natural string material

[ed]

Ok guys the question was asked. Who knows where to get any, and/or how to make it.

I am personally interested in the Irish bootmakers linen thread to start with, but may be tempted to get further into making if there is any experience to draw upon here.

[Steven J]

Can be purchased from Birdsalls Leather in Botany NSW. Be prepared to hand over some serious cash.

Steve

[waynerob]

I found it was cheaper to get it direct from the factory in Ireland on eBay. The stuff I have is way too fine for stringmaking, it needs to be made into 4 or 6 ply for leather sewing.

I thought the original string material was ramie (from nettles) rather than flax.

[jape]

You can find it easily enough with internet searches amongst bead suppliers for jewellery who sometimes carry it. My dial-up is a bit slow at the moment or I would do it for you.
I think hide strings would be cheaper, I am going to try that sometime.

[ed]

don't know about nettles. Thought that the Flemish made their strings out of Irish linen thread.

[jape]

This is 8m lengths of linen thread in hanks that looks suitable for string making if twisted or plaited

http://www.embroideryden.com.au/20048.htm

lefflers are a leather workers suppliers, check here
http://www.leffler.com.au/saddlery/threads.htm#
this is 7 ply natural linen

as btw they also have leather thonging

I am also looking for a nepalese nettle fibre thread supplier I used to know of, will let you know when my craft making friends get back to me with contact details for it.

[jape]

below, Leffler's reply: For comparison.

Hi there,
Prices vary from shipment to shipment, so we don’t have a price list.
You can call us on 1800 337 006 or 03 9090 4500 for (current) prices

7 cord waxed (linen) thread (natural colour) is currently on order and only available on big spools (500g) priced at approx $79.50

We have smaller spools of 7 cord in brown only priced at $26.25.

Prices do not include gst

[perry]

I have made a number of strings from linen and rawhide . I have found that it's best to make a single loop flemish twist string and tie the other end on with a timber hitch when using linen as it;s much easier to get even string tension this way , even one strand overstrained or loose is a recipe for string failure .

Rawhide is an excellant string material . Lazy way is to by precut kangaroo rawhide lacing from a specialist leather supply shop , cut 6 lengths of rawhide about half again longer than your bow to be very safe , form 2 bundles of 3 , soak them in water for 1 hour , hang them up with a weight suspended off each bundle of 3 and twist them into a cord , secure so they do not untwist with the weight to keep them tight - allow to dry . Then repeat with the 2 cords for a surprisingly strong durable stretch free string .

Alternativly cut lacing from a circular piece of rawhide . Depending on the quality , weight used etc you may have to play with the rawhide lacing width to get a suitable thickness string . You can timber hitch both ends or flemish twist one end depending on the thickness of your cords .

regards Perry

[jape]

http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/ ... tring.html

[woodie]

i got some linen thread from spotlight for binding feathers onto my shafts, that might be alright to make shrings with.