Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Tom et al~
As you know, I tend to tie Turk's Heads around any pole, staff, stick or shaft that's not nailed down. I have always relied on the instructions in Hervey Gerritt Smith's Marlinspike Sailor. However, neither Mr. Smith - nor any of the several other sources I scoured on the interwebs - would reveal the secret of how much line (twine, ciord, etc) to use. It is frustrating to manipulate too much line when tying such a complex and time-consuming bit of ropework - but even worse if you come up a few inches short in the bottom of the ninth.... It is nice to know at the beginning how much line you really need.
So, a year or so ago I took careful measurements before and after tying a bunch of Turk's Heads. The actual length varies depending upon both the diameter of the shaft AND the diameter of the line. However, what does not vary is the number of wraps (revolutions around the shaft). I discovered the secret...presumably wrote it down....but could not find it. Simply remembering the magic number - a routine memory task in earlier years - is beyond my current memory storage capacity. So, with a bunch of assorted shafts and lines at the ready, the R&D staff here at Pencil Brook Boatworks repeated the 2019 experiments....
View attachment Turks Head - line length.JPG
I cut my lines 15 wraps long - then burn each end. I keep a special leather-palmed glove near my torch for this purpose. Once the nylon or Dacron or polyester is melted, I quickly roll the end between my fingers to form a point of sorts. Thus greatly aids the task of repeatedly poking the end through the ever-more complex Turk's Head.
I will soon be posting about a pickup stick I just made - but I knew Tom was planning to tie a Turk's Head or 2 - so I thought I would get this info out. Keep it in a safe place so you can tell me when forget....
BTW: When using cotton twine I wrap the ends with masking tape.
All the best,
SJS
As you know, I tend to tie Turk's Heads around any pole, staff, stick or shaft that's not nailed down. I have always relied on the instructions in Hervey Gerritt Smith's Marlinspike Sailor. However, neither Mr. Smith - nor any of the several other sources I scoured on the interwebs - would reveal the secret of how much line (twine, ciord, etc) to use. It is frustrating to manipulate too much line when tying such a complex and time-consuming bit of ropework - but even worse if you come up a few inches short in the bottom of the ninth.... It is nice to know at the beginning how much line you really need.
So, a year or so ago I took careful measurements before and after tying a bunch of Turk's Heads. The actual length varies depending upon both the diameter of the shaft AND the diameter of the line. However, what does not vary is the number of wraps (revolutions around the shaft). I discovered the secret...presumably wrote it down....but could not find it. Simply remembering the magic number - a routine memory task in earlier years - is beyond my current memory storage capacity. So, with a bunch of assorted shafts and lines at the ready, the R&D staff here at Pencil Brook Boatworks repeated the 2019 experiments....
View attachment Turks Head - line length.JPG
I cut my lines 15 wraps long - then burn each end. I keep a special leather-palmed glove near my torch for this purpose. Once the nylon or Dacron or polyester is melted, I quickly roll the end between my fingers to form a point of sorts. Thus greatly aids the task of repeatedly poking the end through the ever-more complex Turk's Head.
I will soon be posting about a pickup stick I just made - but I knew Tom was planning to tie a Turk's Head or 2 - so I thought I would get this info out. Keep it in a safe place so you can tell me when forget....
BTW: When using cotton twine I wrap the ends with masking tape.
All the best,
SJS
