Making Nets. What twine and where to buy?

[Kitharode]

I'm getting ready to start having a go at net making. I've watched some videos and bought a book, got me some needles and mesh bits, but I'm unsure about what twines to get. My aim (eventually) is to make small carry bags and pouches, but I'm looking to start with non-complicated square nets just to get going (and for fun) and maybe make a hide in my tree patch for wildlife watching. I've heard that nylon can be tough on the hands and fingers, but good for outdoor nets. Hemp apparently easier to work with, but can't live outside. There's also some plasticky stuff (?)

If I wanted to buy three rolls (reels, spools) to mess around with, what would you suggest?

 

[Robson Valley]

The common "net twine" here is #18 tarred nylon. Black. Not much comes off on your hands at all.
To dry-haft adze blades, I have to pull so hard that the steel eventually sits down so I wear leather gloves.

A 1lb/454g spool is more than 300m/1,000' of cord. Excellent whipping to finish tool handles as well.
I buy mine from the bladesmith, KestrelTool. I'll guess that any sea-side ship's chandler would be a stockist.

 

[Monikieman]

Not realted in any way but this guy is great for stuff. Good material, great vids.

https://www.fourteenacre.co.uk/agouti-nets-purse-nets-long-nets-poke-nets/

 

[Toddy]

If you haven't actually done it before, then don't waste money. Away to the pound stores and buy one of their packs of twine. The stuff for the garden. It works very well indeed for netting, and it's so cheap, and there's a lot on a roll, that you'll not mind so much when you get fankled in it and have to dispose of it. I have sat and unpicked a net, it's a right royal footer of a job, and rather discouraging.

When you're up to speed, you need to make up your mind whether you want biodegradable or something man-made and persistent.
If it's the latter then the ropeworks are probably your best bet. Or the fishing chandlers…see down this page….
http://www.coastalnets.co.uk/fishing_05.htm

If there's not one near, then ebay can be your friend
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spun-poly...hash=item3f306d37e6:m:mAy-RXTi_IUAV082gzdxNow

If you want natural, and not cotton, then this stuff is superb,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UPHOLSTER...hash=item2c62f27d04:m:m4DAqtnowtVvMSV9-3CIw-g

and this stuff is sommat else
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1x-BARBOU...205275?hash=item1c621dd01b:g:26UAAOSwG-1WzvQV


Netting's fun, it's incredibly useful and a very practical skill to have

M