This is Classic Marlinspike Knotwork tied around a 13½” destroyer style stainless steel wheel. This traditional finish bonds the knotwork in place. 3 ply coach whipping encompasses the entire wheel and decorative turks-head knots highlight the matching tarred center cap.
This is my first wheel wrap and I’m already looking forward to doing the next. Quality Pine Tar mixtures can provide a gorgeous color palette ranging from near golden in color to pitch black (literally). This rich chocolate color is on the dark end of the scale and may become darker yet with a varnish. I’ll post any changes as they come but for now I’m enjoying this traditional finish.
I found (at least for me), I can tie multi-ply standing turkheads heads faster if I back groups of strands with tape. The weave results looks a little more consistent too. Essentially, the knot is tied then a second pass is made with a flat plastic strip (fid) which helps peel off the tape. This process works for braiding as well. More on this topic later. Pics below:
I offer a variety of ropework services. This includes fancywork for restaurants, bars, signs, boats and docks. Other services include handle wraps for tools, splice work, coachwhipping and other items such bellropes, lanyards, fenders, sailors rugs and more.
I use 17th century preservation techniques natural and synthetic rope. This is what gives my work a classic nautical look and feel. Interested? See what’s for sale or Contact me here.
Monkey’s fist gate latch installation using a wonky old monkey’s fist that a good friend liked.
Here it is! All that I’ve been waiting for! It’s my handwrought cargo net! YouTube video and showcase pics here; build pics and details below.
I built a jig to make this net before finishing the net to form on the bike. The jig was made to avoid hours spent hunched over while knotting and working the net into shape. It worked for the most part but I still spent a lot of time hunched over the bike :)
The bottom of the net is supported by a polycarbonate sheet which was cut to shape and sanded using an oscillating saw. The sheet gives the net form and protects the speed controller from the elements. I used some angle iron to position the saw for a 45° bevel edge.
The last of the modifications turns a collapsible milk crate into a second person seat. This project is still in progress. I want to make a better seat cushion. It’s plenty roomie for an averaged sized adult. More on this later.
The following are some photos from out and about :) Cheers!
This is a 1 inch climbing rope made from cotton and nylon. It was made for Knockerball N’ Ninjas exercise course. This piece was made with knots used by the marlinespike sailors who spent countless hours at sea working up rope and a took me a couple weeks to study and build. The original rope was unlaid, spliced, seized, wormed, served and then hand-laid from top to bottom starting with a Mathew Walker and ending with a Diamond and Crown knot. The knots in between are a footrope knots and were used to prevent a sailor’s feet from slipping when setting the sails. Turk’s head coverings were made to help prevent wear and add color.
25ft of rope made about 8ft of climbing rope when completed. If I had to remake this piece I would forego cotton for a synthetic alternative and consider splicing Turk’s heads in lieu of the footrope knots.
