Ray Mears - How to make natural cordage from nettles, Bushcraft Survival
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- Опубликовано: 12 июл 2011
- www.raymears.com/
Ray Mears shows how to make natural cordage using only the common nettle plant.
This clip was taken from the DVD extras of Ray Mears Bushcraft Survival Series 1.
Ray Mears was the original bushcraft king, drowned out by “survival” programmes like Bear Grylls, and now SAS Who Dares Wins. I miss programmes like this, calm and informative television.
ray mears stays the king bear grills is scripted. cant script nature.
@@odraciskatube7725 Bear Grylls is terrible
And ray actually taught the SAS survival skills
@@DavidL1986 he is also self taught. Everything he knows, he's gathered himself. I used to watch him when he was a ten minute segment called "Tracks" on countryfile
@@JamesW81 even watching this clip made me think.. how the hell did someone discover all this in the past 😂😂 I mean it’s a lengthy process to go through. Someone must have just thought one day “hmm nettles.. let’s see what we can do!”
The Bob Ross of nature. I grew up watching Ray Mears on telly with my parents and coming back to these videos gives me great comfort. So clear, gentle and skilled. Fascinating and relaxing videos every time. Love this guy.
Absolutely love Ray's programmes. No flashy nonsense, no fast cuts, no bombastic soundtrack...just the beauty and ingenuity of the use of natural resources.
I need to watch more of this guy, sick of all the bullshit on social media right now plus I actually need to learn something from what I watch rather than mindlessly scrolling
For some reason I find the most basic things the most impressive. Seeing you add that extra thread to the thinning one left me in awe.
I wish these things were taught in schools.
That was facts
Not sure if anyone else ever noticed the poetry within this piece that reflects Mears life. His wife died of cancer; when he explains about rolling the string he explains how he rolls both the strands at the same time, he clamps them against himself to stop them from unravelling.
Then he explains how eventually we get to an end " because we always reach and end at some point, but! long before that the other partner starts to become thinner " He's now remarried which is a reflection of the next piece of nettle being put in place.
Others may not see this but this is usually how skills have been past on from generation to generation especially old ones, through teachings from life stories which Mears seems to encompass and embrace. Total Legend and very inspiring.
+Ammo thank you for sharing the love that was shown in the knowledge and the lesson
Ammo that's a nice thought but seems like a bit of a leap to me, to be honest I think he was just explaining how to make cord from stinging nettles
He's explained how to make cord many times from many different materials in his shows, never quite as poetic and poignant at this one. The words he picks in this one just speaks out to me. But that's just my opinion, I respect yours too. =D
Ammo, I think you are the real poet here. Nicely crafted.
well said, you are a obviously a deeply observant person.
Such a G. I watch these clips over and over and over. It’s so beautiful. My dad has got mad bushcraft skills which he never taught us but Ray here is showing me what dad used to do. Everything indeed does come to an end.
Why tf your old man never teach you his mad bushcraft skills bro that hit me straight in the fucking feels
@@wozacardoza1093 cringe
@@yesitdoes4425 did your dad not teach you the bushcraft skills either brah
@@wozacardoza1093 Don't sweat it Jack, I agree with you here. Not sure how khomol managed to write such a brief unintentionally somber message like that myself. I felt it too. It was real.
@@mukelaunder5149 I don't think he even meant it but it gave me a real insight into his life, spit of you by Sam fender vibes
I can't believe how simple it really is. The way he broke it down and explained it was just too perfect.
It's been a while since I watched it but if a remember correctly he just uses spit to make the cordage. I made a load of this stuff and found that when it dries it becomes very brittle. It's best to oil it with something to stop that happening. Also don't bring nettles home to do this. You'll spend the next few years trying to de-nettle your own garden afterwards. The seeds are tiny and get everywhere.
@@TheGodlessGuitarist I'll probably never make this, but someone else may benefit from your wisdom.
@@angelus_solus Thanks, ill benifit it.
It was surprisingly relaxing watching this video. But as always Ray delivers his vast knowledge of bush craft brilliantly!
I tried to make cordage with Ray's advice few years ago and it was surprisingly easy even on a first try. Sure, it takes time, but the end product was strong, I couldn't break it with my bare hands.
another thing to do, for protection, is to run the nettles through a split stick. partially split the stick open it up like pinchers I just go zip.
Thats actually genius sir! Ive been learning how to make some rope and stumbled upon this videoand saw your comment 👍
Can't believe i've never heard of you, Ray. This video specifically is great, and informative. Extremely useful technique not easily available to learn, so thanks!
This man is a fountain of wisdom from experience. Watching and listening to him work is something I could do for hours. I'm grateful for modern technology which captures and will preserve his efforts. If only we could watch Sears, DC Beard, Kephart and Hearne in action.
Such a useful plant, the nettle.
You can also:
Make tea and soup from leaves
Use seeds as food supplement
Use roots as dye
Use whole plant as mulch and plant food
Detect nitrogen-rich soil by nettle presence
Just leave it as a food source for wildlife - especially peacock butterfly caterpillars.
Huge fans here in California.
This is awesome. Ray is a real British national treasure.
Thank you Ray, I had watched several video on how to make natural cordage, but yours was by far the easiest to follow and understand. 👍🏻👍🏻
Great work. I learned a new way to roll the fibers which looks a lot easier on the fingers then most ways I have seen it done.
And the wrists.
Not sure why the algorithm starting suggesting these old Ray Mears videos to me in 2022. But I'm glad it did!
Excellent..
-Mitch
Tried doing this and ended up with a severe case of gonorrhoea, won’t be trying again, thanks Ray!
There is one more use of nettle,you can make soup out of its leaves,when the plant is still young.This soup is very rich in iron so it is very good for people having problems with anemia.
P.S. I would really like to watch a bushcraft show, done by Maers and Kochanski together,that would be epic!
Ray Mears is the Father of Nature
My late father taught me to make cordage like this and then make a shepherd's sling from it. Time consuming, but great fun as a child spending time with him and learning. 🤔🇬🇧🇮🇳🙏
Blooming awesome. We love you, your knowledge and your skills Ray x
No bravado , no tom foolery, no fakery just real knowledge from a real dude.
Thanks for this, not knowing how to make this kind of cords has bugged me for ages! Cheers Ray
Having seen Ray do this live, during a walk in the woods, it looks so easy. A lifetime of learning shines through.
Since I have long hair which gets everywhere, I tried the cordmaking technique while watching with my own hair. It worked quite nicely!
@Tai Chi Tube The strands of my hair are quite fine, though I have lots of them. I don't remember how strong it was now -- much stronger than a single strand though. I suspect the uses of that hair string would be much more limited than the nettle-variety. I think with my comment I meant to suggest a way to practice at home if you have long hair, but I do remember daydreaming at the time about possible functions!
Thank you kindly for sharing your knowledge. It took me about 10 years to grow an established nettle patch here, and this year I wanted to make some cordage. The species of nettle that grows here on Haida Gwaii, is very stingy, even in early spring.
Nettles are quite nutritious too, so you can use the young leaves for soup.
This looks much quicker than the rather slow process I was taught a few weeks ago - tomorrow I'll give it a go.
I miss ol Razor. Invaluable information every time.
Be sure not to waste the leaves! They make for a lovely green vegetable dish when blanched in water. Lovely lemony spinach flavour.
Good old Rey Mears. Used to love watching this on the telly when I was young
Great video quality, simple method, time to make the hordes of nettles in the woods nearby into fishing nets! Ty : )
I am not that sure that the cords resulting from nettles are resistemt to water, but I might be wrong.
The bracelets ive made for demonstration pieces have continued to last for months. theyve been soaked repetedly obviously from showering and from the sea and what not so i see no reason why they wouldnt hold up
Ben Lenton thx for the Info
this is amazing work dude. thanks for teaching me.
Very useful of course and eloquently put. An enjoyable process i would imagine. Evidently in a survival situation there would be a very different feeling altogether. ATB Mark.
Thank you for your video that is very interesting and useful! keep doing this type of educational videos!
Gonna try this, a vital skill to know if you run out of paracord and need to, rase a shelter, make snares or a bow string, rock sling or to attach a flint arrowhead, thanks Ray!
I have not seen this technique of rolling against the thigh, let go and allow twist, repeat. Also, the tips on when to add fiber are excellent. This looks like something that could be done with virtually any fiber. I am headed to the desert, anxious to try this with yucca, mecate, agave and various grasses. Any tips out there for processing desert fibers?
You didn’t die, did you?
@@Ryanator1107 Id also like to know what happened
Thirded
He wove himself a beautiful casket out out a blend of agave and lizard tail. RIP
awesome video!" Ray is the master of explaining.
I've tried dozens of times to grab the nettles like Ray does here, got stung every single time?!
Excellent video! I like watching earth, explore and calm down...
I am somewhat self-conscious imagining how our ancestors could have been so knowledgeable about such simple matters in the world that we now are too foolish to remember.
I did this a few times. It is indeed easier than you might think. But dam, always get massively stung!
And the leaves make a delicious side dish, you prep them like spinach !
Ray Meres can be quite maddening at times. I watched a video of his, where he showed how to sharpen a knife at camp. Except, no-one would ever do it that way. Then he comes up with this brilliant and practical demonstration, showing that he really is the Man when it comes to bushcraft.
You see, that's what I thought. But as someone who used chisels in the field, as tools of my own craft, I needed those to be every bit as sharp. Ray's way is not what I'd have done, except for a brand new chisel or one that had been serious chipped. Infact, I maintained mine using a small diamond stone, which I kept in my pocket. Light as a feather, doesn't need soaking and totally reliable. Just saying.
spacial2 whetstones are lovely to use when you're at home. You'd never take those in the field. I use a DC4 when im out, but a double sided whetstone in my kitchen.
HabaNero3 Understand, but with respect, disagree. I like tradition as much as the next grumpy old guy. Some things do a good job until they are replaced by something better, which is an improvement in every possible way.
Time was when knives were made from flint. I know how to make a flint blade, As handy as that might be, hardened steel in better. (As all will know from fighting off marauding Black Knights, intent upon capturing our maidens. A flint sword doesn't get the girl!).
But I do respect the techniques of using a whetstone and suggest it's as well for people to know.
A diamond is still a boy's best friend. (Well, almost!)
Every Diamond I've used has always been too coarse or left an edge that doesn't last. I feel like for the same price or cheaper (I'm always on a tiny budget) I can get good results from a water stone that cost me £17 and I find it easier to use. Because I am compared to many people relatively new to knife sharpening I make less mistakes with simpler methods, such as whetstones for my knives (all scandi grind) and my kitchen knives, well I use a pull through for them, but I just got a Kin Knife for christmas so, once I use the thing I'll have to sharpen that as well.
The DC4 I use in the field is diamond coarse and ceramic fine. No water or oil.
Perhaps just personal preference? If you can get the same results with both methods then why not?
HabaNero3 I was probably a bit harsh with your views. A decent whetstone does, as you say, leave a better and more long lasting edge.
Excellent tutorial 👍
Excellent video
Handy tip! If you are near a body of water soak the nettles in it and it will neutralise the venom xxx
venom... fuck me
Interestingly I was making cordage during some down time at work recently. Although I subbed out natural fibers for pallet wrap. It still worked resonably well I showed my equally bored colleague the technique as well.
Ray Mears; the ultimate overgrown boy scout.
4:00 "Completely bio-degradable and will grow back."
And it's free!
And you can make nettle tea and soup from the leaves. Nothing is wasted
great video
tom
I figured something out years ago as a kid just by being silly. Grab a stinging nettle leaf between my thumb and forefinger and, surprise surprise, no sting. Of course if you lightly brush against it, that's a different story.
I always enjoy these videos.
How could I not watch this
Beautiful technique.
I can watch this guy all day.
just seen thre last 3 episodes here... how to make fire, how to make cordage, how to make bread..... skills were going to be needing soon......aye?
Very good instruction.
Ah Ray I do miss you being on the TV regularly
Just excellent. Ray Mears is the boy.
i think you mean he is the man. but totally agree, cheers
I wish Ray payed more attention to his RUclips channel, he doesn't produce much new stuff for the TV anymore, would be nice to see more of him :)
Use in the garden is amazing idea!!
When I forget my gloves, I take my socks off to protect my hands.
Thanks for the mud gloves tip.
I feel like I could now do this perfectly he explained it so well
thanks man,this works great,makes a awesome rope.
very usefull tutorial thanks!!
Thanks Ray
very usefull. thank you.
Saw the thumbnail, thought it was 'Raoul Moat's Last Moments' lol
Pahahaha
Brilliant!
Fascinating.
Yes Nettle leaves are ediable.
Either by boiling them down as you say thus making nettle tea.
Or you can weltch them over a fire, only takes 5 seconds this takes the sting away from them and makes them safe to eat.
Ray Mears Britians wild foods episodes shows you that technique.
here in West Virginia, nettle can usually be found in moist shady areas: like in little valleys and on shady creek banks. I don't know about New York, but I would figure its close to the same, if not the same. If you can't find any you can also use milkweed. good luck.
Stinging Nettles can also be made into soup, but use the young shoots rather than the woodier older growth. :D
Amusingly enough, nettle soup was very popular among the Norse during the spring. They spent the winter eating mostly meat and fats, so their bodies were starving of vitamins and enzymes. Nettle soup is perfect for that and in fact, a good way to stave off scurvy while stranded out in the scrub in your typical survival emergency.
Very nice
Good demo ray ,atb Martin
great educational video :)
awesome!
I don’t know why but I love his face at 1:28 😂 it’s like ‘have some of that you nettle b*stard’
I have plenty of string in my shed, but next time I tie up my vegetables I'm definitely going to use nettle cordage. I suspect it's harder than Ray makes it look.
Today I will harvest nettles and make my very own rope for the first time. Looking forward to it! I will use the rope on the bow I'm planning to make. :D
+Diana van Sloten Have you had any luck? I'm making my third bow, and I plan to make it by hand with natural materials. I'm wondering how strong the finished cordage will be. Can you offer any advice?
Make some cord just to get to know the meterial then put a synthetic rope on your bow. ;) Serious. I( made cord and rope but it doesn't work as well. This rope is for when SHTF and you can't get any other rope. :D
+Diana van Sloten ahh that's disappointing. I really want to make the bow authentic from materials I've foraged. I don't want to buy anything especially if it is synthetic. I might just have to buy sinew.
Great work Ray but how strong is strong? What is the breaking strain? Is it stronger than cordage made from plastic bottles which seem to grow in profusion all over the world?
You can keep the leaves and make a nettle tea, or add the leaves to a soup or vegitable stock, they are very nutritious
True, true, it is most like spinach, only better and richer with ferrum and minerals, very healthy, used medicinaly, nettle tea is used a lot.
brilliant
Ooo finding one of your Citizen watches is so frustrating lol BTW I went to school in Redhill and I remember we had a charity or something footy match with your school, people got funny about it tho as my school was the "naughty boy" school up on Redstone Hill hehehe Rubbing shoulders with the crims never went down well with the posh parents lol
Started from the bottom now we’re here. Our ancestors relied on shit like this. Now I’m watching it on a whim on my magical hand computer that can access the combined knowledge of the world. Then I’ll take 30min to go what used to be 3 days journey to hang out with my friends.
We would basically be gods to our ancestors.
Love Ray mears, like the relaxing version of bear grills
@ Kai Dean "How long would you dry the fibres before turning them into cordage?"
umm.. until dry
Very similar principle to drop - spindling with wool fibres.
I’d love to attend a bushcraft course with ray but the advanced courses are quite expensive so I’m going to buy books and try learning that way.it is so hard for my brain to learn from books though.
So the stem is not too stingy and the leaves are. Notice he got rid of the small leaves as well. If you miss those you would get badly stung. If you grip a nettle leave with your thumb and fore-finger very firmly you won't feel it. My Dad taught me that trick.
Amazing what this guy knows👍😉
@FatMikejo That's why it's a good idea to bring a pair of work glove with you any time you are in the woods. Or practice bush craft skills without gloves so you don't have to worry about having gloves in a survival situation.
So interesting..I presume that the process is the same using dried nettle fibres ?
how much would you need to let the fibers dry for best performance? also, you need to dry them by air or can i just leave them out into the sun? great tutorial, btw ;)
The way he's handling these is nuts to me. On the west coast of the US, the stinging hairs are on the stems as well. There's no way to touch them bare-handed unless you have leather skin. Which perhaps he does. Otherwise great video as always, Ray Mears is a master.
Heard of the expression, grasp the nettle? It is possible and a great way to impress your unknowledgeable friends. The stinging hairs are curved and will sting when you brush against them. Brush the right way or grasp firmly and they will bend. Get a magnifying glass and look. You will see what I mean.
Johnno Dorber
Nice! I'll look closely and try this technique (carefully)!