It also takes a larger diameter of this cord to achieve the same tensile strength as synthetics. Natural fiber cordage, like Manila and Sisal and even Hemp, are a good choice, although much heavier than synthetics and much more susceptible to weather and UV damage. Tubular webbing, used for climbing, comes in a 1-inch width and while it takes up more room and has more weight than mule tape, it also has a substantially higher tensile strength and works well for hammock suspensions and ridgelines as well as rope ladders. But, for many things, including rope ladders and the like, it is ideal. The main downfall of mule tape I have found, is it will cut itself if used for rope tackles and requires the addition of a carbineer or similar pulley, to keep the line from direct friction contact with itself. Mule tape, which is actually a device used for pulling electric wire through conduit, has a tensile strength of about 1,800 pounds and is very lightweight, so 100 feet of this stuff takes up little room and has quite a few advantages, from hanging hammocks to even building rope bridges. Other types of cordages that I sometimes use are things like mule tape and tubular webbing. The smaller diameters like #8 and #6 work well for main body work in nets, but the #36 works well for lashing structures and making camp apparatus, but still can be broken down into three very strong fibers if desired. It comes in multiple sizes, with the #36 what I find the most useful and this is approximately 320-pound test. It is actual rope, so that is can be broken down easily into smaller fibers for things like sewing and repair or reducing the diameter for fishing lines, etc. This line is specifically designed for making gill nets for fishing. The line I carry the most of and this is generally a 1-pound roll, is called bank line or tarred mariners line. I generally have about 25’ of 550 cord in my kit, used mainly for ridge lines when setting up a tarp. For this reason, I recommend that the majority of heavy cord or rope you carry be a twisted style multi strand rope that can be broken down easily to smaller workable fibers. And while it has good tensile strength and is very durable, it can become quite a pain to deal with the inner fibers of the mantle when attempting to break it down for use as fishing lines and repair threads. This is a great choice, but I am pretty certain this choice has been somewhat ingrained into us through military-style survival manuals over the years. The type of cord we hear the most about today for use in “Survival Kits” is probably parachute type 550 cord. Like the other elements, we should probably layer this within our kit and carry it in multiple places, including a hank of it in our pockets, but we should also have multiple types of cord and rope like we have several ways of starting fire or several cutting tools for different tasks.Įven though 550 paracord is in the spotlight in most survival books and articles, tarred bank line is far more versatile and can be used for everything from lashing, ridgelines for shelter, to weaving a fishing net or hammock. So, this element of our kit should also be as versatile as possible. There are several types of cord and rope we can carry and much of this should be dictated by the uses we plan to employ, but also bearing in mind uses we may not plan on. Don’t get me wrong, we should all practice the skill of making natural cordages, but again this is more for fun than true practicality. Understanding the art of making cord with natural plants and inner bark is essential to our bushcraft library, but in reality, for most uses, carried cordage is a much faster option. Natural cordage making is a useful skill, but it is a time consuming process.Įven if we look at the emergency scenario, cordage is an essential element. While it is possible to make cordage from natural materials in a pinch, synthetic rope, cord, or string that you carry with you is more expedient and will hold up to rigerous use better.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |