Net making with Nylon cord

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Feb 10, 2010
13
0
yorkshire
Hi

Have always made nets from natural cordage as they hold a knot a lot better than synthetic fibres, however, after leaving one outside for a few months the sun and the rain have rotted some of the cords leaving me with big holes.

Experimented again with a small net made from twisted nylon cord, however, after a few days the knots just worked loose i.e. your classic sheet bend. Does anyone have experience of making nets with these more slippery synthetic fibres, have considered double knotting or perhaps you need to switch to a different knot with a new knitting technique?
 

gregorach

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 15, 2005
3,723
28
50
Edinburgh
I've made net bags from that cheap plastic garden "twine" with no problem - you just have to make sure that the knots are good ant tight to begin with. Haven't tried with twisted nylon though.
 

Neumo

Full Member
Jul 16, 2009
1,675
0
West Sussex
I am no expert but we were doing some netmaking at the Moot with Nylon cord & it was holding the knots well, provided that every knot was tied down properly. If the not was so that it did not hold onto itself, then it would slip. I am not having a go at your netmaking skills, just passing on what one of the instructors was saying when we discussed nylon cord. I guess it depends what type of cord you are using & we were using his expensive specialist netmaking stuff.
 

jdlenton

Full Member
Dec 14, 2004
3,002
7
50
Northampton
I was the instructor at the moot with the fancy string :) thanks Neumo i wish i could put a name to a face :)

It sounds strange that the knots are working loose a picture of the string would help a great deal in figuring out why this is happening.
I tie almost exclusively in polimer cords and have never had this problem, all you should need to do if your cord is off the three twist variety is make sure your knots are pulled down tight and not inverted this should be fine.

any other questions please ask.
cheers J*
 
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Doc

Need to contact Admin...
Nov 29, 2003
2,109
10
Perthshire
It's good to see traditional crafts like netmaking still going on, but is it legal to actually use them?

I vaguely remember reading that nets used on inland waters must be 'knotless' by law.

It may be this restriction doesn't apply to saltwater though.
 

Neumo

Full Member
Jul 16, 2009
1,675
0
West Sussex
hi neumo it was nice to meet at the moot regards dave

Nice to meet you as well, Dave. I learned so much I must sit down & plan some projects to use it all...

I enjoyed the netmaking & will be having another go at te weekend, now that I have gought some string. I want to buy one of the modern plastic needle things as that looked a lot easier to use although I will be carving some more wooden net needles, as that was fun.
 
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Bushwhacker

Banned
Jun 26, 2008
3,882
8
Dorset
It's good to see traditional crafts like netmaking still going on, but is it legal to actually use them?

I vaguely remember reading that nets used on inland waters must be 'knotless' by law.

It may be this restriction doesn't apply to saltwater though.

I think that the knotless net laws apply to fishing 'keep' nets mainly used by pleasure anglers for holding the days catch before release. It's all micro mesh nowadays
Knotted mesh tangles their fins and can remove scales opening them up for infection.

You can also use netting as Fox nets, rabbit nets, cargo nets and probably a load of other stuff.
 

asemery

Settler
Aug 11, 2005
557
285
82
Pennsylvania
pineapple.myfunforum.org
The double sheet bend
images

is used for slippery material such as nnylon. A nice alternative is shown in this link from the "Nets and Net Making" forum
http://pineapple.myfunforum.org/about1370.html
You could also try bonded nylon that has a slightly tacky covering that does not need the double sheet bend. Spun nylon is also a nice alternative.
Explore the entire "Nets and Net Making" forum for other ideas . Tony
http://pineapple.myfunforum.org/about1370.html
 
Feb 10, 2010
13
0
yorkshire
Hi

From other peoples success with synthetic fibres it must be the cord im using. Got a big reel of the stuff from B&Q, with hindsight should of tested how well it would hold a knot before buying. Even a simple overhand knot pulled as tight as you can will work loose given time, I guess the tension in the fibres pull the knot apart, combined with the natural slippyness of nylon. As you probably guessed was looking for a way to avoid buying more cord :)

As always thanks all for the words of advice.
 

andy_e

Native
Aug 22, 2007
1,742
0
Scotland
A couple of years ago when Mors Kochanski was over he was teaching net-making with what I think was nylon blinds cord, about 2mm thick - it worked well, the texture held the knots well if you cinched them tightly enough.
 

dave t

Member
Jan 9, 2010
13
0
oldham
i think asemerys right i always used double sheetbend with no problem on the nylon you could buy at game fair in the 70s 80s when i made my own netsknots sliped with a normal bend best of luck and keep making goingmate
 

pango

Nomad
Feb 10, 2009
380
6
69
Fife
I've used old fly line backing for years, maybe 1.5 mm, for making landing nets, etc, as it doesn't rot, is immensely strong and virtually indestructible. So far as the fly line backing is concerned, I normally double the knots up, as they will loosen with repeated soaking and drying out.

I used to have a bobbin of brown synthetic wool-like material I was given by someone who worked in a spinning mill. If I remember, it was called Forgerty, or something. The bobbin supplied me with twine for over 10 years worth of pouch nets for ferreting. It was brilliant stuff, compact, supple and durable.

I've also used up to 1/4" polyprop for nets for varying tasks at work, which HSE would have a serious issue with nowadays as proficiency in such skills has fallen out of fashion. There are a surprising number of people working offshore who call themselves Riggers and can't even tie the simplest of knots! Knots are seen as something they don't need to know and if that isn't an accident waiting to happen, I don't know what is!

Cheers.
 

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