more about making rope in scouts (they seemed very intent on us dipping candles, which was somewhat less useful but now, having worked with young people, i do understand the value of long-and-drawn-out activities!)

Ha! I have a miniature version that is used to twist fringes on handwovens - same principal though.

Ron, someday when it's rainy and you don't need to make a rope, could you make a drawing and instructions for this setup?

How fortunate to have sisal on hand to make rope.

Do you buy it in bulk or make it yourself?

Anne Miller wrote:How fortunate to have sisal on hand to make rope.

Do you buy it in bulk or make it yourself?

I buy a double pack (2 large spools) for about $50 from a local farm store.

Phil Stevens wrote:Ron, someday when it's rainy and you don't need to make a rope, could you make a drawing and instructions for this setup?

I will make  video.

Ron Kulas wrote:

Anne Miller wrote:How fortunate to have sisal on hand to make rope.

Do you buy it in bulk or make it yourself?

I buy a double pack (2 large spools) for about $50 from a local farm store.
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Did you know you can make rope using stinging nettles? And if those don't grow where you live, there are other fiber plants too. Sisal f.e., if you live in a more tropical region.  
There is a thread on Permies about using fibers from plants too.

I have posted this somewhere on the forum before.

Some dear friends were from Jay, Oklahoma.  Back during WWII the town was sustained by making rope from Giant Ragweed (if my memory is correct).

I have worked with milkweed to make fiber.

Here is an interesting article on Cordage Plants:

https://bkeithropemaker.com/Rope_Chapt_9.html