How To make Hemp rope
- Thread starter cooker06
- Start date
Everything I remember about hemp (or, think I do!) is way back from many moons ago! I've really forgotten all the technical names, but I think I can paint you a picture with words.
I was curious how you grow hemp and then turn it into rope- fuel- or other resources?
I mean how do you get it from plant to rope?
Thank you
Don't remember much about how it's grown except that it's kind of crowded close together to make it stretch towards the sunlight.
The stalks and branches are fed into a press (I think it's called a "Hempbrake") to crush the pulpy structure that holds the fiber together. This would be a lot like running celery through a "wringer", the sticks all come out limp and soft - but the "strings " are still loosely holding together.
The next step is like a "Cotton Gin", a mechanical devise that strips away all the fibers and arranges them so that they are all aligned in the same direction.
Next the fibers go into a "Spinning Machine" that turns out a real loose kind of twine about 1/8" thick (it's almost like a "yarn"). Several of these "twines" can be twisted tighter and wrapped around each other to make various sizes of rope.
Canvass is made in a similar way. Except that instead of spinning the fiber into 1/8" twine, just a few fibers are spun into a "heavy thread". Which is then woven into the tough fabric. Canvass takes it's name from "Canabiss", I think it's Dutch or something! Fine Hemp cloth is also made in a similar way. Except only the smaller, finer, fibers are used and the resulting fabric is very soft and durable.