Starting a new, old hobby

[Lucifer]

I ordered a couple hundred feet of 3/4” hemp rope, some whipping twine and a marlin spike. I’m gonna make some monkey fist door stops and a couple boat bumpers. I used to make stuff like this when I was a kid, and it’s been about 20 years since the last time I made something. Looking forward to taking up a fun hobby that I really enjoyed.

Here’s links to what I’ll be making...

https://www.instructables.com/id/Boat-Fender-DIY/

https://www.charlestoncrafted.com/ho...fist-doorstop/

The doorstops are super easy to make and I could probably make and sell them for huge profit margin, but won’t.

What do you do to amuse yourself?

[What Exit?]

I made a few monkey fists but only for what I thought was their purpose. You tie a light line (a lead line) onto the monkey fist and throw the monkey fist like a baseball to get the line from ship to shore or vice-versa. Then you tie the heavy line onto the lead line and pull it over.

In my case it was for rigging shore power.

I spend too much time online lately. I need to do more active things.

[Glazer]

I love knot work. I've tied monkey fist, turk hats and lots of plats.

[SmartAleq]

Well, that looks like fun and also looks like DIY dog toys. Hemp floats, so a boat fender would make a great fetch toy for water.

[stormie]

OOh yes! Use organic hemp and sell 'em at Etsy!

[Jaglavak]

Originally Posted by Glazer

I love knot work. I've tied monkey fist, turk hats and lots of plats.

I've done a bit of that too.

[Random Precision]

Well, lately I've been braiding my extension cords and miscellaneous rope for storage. Not exactly on the same level, but more accessible to knot-challenged individuals.

[Solfy]

Ha! He totally crocheted that cord!

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by Random Precision

Well, lately I've been braiding my extension cords and miscellaneous rope for storage. Not exactly on the same level, but more accessible to knot-challenged individuals.

Why? Cords should just be gently hanked and hung up. What does braiding do except take long to undo? I mean I'm carefully with my Christmas lights, but that is very different and still not braiding.

[Random Precision]

The main reason I braid the cords is to make them easy to undo. You just untie one end, pull on the other and the whole thing slides apart.
Seriously - it will change your life.

[BJMoose]

There is a way to coil a cord that doesn't twist it along its length: the over/under technique. I started writing out a long description, but it makes more sense if you can see it done:



(You might want to watch it full screen. Just click on "YouTube" at the bottom of the box above. [You'll have to start the video first.] I didn't know that either until I tried it just now.)

The first time a particular cable is coiled is the hardest because the cable was shipped coiled the "usual" way, which twists the cable along its entire length and makes it misbehave. So you will have to untwist the cable the first few times as you coil it. But once you "train" the cable, it is (almost) a hassle free technique. (I have a hundred-foot power cable for the trimmer. To uncoil it I just lay it on its side, grab the "top" connector, and wander around the yard until it's played out.)

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by Random Precision

The main reason I braid the cords is to make them easy to undo. You just untie one end, pull on the other and the whole thing slides apart.
Seriously - it will change your life.

OK, if it solves a problem. A loose hank works really well. My cords don't tangle.

[Glazer]

To retrain a power cord to store in your preferred method. Stretch it out in a parking lot in full sun for a couple of hours. Then roll or braid the way you want it. Leave that lay in the sun as well. Then every time you roll it up it wants to go the way you want it to.

I like What Exit prefer a loose hank only I roll mine left-handed. Then use a Velcro strap with a caribiner to hang it from.

[Glazer]

Originally Posted by BJMoose

There is a way to coil a cord that doesn't twist it along its length: the over/under technique. I started writing out a long description, but it makes more sense if you can see it done:



(You might want to watch it full screen. Just click on "YouTube" at the bottom of the box above. [You'll have to start the video first.] I didn't know that either until I tried it just now.)

The first time a particular cable is coiled is the hardest because the cable was shipped coiled the "usual" way, which twists the cable along its entire length and makes it misbehave. So you will have to untwist the cable the first few times as you coil it. But once you "train" the cable, it is (almost) a hassle free technique. (I have a hundred-foot power cable for the trimmer. To uncoil it I just lay it on its side, grab the "top" connector, and wander around the yard until it's played out.)

This work really well with water hoses.

[kayaker]

Originally Posted by What Exit?

I made a few monkey fists but only for what I thought was their purpose. You tie a light line (a lead line) onto the monkey fist and throw the monkey fist like a baseball to get the line from ship to shore or vice-versa. Then you tie the heavy line onto the lead line and pull it over.

In my case it was for rigging shore power.

I spend too much time online lately. I need to do more active things.

I've made monkey fists to help toss boat lines. The ones I made had a big ball bearing as the core for extra weight.

When used as a weapon, it is called a slungshot and is illegal to carry in some states!

Carrying or attempting to use a slungshot is a felony in the states of California, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, and Michigan. It is a gross misdemeanor in the states of Nevada and Washington.

[BJMoose]

Originally Posted by Glazer

This works really well with water hoses.

Ayup.

[JackieLikesVariety]

so, this is what men do instead of knit or crochet?

[Glazer]

We play with our hose?

[BJMoose]

Which is why we're a bunch of hosers.

[C2H5OH]

Originally Posted by Solfy

Ha! He totally crocheted that cord!

HA! You're RIGHT!!! TOTALLY Crocheted! I wanted to cut a broomhandle into a crochet hook. But he did it with his fingers!

[Jaglavak]

The crochet method is better for long cords because it doesn't put a half twist in every loop. I only bother when I'm packing the pickup though. At the shack I just throw big loops over a wall hanger.

The over/under method is only worth the trouble for stuff that just plain won't twist, like wire rope or hydraulic hoses. For garden hoses I flake it out in a figure 8. The twists cancel out so it pulls out tangle-free. You can also do a figure 8 over a pair of old truck rims on a board, assuming you want a pair of old truck rims in your front yard.

[BJMoose]

Figure-8s work well, too, if you have the space for it. That's how TV studios dealt with excess 1 1/2" camera cables back in the day.

[C2H5OH]

You can do a figure 8 over your arm, too, and that's the proper way to coil braided climbing line, because you can then just hold one end and drop the rest over the edge and it uncoils w/out tangles as it falls.