.. 100 lbs. to 250 lbs.
Bark Fibre .. .. .. .. .. .. 500 lbs. to 1,500 lbs.
Palm Fibre .. .. .. .. .. .. 650 lbs. to 2,000 lbs.
Sedges .. .. .. .. .. 2,000 lbs. to 2,500 lbs.
Monkey Rope (Lianas) .. .. 560 lbs. to 700 lbs.
Lawyer Vine (Calamus) .. .. ½ inch dia. 1,200 lbs.
Double the diameter quadruples the breaking strain.
Halve the diameter, and you reduce the breaking strain to one fourth.
PRINCIPLES OF ROPE MAKING MATERIALS
To discover whether a material is suitable for rope making it must have four qualities.
It must be reasonably long in the fibre.
It must have ‘strength.’
It must be pliable.
And it must have ‘grip’ so that the fibres will ‘bite’ onto one another.
There are three simple tests to find if any material is suitable.
First pull on a length of the material to test it for strength. The second test, to be applied if it has strength, is to twist it between the fingers and ‘roll’ the fibres together; if it will stand this and not ‘snap’ apart, tie a thumb knot in it, and gently tighten the knot.
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