My new copy of Rodmakers came and the article and pictures of the Turks Head Knot are great. But I have a question about the needle the writer says to use. He calls it a "bagging" needle. What the heck is a bagging needle and where would a person get one? It's not a knitting needle because it has an opening on the far end. I have looked around and done searches but can't find anything labeled as a "bagging" needle.

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Bag needles we have 2 sizes 6 inch and 8 inch. 6 inch bag needle costs $6.95 8 inch bag needle costs $10.40. Click on options to get prices to proceed to ...

www.diyupholsterysupplies.com.au/page5.htm - 39k

A shoe repair shop may have something similar.

.............

Mark,

I've never used one. I just burn the end of the cord and go to town. I don't think any of the sponsors here carry them, but if f you want to try one, check this site---> [www.knottool.com]

Mark Griffin
[]
C&M Custom Tackle
San Dimas, California

Soak the end of the cord in CA and let it harden for a minute or two.

I believe the author stated that burning the end of the cord was advisable even if you used the needle to keep the end of the cord from passing through the needle eye.

.................

Make a needle or a "Fid" here is a picture of one I made last week [www.rodbuilding.org] I used a 1/4" aluminum rod, a Dremmel tool, file, hacksaw drill bits and about twenty minutes.

It should have taken ten but I'm an ROF so I take lots of coffee breaks. :)

Jan,
Did you make or buy that jig for wrapping the knot?? That is great!!!

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Probably most any craft store will carry the needles needed. I found Wright's #13 needle 2 in a package for about $1.50. The bag needle mentioned in the article probably isn't widely available in the states. I went to a farm/ag store asking for a bag needle thinking it was used for field sewing bags of wool, potatoes or onions (crops that are common in our area) but they sent me to the craft store.

Jan's idea is a good one for the DIY'ers. There is another needle called a Perma Lok that looks pretty handy if you're getting into knotting on a regular basis.

I was thinking that our foam cores would make a nice knot tying platform as the pins could be easily inserted and changed as needed.

The magazine article got me interested in decorative knotting and have since orders several books. There is lots of knotting instructions on YouTube and elsewhere on the internet.

I made it out of a chunk of 1 1/4 hardwood dowell and some 1/8' chunks of brass rod.

Next one I make will be a bit longer so it makes a better back scratcher.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/18/2009 01:11AM by Jan Zeiters.

That FID looks like you could modify a knitting needle to make one. They are already hollow, just need to pick the right size for the hollow to sort of match the cord size.

I just use the fid on my old Coastie riggers knife. I'm sure they are still made.