For the time being, I will not be able to get out and make any cordage.
I fully intend for this to be temporary, so if you are interested in getting some of this cord, please do keep checking back
Publish Post
Saturday, April 25, 2009
temporarily out of service
Well, health and family needs have caught up to me.
For the time being, I will not be able to get out and make any cordage.
I fully intend for this to be temporary, so if you are interested in getting some of this cord, please do keep checking back.
For the time being, I will not be able to get out and make any cordage.
I fully intend for this to be temporary, so if you are interested in getting some of this cord, please do keep checking back
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Reality catches up...
Well, it had to happen eventually.
I've had to raise the price for cordage. I've put it off for a long time, but since I began this little adventure the cost of cotton has almost doubled. The good news is that i'm not doubling the price.
I've also raised the price for bleaching. The reason for this is that since I can't find affordable bleached cotton, I have to do it myself. The way I have for handling bleached cotton yarn is highly labor intensive compared to how the natural yarn can be handled. If and when I can figure out a better way to bleach the yarn, I will drop that price down again.
So, now, the prices are $3 per strand + $2 for sizing, shipping etc. and $3 for bleaching.
I know this may drive some people away, but it just wouldn't be wise to continue as though nothing had changed.
I've had to raise the price for cordage. I've put it off for a long time, but since I began this little adventure the cost of cotton has almost doubled. The good news is that i'm not doubling the price.
I've also raised the price for bleaching. The reason for this is that since I can't find affordable bleached cotton, I have to do it myself. The way I have for handling bleached cotton yarn is highly labor intensive compared to how the natural yarn can be handled. If and when I can figure out a better way to bleach the yarn, I will drop that price down again.
So, now, the prices are $3 per strand + $2 for sizing, shipping etc. and $3 for bleaching.
I know this may drive some people away, but it just wouldn't be wise to continue as though nothing had changed.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Samples available.
I have samples available for:
1-ply cotton
2-ply cotton
3-ply cotton
natural off-white color.
the 2-ply may be a little more loosely laid than usual.
I had an equipment malfunction that I had to fix and didn't note the twisting time when I stopped. I was tired and chose to guess rather than scrap it and start over.
I can't find my only surviving sample of 2-ply to compare it to.
Also...
a first try with a new material.
its a single ply cord, but its about the same size as a 3-ply cotton.
some irregularities in the yarn cause some bulges in the cord.
at one place in the roll, the line had stopped and they tied in a new line then kept winding.
not a very nice surprise.
natural light to med brown color.
if anyone wants a sample of this new stuff, make sure to bear in mind that it is the first time i've used this material.
1-ply cotton
2-ply cotton
3-ply cotton
natural off-white color.
the 2-ply may be a little more loosely laid than usual.
I had an equipment malfunction that I had to fix and didn't note the twisting time when I stopped. I was tired and chose to guess rather than scrap it and start over.
I can't find my only surviving sample of 2-ply to compare it to.
Also...
a first try with a new material.
its a single ply cord, but its about the same size as a 3-ply cotton.
some irregularities in the yarn cause some bulges in the cord.
at one place in the roll, the line had stopped and they tied in a new line then kept winding.
not a very nice surprise.
natural light to med brown color.
if anyone wants a sample of this new stuff, make sure to bear in mind that it is the first time i've used this material.
You want the good news, or the bad news?
how about the good news first:
I found a source for WHITE flax twine.
bad news:
it would cost double that of the cotton
so instead of $2/hank+$2/ply it would be $4/hank+$4/ply.
and, its probably a bit too big to make something that compares to the 1-ply i've been making.
why flax? well, its stronger than cotton by a few orders of magnitude.
stronger means I can possibliy make it smaller and closer to the original sizes of Belfast cord.
and isn't that what its really all about? ;)
Although, this may require that I "deconstruct" the yarn into smaller groups of threads, its a small price to pay for my craft. sure beats bleaching.
I also found a source for what is being called 2-ply natural flax twine. not much info on it but they are selling this stuff at the same cost as the cotton that i've been buying, which is approaching a miracle. its not white, but dang it sure is cheap for flax twine. I've got an inquiry in for more info on this stuff. There was no indication of the twine's size, the yardage on the spool or anything other than its weight. If it is small enough, I might be able to make some natural (lt brown) colored cord that is similar to the stuff that i've been making. My guess is that it would at least make a size cord similar to my 3-ply cotton, if not smaller. I'm waiting patiently for two different inquiries to be replied to. If it is available in the right size, im sure I could be convinced to bleach it. Between those two things, I think I've got a good chance of finding a suitable flax source that won't break anybody's bank. And, believe me, when you find stuff for $45 a pound it gets a little intimidating.
I just recently bought 4000 feet of ~1mm hemp twine. making a 1-ply line of this resulted in something very close to the 3-ply cotton. This hemp also seems to be made of 2 plies. the problem with this hemp is that it is rough with random irregularities that caused bulges in the finished line. that twine was listed as 20#. they also make an 8# but it only comes in much smaller rolls. I might try that to see how it compares in size.
I found a source for WHITE flax twine.
bad news:
it would cost double that of the cotton
so instead of $2/hank+$2/ply it would be $4/hank+$4/ply.
and, its probably a bit too big to make something that compares to the 1-ply i've been making.
why flax? well, its stronger than cotton by a few orders of magnitude.
stronger means I can possibliy make it smaller and closer to the original sizes of Belfast cord.
and isn't that what its really all about? ;)
Although, this may require that I "deconstruct" the yarn into smaller groups of threads, its a small price to pay for my craft. sure beats bleaching.
I also found a source for what is being called 2-ply natural flax twine. not much info on it but they are selling this stuff at the same cost as the cotton that i've been buying, which is approaching a miracle. its not white, but dang it sure is cheap for flax twine. I've got an inquiry in for more info on this stuff. There was no indication of the twine's size, the yardage on the spool or anything other than its weight. If it is small enough, I might be able to make some natural (lt brown) colored cord that is similar to the stuff that i've been making. My guess is that it would at least make a size cord similar to my 3-ply cotton, if not smaller. I'm waiting patiently for two different inquiries to be replied to. If it is available in the right size, im sure I could be convinced to bleach it. Between those two things, I think I've got a good chance of finding a suitable flax source that won't break anybody's bank. And, believe me, when you find stuff for $45 a pound it gets a little intimidating.
I just recently bought 4000 feet of ~1mm hemp twine. making a 1-ply line of this resulted in something very close to the 3-ply cotton. This hemp also seems to be made of 2 plies. the problem with this hemp is that it is rough with random irregularities that caused bulges in the finished line. that twine was listed as 20#. they also make an 8# but it only comes in much smaller rolls. I might try that to see how it compares in size.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Ok, once more on the diversion
I've got the first "finished" version of the rubberband gun complete and ready to deliver.
Except for the crate, its made of solid red oak, some metal "firing pins" and one brass threaded insert for attachment to a tripod (not included.) The stock and barrel-rotor are removable and held in place with wooden pins so that it can be fit into the crate. I hope to figure out a relatively cheap way to make a wooden tripod that will work with future versions.
"The Crate". Pine, screws and rope handles. Modled after old ammo crates.
All packed away.
I didn't load the rubberbands on for the pictures because, as fun as it is to shoot them all off, it gets old loading them. Besides, I didn't have anyone to use for target practice. Honestly, it only takes about 1/2 to 1 hour to load them, but like I said, its sure is alot of fun to shoot them all off.
Except for the crate, its made of solid red oak, some metal "firing pins" and one brass threaded insert for attachment to a tripod (not included.) The stock and barrel-rotor are removable and held in place with wooden pins so that it can be fit into the crate. I hope to figure out a relatively cheap way to make a wooden tripod that will work with future versions.
"The Crate". Pine, screws and rope handles. Modled after old ammo crates.
All packed away.
I didn't load the rubberbands on for the pictures because, as fun as it is to shoot them all off, it gets old loading them. Besides, I didn't have anyone to use for target practice. Honestly, it only takes about 1/2 to 1 hour to load them, but like I said, its sure is alot of fun to shoot them all off.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
And now for something completely different...
I've got to do something when it gets rainy, so I've taken up this little woodworking project.
I had seen other similar things online, but they cost in the $400 range. I knew I could do it myself for alot less.
12 rotating barrels with 19 bands per barrel comes to a neat 228 shot capacity that fires as fast as you can crank the handle. That's the prototype I made from pine scraps iand half a broken rolling pin I had in the shop. It doesn't have a handle yet. I showed some guys at work and one offered to buy one. Im making that one a bit nicer out of some red oak and a light finish. The nicer version will have a handle and a removable shoulder "stock" for support. Rather than use screws, I'll join it all with glued dowels. its going to be rather nice if it comes out looking half as good as I think it will.
I thought I might make another one and put it on ebay to see what it goes for. that $400 version at www.backyardartillery.com only shoots 144 bands, is as big as a bus and requires the use of a tripod. If those are selling enough to keep it listed, surely I can sell a few of these for less than half of that. I don't know if I can get one ready for ebay in time for christmas, but its worth a try. If anyone wants one or knows someone that would, just email me and I'm sure we can work something out. ;)
I had seen other similar things online, but they cost in the $400 range. I knew I could do it myself for alot less.
12 rotating barrels with 19 bands per barrel comes to a neat 228 shot capacity that fires as fast as you can crank the handle. That's the prototype I made from pine scraps iand half a broken rolling pin I had in the shop. It doesn't have a handle yet. I showed some guys at work and one offered to buy one. Im making that one a bit nicer out of some red oak and a light finish. The nicer version will have a handle and a removable shoulder "stock" for support. Rather than use screws, I'll join it all with glued dowels. its going to be rather nice if it comes out looking half as good as I think it will.
I thought I might make another one and put it on ebay to see what it goes for. that $400 version at www.backyardartillery.com only shoots 144 bands, is as big as a bus and requires the use of a tripod. If those are selling enough to keep it listed, surely I can sell a few of these for less than half of that. I don't know if I can get one ready for ebay in time for christmas, but its worth a try. If anyone wants one or knows someone that would, just email me and I'm sure we can work something out. ;)
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Production back to "normal"
Well, for about the last four months we've been trying to get ourselves licenced to foster or adopt.
We recently completed the process and our agency wasted no time in bringing us a beautiful new baby.
Now that the time consuming part is out of the way, I should be able to get back to producing cordage on a more regular schedule which is still basically Saturdays. As soon as I can get one or more of my sons on board with helping out, I would probably be able to reach my theoretical maximum of 2400' per day.
We recently completed the process and our agency wasted no time in bringing us a beautiful new baby.
Now that the time consuming part is out of the way, I should be able to get back to producing cordage on a more regular schedule which is still basically Saturdays. As soon as I can get one or more of my sons on board with helping out, I would probably be able to reach my theoretical maximum of 2400' per day.
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