Little skill is needed to make a comfortable, thatched, weatherproof hut using only material locally available.
Such huts can be expected to have a useful service life of 4 to 6 years without maintenance. With maintenance, such as renewing lashings, and repairs to ridge thatch, the life is anything up to 20 years.
Where rammed earth is used for walls, the life of the structure is indeterminate. Many earth wall buildings have stood undamaged for hundreds of years.
The building of a thatched hut from local materials is a creative exercise. Design must provide for the anticipated weather conditions. Finding suitable materials almost anywhere presents no problem, but considerable organisation may be required to collect the material. For the actual structure and thatching, good teamwork is required.
The final hut, with its promise of long periods of protection and shelter, is the result of combination of head work and hands. With this comes the inward reward of having created a weather-proof hut out of nothing except the natural materials garnered from the surrounding area.
Thatched Huts
The making of huts and shelters for occasional or continuous rise from exclusively local materials and without the aid of any man-made equipment is not difficult. In place of nails, lashings, either of vine, bark strips or other fibrous material are used. Framework is of round poles. Weatherproof roofing is provided by thatching with long grass, ferns, reeds, palm leaves, sea weeds, bark sheets, split shingles or even sods of clayey turf.The material you will use depends on what there is in your vicinity. The shape, size and details of your hut are governed by the length of your occupation; the number of people that have to be sheltered; the local climactic conditions against which you want shelter; and, of course, the time available for construction.
If there are one or two to be sheltered for a few nights only in a temperate climate, a simple lean-to thatched shelter will suffice and this can be built in one to three hours, but if there are eight or ten in your party and they require shelter for a few months against cold and bad weather, then a semi-permanent hut complete with doors, windows, and a fireplace for heating, and built-in bunks will be required, and to do this properly might take two or three days.
It is assumed that a good knife, hatchet or axe is available and that the workers are willing. The structures shown here are merely examples of what can be done. When it comes to planning your hut, you are your own architect and your own builder. If there are several people in the party, organise the labour so that no hands are idle - have one or two fellows cutting poles, another carrying them to the site, a fourth stripping bark for lashings, and set the others gathering material for thatching.
Collect all the material for your structure before you start to build, stack it in orderly piles where it will be most convenient. Your main structure poles in one pile; your battens for thatching in another pile; your bark strips or vines shredded down for immediate use; and your thatching material neatly stacked in several piles close to the work.
When you are ready to start building, have every man on the site. Organise the labour of erection of the main framework, and then break your team up into small gangs for lashing on battens and completing details of framework. By this means you will save hours of labour and you will succeed in building a better hut.
There is nothing to it really, except intelligence. Plan and organise to keep everybody's fingers busily engaged.
Design
There are three main designs of huts: a simple lean-to hut, suitable for fine warm weather; an enclosed pyramidal hut, suitable for cold, inclement conditions; and a long hut, which if open is suitable for mild climates, or if completely walled is suitable for cold conditions.
Refinements such as doors (yes, doors that swing on hinges) and windows may be added to suit your pleasure. And when your hut is completed, then there is the all important matter of furnishing it - but first let us look at what the backwoods man can build for his new season camp.
Sectional Lean-To Huts
Small one and two man lean-to huts can be easily constructed in an hour or two by making and thatching two or three frames which are from 7' to 9' [2.1 to 2.7 m] in length and 3' 6" to 4' [1 to 1.2 m] deep.
These frames, built of battens, are lashed on to two fork sticks. The forks are in the form of hooks at the upper end. The framework for these one- or two-man shelters is simple to construct.
Note how top of top frame projects forward beyond fork and ridge. This protects front frame, and saves the work of ridge thatching. If raised bunks are being put in, it is advisable to have bottom of thatch about 1' 6" to 2' [45 to 60 cm] above ground. This raises ridge height 1' [30 cm] to 1' 6" [45 cm] and side poles become 10' to 11' [3 to 3.3 m] instead of 8' to 9' [2.4 to 2.7 m].
Permanent Lean-To Huts
The permanent lean-to hut using a tree for bracing is simple and quick to erect.
The ridge pole is raised against the tree by means of the two end forked poles to the required height, between eight to ten feet, depending on the width. The end forked poles should be at an angle of not less than 45°. If the length of ridge is more than 10' to 12' [3 to 3.6 m], it is advisable to put in another one or two forked poles about halfway along.
On to the end forked poles lash a crossbar ("A") and lash it again to the upright tree. This crossbar has lashed to its front end a pole ("B") connecting and lashed to the ridge, and also the front eaves pole ("C") , and also the front thatching battens.
Thatching battens are lashed on to the two rear forks. The distance apart for the thatching battens varies: it may be anything from 6" to 12" [15 to 30 cm], depending on the length of thatching material being used. A general guide is that battens should be distant about one-fourth of the average length of the thatching material.
An upright in the form of a light folk may be placed under the front corners to the front eave pole. Wall thatch battens are lashed horizontally from the rear forked poles to this upright to wall in the ends of the hut. Wall pegs are driven in along the rear at whatever height is required and to these wall pegs thatching battens are also lashed.
Forked poles should he not less than 3" to 4" [7.5 to 10 cm] in diameter; thatching battens from 1" to 2" [2.5 to 5 cm]; ridge pole about 3" to 4" [7.5 to 10 cm].
Use dry timber or dead timber wherever possible. It is lighter to handle and its use avoids destruction of the bush. When making wall pegs bevel off the head - they will then drive into the ground without splitting.
Pyramidal Huts
The pyramidal hut, having a square base, is particularly useful where it is desired to make the fullest possible use of wall and floor space.
The construction is very much the same for a circular hut except for the intermediate poles. Erection time is considerably less for the pyramidal hut. In this type of hut it is more efficient, when lashing on thatching battens, to make one lashing at each corner to secure the two thatching battens, and when the span between fork holes becomes 6' [1.8 m] or less to lash only to the corner poles, omitting the lashing to the intermediate poles. If the span between corner poles is greater than 6' [1.8 m] it is necessary to lash battens to the intermediate poles.
Long Hut
The end portion of this structure is basically the same as one-half section of the pyramid hut.
The length can be extended to any required distance by prolonging the ridge pole and using additional supporting fork poles. If the ridge is extended and in two or more lengths, these should be lashed together, and it is advisable to notch the ridge so it will sit snugly in the interlocking forks.
Wall pegs are driven in at a convenient wall height and thatching battens are lashed down. Refinements such as "lift up" sections for light and ventilation can be added if required.
Step By Step Construction Of A Circular Hut
Poles And Structures
All slopes to be completely waterproof should be not less than 45° (although a 40° slope will shed water). A slope that is 45° is useful and will give good headroom. To work out the most efficient size of poles for the main structure it is advisable to discover first the length of pole required and then the approximate diameter, excluding bark. It will be found that the proportion of spread to pole length at 45° slope is as 4 to 3 between base of poles.
Example: If spread at base of poles is 20' [6 m], then pole length to ridge or crown of hut will be 15' [4.5 m]. This proportion is constant and wall space or height is not allowed for in the calculations. In general, a wall height of 3' to 4' [0.9 to 1.2 m] is sufficient.
Diameter of timber inside bark can be roughly calculated by allowing a minimum of 1" [2.5 cm] diameter at butt for each 4' to 5' [1.2 to 1.5 m] of length. Thus, if a pole is 10' [3 m] in length, the diameter of wood clear of bark at butt should be not less than 2½" [6.5 cm] or, if the pole is 20' [6 m] long, the diameter at butt should be not less than 5" [12.5 cm].
If the span is relatively wide, or the timber used relatively light, it is advisable to strengthen the structure and prevent sagging or inward bending of the main poles by putting cross ties or collar ties so that the thrust or weight is thrown from one pole on to the pole opposite.
Bracing
Similarly with bracings, if long huts or lean-to type of huts are being built and there is no strong support, such as a growing tree, it is advisable to lash in diagonal braces that extend if possible from ground at one end to ridge at the other end. These bracings will make even a light hut quite storm-proof.
Doors And Windows
Refinements such as doors and windows are completely practical in thatch huts, and very little extra work is involved. Windows are simply two (or three) fork sticks cut off short below the fork and with one long end projecting.
Thatch battens are lashed to these fork sticks and the framework is lifted up and hung on to one of the thatch battens of the hut. In the general thatching of the hut this window space beneath the windows is left unthatched and the window frame is thatched as a complete unit. It is advisable to leave the window frame rather wider than the opening. It can be propped open at the bottom and still preserve a fair slope. If the window is very wide it is advisable to use three fork sticks. There should be at least six inches overlap of the window and roof thatch at the sides. The loose ends of the thatching above the window frames should be allowed to come directly on to the window thatch, and should completely cover sewing of the top thatching of the window frame.
Doors, if required, are similar to the gate frame shown, but with two uprights lashed across the fork. To these two uprights the horizontal thatching battens are secured.
Tree Swinging Shelter
In swampy country, or in areas which are badly snake infested, a very simple swinging bunk can be made by one man in a day.
The forked frame stick must be very strong, both at the fork on the tree and at the main juncture. Either a cane or vine loop or a hook may be used at the top section. It is also advisable to have a vine or cane rope from the extreme end of the main frame to as high up in the tree as it is practical to reach for additional suspension.
The frame poles for thatch battens are lashed separately with a square lashing to the bottom of the forked frame stick, and, in order to give rigidity, a short cross stick is lashed horizontally to each of the opposite sides of the frame poles.
When thatching, thatch one row on one side, and then the row on the opposite side. This will help to strengthen the framework and keep it correctly balanced.
The bunk is made separately.
The main frame of the bunk is simply four poles lashed together to form a rectangle about 3' by 7' [0.9 by 2.1 m]. The space between the poles to form the bunk proper can be either woven or made with crossed sticks as for the camp bed.
Thatching Materials
Materials suitable for thatching range from long grass, reeds, rushes; most of the long stalked ferns, such as bracken, etc.; palm leaves of all types, and, as a last resource, many pliant leafy branches.
Long grass and reeds are most satisfactory when used dry or partly dry. It is advisable if you are going to use these materials to cut and stook them first so that they may get a chance to season before being used on the roof.
There are two good reasons for this: first is that in drying out most of these materials, if green and exposed to hot sun, tend to shrink on one side and turn and curl in shrinking, so reducing the coverage value for thatching. The other is the general tendency of all green materials to shrink, and therefore the thatching stitches become loose, and the thatch may slip from the stitches and be blown away in the first breeze.
When the materials are well seasoned the stitches will not slacken because there is very little shrinkage, and the thatch will stay down securely.
With most of the bracken ferns it is advisable to thatch with the material green, and sew it down very tightly. This also applies if you are forced by circumstances to use green branches. These do not make a very efficient thatch and their use is not recommended except in emergency.
In a general way, the use of bracken and reeds for thatching is doing a very good service to the land generally. Bracken is injurious to cattle, and reeds choke watercourses, so that removing these two pests and putting them to practical use is quite a good thing to do.
If blanches of trees or shrubs are to be used, seek out a dead branch with some of the leaves still on it. Shake the branch. If the leaves immediately fall from it, the material is almost useless and will only serve you for a day or so. If the leaves withstand this shaking, the plant will probably serve your purpose fairly effectively. Some trees and shrubs drop their leaves within a few hours of being cut. Such are useless.
The palm leaves are best used for thatching when they are dead. You will find great quantities lying under the palms and these are excellent material. They may be brittle and inclined to break if you start collecting them in the middle of a hot summer day.
The best time to collect dead palm for your thatching is either early in the morning when the leaves are softened by the overnight dew, or after rain. It is always advisable to wet the leaves down before you start sewing them on the thatching battens. This damping down softens the brittle leaves, makes them lie flat, and ensures that you get a better coverage.
Thatching Methods
There are almost as many different methods of thatching as there are different materials. Each different method has its own peculiar advantage and applications for certain types of material.
The methods you are most likely to find of use are either to sew the thatch on to the thatch battens, which is called "Sewn Thatching" or to tuft the material on in bundles, which, appropriately, is called "Tuft Thatching".
Instead of sewing on to the battens you may find it more convenient to tie a pliant stick on to the thatching batten at convenient intervals, using the pressure of this stick tightly tied to the thatch batten to hold the thatch material secure. This is called "Stick Thatching".
There are also several methods by which the thatching materials may be secured to the thatching battens on the ground, and these thatching battens are then laid on to the framework, overlapping like long tiles.
Or with some of the palms the palm stalk itself may be used either as the thatch batten, or to hold the palm leaf itself in the desired position. All these methods are self explanatory, and briefly dealt with in the following text.
Principles Of Watershed In Thatching
Thatching may be either for shade or to give protection against rain. Thatching for shade presents no problems. If the thatch is thick enough to break up the sun's rays, that is all that is required.
Thatching for protection against rain or, under certain conditions, wind, will be effective only if certain principles are observed. It is interesting to watch the behaviour of drops of water on thatch. The drops run down the topmost strands, until they come to the very end of the blade of grass or other material. There the drop gathers size and, when it is big enough, and heavy enough, it falls off and on to the blade immediately beneath.
If the stitching interrupts the smooth continued course of the water droplets, then the water will follow the stitching because it is at a steeper angle. It will creep along the stitch and when it reaches the lowest point, on the underside of the thatching batten, the drop will gradually build up until it becomes too heavy to remain on the sewing material. Then you will complain that the "thatching leaks". Thatch will never leak if the stitching is properly covered.
It is this quality of "coverage" rather than thickness which makes a thatch waterproof. Windproofing lies largely in the "tightness" and thickness of the thatching.
Sewn Thatching
Stitch at bottom of first thatch on lowest thatching batten. The second layer must overlay the stitching of the first row and include the top section of the underneath layer in the actual stitch. It is better to have each layer held by three rows of stitching. The stitching of every row must be completely covered by the free ends of the next layer above it.
To sew thatching make a thatching needle by cutting a dead, straight grained stick 1" [2.5 cm] thick and about 18" [45 cm] long. Sharpen one end and rub it fairly smooth on a stone. Narrow the other end till it is about ¼" [6 mm] thick, but the full width of the stick. This end should be flattened for about 3" [7.5 cm].
About two inches from the end cut an eye carefully through the flat side. This eye should be about ¼" [6 mm] wide and at least ½" [12 mm] long.
Lay the thatching material with the butts towards the roof and the lower end on the lowest batten. Secure one end of the sewing material with a timber hitch to the thatching batten, thread the other end through the eye of the thatching needle and sew in the ordinary manner to the thatching batten. To avoid holes where the sewing may tend to bunch the thatching together, pass the needle through the thatch at the angle indicated in the sketch and push thatch over the crossing of the stitches.
Stick Thatch
With this stick thatch, ties about 2' [60 cm] apart are fastened on to the thatching batten. The thatching stick is tied at one end, the thatching material placed under it, and when the tie, fixed on the thatching batten is reached, the stick is tied down, thus binding the thatching to the batten. This method of securing thatching is useful when long lengths of material for sewing are not readily available. The overlapping and general principles of sewn thatching are followed.
Tuft Thatching
This method is excellent if the material is fairly long, say, 2' or 3' [60 to 90 cm], and pliable. It is very suitable for reeds and sedges. The thatching material is gathered into small sheaves about 1" [2.5 cm] or so thick. The butt end is bent over the thatching batten, and a few strands are then twisted round the sheaf a few times and pushed till through the bunched up material to hold the end secure. The tuft is then slipped along the thatching batten to lie alongside the preceding tuft. This thatch makes a very neat job from inside. It is secure in all weather, and requires no tying material. If sedges or sword grasses are being used it is advisable to put a pair of socks or gloves on your hands to avoid cuts.
It is important that the long free ends overlap the two or three preceding rows. Do not push the tufts up too tight. There can be about ½" [12 mm] or more between the bent-over ends on the thatching battens. This open space will be covered by the free ends on the next row.
Stalk Thatch
This method is very quick to apply and quite efficient. It is suitable for either the plicate type of palm leaf (as shown above) or the pinnate type (shown below). The stalks are simply woven between the thatch battens. The natural bend forced on the stalks will exert sufficient pressure to hold the leaves securely in position. This is the quickest and easiest of all thatching methods, and quite efficient if the palm leaves are well bunched and l have a good overlap to give watershed.
Split Stalk Thatch
This thatch is particularly suitable for very long pinnate leaves. The centre rib of the palm frond is split. These split ribs are tied together and secured to the thatching battens with a good overlap. This method eliminates the need for thatching battens and is very efficient if suitable material is easily available.
Woven Thatch
If time permits and the materials are readily available, an alternative method to the split stalk thatch is the woven thatch. The pinnate fronds are laid flat on the ground and the leaves from one side are laid over and woven between the leaves on the other side. The entire stalk is then tied on to the framework, observing the same principle of overlap which applies to the other methods.
Sewn Batten Thatch
With other long, broad-leaved materials the leaves may be bent over sticks on the ground and a thin sliver of split cane or other suitable material used to sew the two sections of the leaves together. The sticks are then tied to the frame-work as for split stalk thatching This method is very neat and efficient for certain materials. If green material is to be used make certain that it will not curl as it dries out. Many grass materials will curl into thin strips, and the thatch will be almost ineffective. Dead material is generally best.
Ridge Thatching
In thatching the ridge it is essential to cover the stitching of the topmost row of thatching. If this stitching is covered there will be complete protection. If it is inadequately covered there will be a leak along the ridge.
The ridge thatch therefore must curl completely over the ridge pole or, better still, over a false ridge pole or, alternatively, it may stand up from the ridge and, if bound tightly, will make an efficient watershed. For pyramidal and circular huts this last is the most efficient method.
Sewn Ridge Thatching
With very long material two heavy poles may be slung on slings, so that they lie on either side and hold the outside edges of the ridge thatch material down.
Another method of thatching a ridge is to tie on two battens to the top of the topmost layer of thatching. The ends of the ridge thatching material sewn to these two battens must overhang the sewing of the topmost layer.
An alternative method is to sew the ridge material on to three poles, one of which acts as a false ridge, and the other two, which are sewn tightly, hang over the ridge some 12" or 18" [30 or 45 cm] on either side of the centre pole. This ridge thatch material can be sewn on the ground in lengths of from 6' to 12' [1.8 to 3.6 m]., and when the roof is ready for ridging these are laid over the actual ridge proper and the two side poles allowed to hang on either side, covering tile top layer of stitching.
Crown Ridge Thatch
A third method of ridge thatch is to make a "crown" and overlap this over the ends of the top layer of thatching.
Guttering
Under some conditions it may be necessary to put a "valley" in the roof, and this will require guttering. Efficient guttering can be made from wide sheets of bark inverted so that they lie with the hollow side in the valley. An alternative is the use of hollowed-out palm trunks or the extra-wide leaves of the plicate palms can be laid to overlap each other. Considerable care must be taken with this guttering if you are to have a watertight roof.
Flashing
There are occasions when flashing may be required. For instance, there may be a tree growing through the roof where the ridge pole is held up, or for some reason some of the structural poles or tree trunks may project through the roof thatch. When flashing is required, simply spin up a length of thin rope from grass or other soft fibrous material (see Bushcraft "Ropemaking") and bind thatching round the tree or pole. Continue the binding an inch or two above top of the thatching material. Make sure that it is tight and secure. The rain will run down the tree trunk, come to the flashing binding and, seeping over it, come on to the thatch, from where it is led by natural flow to the thatch of the roofing.
Rammed Earth
This method of building makes a permanent structure which is well insulated and low in cost. The only materials required for the walls are earth containing certain wide proportions of clay and sand or other gritty particles. The earth must also be free from organic materials such as grass, roots and the like.
Rammed earth buildings can either be built by erecting forms or by ramming earth in blocks (like large bricks) and laying these in courses.
Foundations and footings are made by setting large stones in clay in the foundation trench. Clay is in many ways better than concrete for rammed earth buildings, because it is impervious to moisture.
If concrete foundations are used, then it is necessary to put in a dampcourse, but with clay and stone no dampcourse is needed.
Foundations
The foundations (footings), as shown in the photograph, are large stones set in clay. The foundations extend from 6" to 9" [15 to 22.5 cm] above ground level. Foundation trench is 2' [60 cm] wide by 1' [30 cm] deep, and lined with at least 1" [2.5 cm] of clay. After laying the stones in the clay, they are rammed to make a firm bed.
The advantage of this method of laying foundations is that there is no cost, and the method is speedy.
One man can dig and lay 15' to 20' [4.5 to 6 m] of foundation in a day.
The foundation must extend above ground level so that in the event of very heavy rain the surface run-off will not reach to the rammed earth wall.
Soil Qualities For Rammed Earth
Any "heavy" loamy soil is suitable for rammed earth building. The soil must be just right for its moisture content. To find out the light "consistency", roll up a ball of the earth (about the size of a golf ball) between the palms and drop it from a height of about 1' [30 cm]. If the ball breaks up, the soil is too dry, and moisture must be added before ramming.
If the ball does not bleak from 1' [30 cm] high drop, then hold the ball above the head and drop it again. If the ball does not shatter into small fragments with a 6' or 7' [1.8 or 2.1 m] drop, then the soil is too moist and must be allowed to dry out before ramming.
The qualities in the soil are easily determined. There should be not more than 70 per cent sand, and not less than 30 per cent. There should be not more than 70 per cent clay and silt, and not less than 30 per cent.
To discover it the soil is all right for rammed earth work, take a glass tube ten inches long, or, alternatively, divide a glass tube into ten equal divisions. Dry some of the earth, crumble it to fine powder, and fill the tube. Take the exact quantity which was in the tube and put it into a billy or dish, and wash thoroughly in running water until all the clay and silt particles have been washed out. Dry the remainder and then put back into the tube. The level will tell you the approximate percentage of clayey content that was in the soil.
If the soil has too much clay it will crack; if too little clay or too much sand or organic matter it will crumble.
Forms
Forms can be made and bolted together, and in these earth can be rammed of, alternatively, moulds can be made and the earth rammed into these to form blocks, and these blocks are then laid in courses like large bricks.
If forms are used they need not be more than 2' or 3' [60 or 90 cm] high and 6' to 8' [1.8 to 2.4 m] long. The forms are held by bolts which, when tightened up, clamp the form to the wall.
When ramming, shovel in 3" or 4" [7.5 or 10 cm] of earth and ram until the earth "rings". This is quite a definite sound, unmistakable from the soft "thud thud" of the first ramming strokes.
Ramming is hard work, and tiring.
When the layer is "ringing", throughout its length, shovel in another 3" or 4" [7.5 or 10 cm] of soil, and repeat. Rammers should be from 6 to 8 lbs. [2.7 to 3.6 kg]. A hardwood base, about 4" x 4" x 10" [10 x 10 x 25 cm] long, handle maybe a 5' [1.5 m] length of gaspipe.
If moulds are used they must be of a design which can be quickly "knocked down" to remove the rammed earth block and as quickly re-assembled.
One man can fill and ram about 9 to 12 cubic feet [0.25 to 0.34 cubic meters] in a day.
Rammed earth walls should be at least 9" to 10" [22.5 to 25 cm] in thickness for an 8' [2.4 m] wall, or 12" to 15" [30 to 37.5 cm] if a top structure or greater height are required.
Rammed earth walls may be protected from driving rain either by providing a wide overhang to the eave, by plastering with a cement or lime mortar, or by giving a cement "skin" by brushing on a thick cement-sand mixture (one-to-two proportion). However, even without the cement skin, rammed earth will stand up to a hundred years or more of weather.
Log Cabins
Where timber is plentiful and white ants (termites) not prevalent and a structure of permanence is required, the Log Cabin is suitable. It is permanent, solid, and easy to build. The construction is simple. Cut your logs (which should be of roughly uniform diameter) to within a few inches of the required lengths. Lay the bed logs, which should be the heaviest logs. See that, these are laid square. Where the end logs lie across the back and front logs, halve or scarf the sites for the log.
The remainder of the construction follows exactly the same method. The logs are carved into each other.
Materials For Lashings
In bushcraft work it is assumed that no manufactured materials are available, and therefore in hut making lashing must be used when no nails are available. Rope, too, may be unprocurable, and it is their necessary to know what natural materials can be used and how.
For lashing, sewing, and tying, any ground or tree vine which has length, strength and pliability will serve. Length, of course, is visible and easily found, but tests for strength and pliability should be applied. The test for strength is simply to exert a steady straight pull oil the material. You will be able to judge its breaking strain if under 60 or 80 lbs. [25 or 35 kg]. The test for pliability is to tie a thumb knot in the vine and gently pull the knot tight. If the vine snaps or cuts upon itself, it lacks pliability and must be discarded.
In addition to ground and tree vines, the outer skin of the long leaves of most palms may be used for ties. To harvest these, nick the hard outer shell with a cut about ¼" [6 mm] wide and 1/8" [3 mm] deep. Start the outer cane splitting, and to prevent it "running off" bend the thick portion away from the thin.
This is most important. If you pull the thin strip and bend it away from the main stalk, it will split for a few feet and then "run off." This principle of bending away from the tendency to run off applies to all canes, palms, vines, bamboos and barks.
Barks
The inner bark of many shrubs and trees, alive or dead, also makes excellent lashing material. Strip down to the required thickness, but watch out for weak places.
Special Knots
Many of the sedges have length and strength and may be used for lashing and sewing work.
Nearly all the bulrushes can serve as lashings, and many of the "sword grasses" or sedges, but be careful handling these, as the razor-sharp edge can make nasty little cuts in your skin which poison easily. If handling any of the sword grasses, put a pair of socks on your hands and so save your skin.
Sedges And Bulrushes
These green materials require special knots if they are to be used to best advantage. For example, the customary start of a square lashing is with a clove hitch, but a clove hitch on "green" bush material is useless. The natural springiness in the material will cause the start of the knot to open. Always start a lashing with a timber hitch, as shown in the illustration.
And always see that the free end passes straight through the "eye" and does not come back against the eye. If it does, it will probably cut itself.
Joining Green Materials
An overhand knot (Fig. 1) will often serve, but if the material "cuts", try a sheet bend (Fig. 2) or a reef knot (Fig. 3). There are many ways of joining green materials either by plaiting or by spinning into rope.
Wall Pegs
Wall pegs, and all stakes which are to be driven into the ground, must be straight, have the head bevelled and the foot pointed. This is shown on the illustration on the left. Avoid pointing with a single cut, as illustrated on right.
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