Worm,parcel and serve supplies

[al ailsworth]

I know I read this info previously, but currently where is the best place to obtain proper supplies and tools to worm,parcel and serve rigging? I live on the east coast in the mid Chesapeake area.

Thanks

[Thad Van Gilder]

Re: Worm,parcel and serve supplies

I just had a discussion about that with a guy at the boatyard in Galena that I am at. (the ever famous Gregg Neck Boat Yard)
From my experience, boats of the size I usually work on (16 to 40 feet ish), don't need worming and parcelling.

I serve shrouds and stays with tarred marlin that I make much cheaper than you can buy. I get good hemp string from hippie craft shops and stockholm tar from places like Kirby's. I soak the hemp line in the tar and let it dry for a while. I usually stretch the shrouds and stays between trees, serve them, and give them a few coats of slush before putting them on the mast.

I suppose you could parcell the wires with sunbrella if you wanted, but I never have. I also have never served anything other than S.S. wire, so perhaps if you were working with galvanized wire, parcelling might help.

I don't believe I have ever talked to anyone who has wormed any rigging wire, ever. fancy ropework, yes. standing rigging, no. I think you'd need some pretty big wire to even have room to worm it...

-Thad

[Jay Greer]

Re: Worm,parcel and serve supplies

Genuine tared Italian hemp marlin is available from the ship's store at the Wooden Boat Foundation in Port Townsend.
Jay

[al ailsworth]

Re: Worm,parcel and serve supplies

Thank you. I have just about given up on trying to find a small schooner, and oh my- I have started looking at sevral in steel. I found one with galvanized shrouds and stays, very rusty, and if I were to purchase this boat I probably will replace the headstay with stainless and replace the rest with galvanized. I want to protect both. Maybe you are correct, it may not be necessary to worm, parcel and serve standing rigging on a 40' sailboat. Does Kirby also sell mallets? Thanks again.

[Captain Intrepid]

Re: Worm,parcel and serve supplies

For serving mallets, just get a chunk of hardwood and make your own. That way you can be sure of having the right size for your rigging. I've heard of people parcelling wire rigging with electrical tape, or you can use pretty much any any cloth soaked in tar. Old sheets work alright. As for worming? I've never heard of anyone worming wire stays or shrouds.

Even if you decide not to parcel and serve the entirety of your standing rigging, consider parceling and serving the ends around the eye and splice and up a few feet. It looks handsome and gives it a much nice feel than cold metal.

[Ian McColgin]

Re: Worm,parcel and serve supplies

Get Brion Toss's book for more than just the joys of service. You do not want to serve any ss stay that takes a staysail or anything else - ss is not happy covered up that way.

It makes good sense to at least worm and maybe parcel galvi 7x7 as that fills up the hollows to make a nice surface for the service.

Brion's book shows a nice serving mallet he calls Ring-around-Sue - basicly a mallet with a spool attached. Once you get it started rotating on a stay stretched between something - I use trees - you can keep it going by swaying the stay and do a fast clean job.

I like better having a couple of swivels at each end and use a belt around some sort of drum mounted on a drill to get the stay turning. A weighted version of the ring-around feeds the service on finastkind. You can even slush the service and underlying parceling as it goes if you don't mind a little splatter on your cloths.

G'luck

[Thad Van Gilder]

Re: Worm,parcel and serve supplies

Oh, you know, There are two available small schooners at Gregg neck right now. One on a mooring. I think its a Alden about 40 feet...

another cement one at a dock.

1 1/2 miles past the 213 bridge on the sasafrass.

I'll be down there saturday, and I'll take a picture of the wood schooner on the mooring.

-Thad

[Wind of Heaven]

Re: Worm,parcel and serve supplies

Hey Thad,

Would you be at liberty to divulge your sources for good hemp? I know there are many, but some better than others. Thanks!

[George Ray]

Re: Worm,parcel and serve supplies

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Traditional Cordage Info (Ver: 1.0 - March_2006 , G.L.Ray)
Modern and Natural

Buff Polyester (MFG: English Braids , UK)

Hempex, Natural Hemp (MFG: Touwfabriek Langman, Netherlands)

Spunflex (was Roblon) (MFG: Teufelberger, Austria)

Spun Polyester: (MFG: NEw England Rope)

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George Ray (March 2006)
ver: 1.0
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Buff Polyestebr /> ==============

ENGLISH BRAIDS
Spring Lane
Malvern Link
Worcestershire, ENGLAND, WR14 1AL
Tel : +44(0)1684 892222
Fax : +44(0)1684 892111
WEB: www.englishbraids.com (http://www.englishbraids.com)
Info: [email protected]

Buff Polyester:
Sizes(mm): 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, 24
Notes:
* Good grip, soft hand, and easy to splice.
* Buff Polyester was originally developed for use aboard tall ships in the world’s sail-training fleets.
* Buff Polyester offers significantly less stretch, less shrinkage, and better wear characteristics than other products currently available for traditional applications.

North American Distributors
***************************
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R&W Enterprises
404 Nash Rd.
P.O. Box 50420
New Bedford, MA 02746
Tel: 800-260-8599
WEB: www.rwrope.com (http://www.rwrope.com)
Info: [email protected]
**********************

Transat Marine
70 Ellis Drive, Unit 1
Barrie, ON, Canada L4N 4Y8
Tel: 705-721-0143
Tel: 800-565-9561
WEB: www.transatmarine.com (http://www.transatmarine.com)
Info: [email protected]
*********************

The Wooden Boat Foundation
Cupola House at Point Hudson
380 Jefferson Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
TEL: 360.385.3628
Fax: 360.385.4742
WEB: http://www.woodenboat.org/store
Info: [email protected]
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Hempex // Natural Hemp
======================

Touwfabriek Langman bv
Postal:
P.O. Box 225
3869 AE Nijkerk
Netherlands
Visiting: (appt only)
Beurtschipper 26-28
3861 SC Nijkerk
Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)33 246 19 86
WEB: www.langman.com (http://www.langman.com)
Info: [email protected]

Hempex: 3, 4, and 6-strand, Bold 3-strand(long lay), and braided
Stranded Sizes:
3-strand (4mm to 40mm)
4-strand (8mm to 48mm)
6-strand (28mm to 48mm)
Bold 3-st (10mm to 20mm)

Natural Hemp: 3, 4, and 6-strand, and braided
Stranded Sizes:
3-strand (4mm to 40mm)
4-strand (8mm to 40mm)
6-strand (28, 33, 36, 38mm)

North American Distributobr /> ***************************
***************************

R&W Enterprises
404 Nash Rd.
P.O. Box 50420
New Bedford, MA 02746
Tel: 800-260-8599
WEB: www.rwrope.com (http://www.rwrope.com)
Info: [email protected]

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Spunflex (was Robolon) // Spleitex
===================================

Teufelberger GesmbH
Vogelweiderstraße 50
4600 Wels, Austria
Tel: ++43-7242-413-0
Fax: ++43-7242-413-100
Info: [email protected]
WEB: www.teufelberger.com (http://www.teufelberger.com)
Fiber Ropes:
Info: [email protected]
Fax: ++43-7242-413-169



*******************
USA Distributobr /> *******************
Allen C. Rawl Inc.
11314 Reynolds Rd.
Bradshaw, MD 21087
Tel: 410-592-2170
Fax: 410-592-3344
Info: [email protected]
Info: [email protected]

Sizes(mm): 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 32

Notes:
* Spunflex was originally developed by Roblon of Denmark for training vessels.
* 6-12mm Spunflex© is now available by the foot (minimum length 50').
* All other sizes are sold by the coil only. Most rope is available for immediate delivery.
* Sizes above 32mm and 4mm marlin are available by special order with a normal delivery time of 12-16 weeks
* Spunflex© is an excellent material when employed by sail makers for fabricating bolt ropes

* Spunflex Customers:
ALCYONE Topsail Schooner Capt. John "Sugar" Flanagan, Port Townsend, WA Charter boat
BLUENOSE II Gaff Topsail Schooner Bluenose II Preservation Trust, Nova Scotia Training
EAGLE USC GBargue, 3-masted USCG Academy, New London, CT Training Vessel
ELIZABETH II Barque, 3-masted Roanoke Festival Park, VA Living History Museum
ERNESTINA Gaff Topsail Schooner New Bedford, MA Marine Science Education
FEDERALIST Miniature Ship Maryland State Capitol, Annapolis, MD Education
HALF MOON Ship. 3-masted Croton-on-Hudson, NY, Education Sail Training
IRVING JOHNSON & EXY JOHNSON Brigantines San Pedro, CA Training, Education
KALMAR NYCKEL Ship Rigged Pinnace, 3-masted Wilmington DE Sail Training, Education
LADY MARYLAND Pungy Schooner Baltimore, MD Training, Environmental Classroom
LORINDA "Junk-rigged" Schooner Marston Mill, MA Private Yacht
MARTHA LEWIS Skipjack Havre, de Grace, MD Environmental Classroom
MARYLAND DOVE Pinnace St. Mary's City, MD Living History Museum
PILGRIM Snow Brig Dana Point, CA Education vessel
PRIDE OF BALTIMORE Square Topsail Schooner Baltimore, MD Sail Training, Goodwill Ambassadobr /> SULTANA Square Topsail Schooner Chestertown, MD School Ship
SUSAN CONSTANT Barque Jamestown Settlement, Jamestown, VA Living History Museum, Sail Training
GODSPEED Pinnace Jamestown Settlement, Jamestown, VA Living History Museum, Sail Training
DISCOVERY Pinnace Jamestown Settlement, Jamestown, VA Living History Museum, Sail Training
USS CONSTELLATION Ship, Sloop of War Baltimore, MD Naval History Museum
USS CONSTITUTION Ship, 44-gun Frigate Boston, MA National Historical Landmark

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3-strand Spun Polyester (fuzzy short filament)
==============================================

New England Ropes
848 Airport Road
Fall River, MA 02720-4735
USA
Tel: (508) 678-8200
Tel: (800) 333-6679
Fax: (508) 679-2363
Fax: (800) 647-6731
WEB: www.neropes.com (http://www.neropes.com)
Info: [email protected]

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End of Traditional Cordage
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[George Ray]

Re: Worm,parcel and serve supplies

For slush, I use Brion Toss's slush recipe: 6parts-tar , 3-linseed oil , 1-varnish , 1-japan drier.
Our 7x7 galv 3/8" is slushed, parceled w/ electrical/friction tape, slushed, and served with #36 tarred nylon, slushed and then slushed every year or so.
The 3/8" is small enough that worming does not seem necessary.

Tarred Nylon:
Memphis Net & Twine
P.O. Box 80331
Memphis, TN 38108-0331

http://www.memphisnet.net/category/twine_tarredseine

Pine Tar: ( I like this stuff, seem to recall it is imported from Sweden and it has a nice scent unlike some others )
Natrochem, Inc.
P.O. Box 1205
Savannah, GA 31402
Phone 912.236.4464

Natro Tar-588
$40/gal + shipping ( I just got another gallon and was invoiced $58.59, delivered GA=>NC by UPS )
DATA SHEET: http://natrochem.com/data.htm
NATRO-TAR™ 588
Natro-Tar 588 is Pine Tar and is equivalent to natural Pine Tar in most applications. It is manufactured under closely controlled conditions to insure quality and uniformity. Applications for which it is suitable include cordage and fish nets; as a preservative and fiber lubricant; as a waterproofing medium for tarpaulins, paper, special lubricants, insecticides and paints; in authentic shipbuilding; as a veterinary supply; in tree surgical uses and many others. It is not recommended for use in Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics, or similar products.

******************
Ended up making our own tools using notes from Brion's book

http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Riggers-Apprentice-Traditional/dp/0070648409

[Wind of Heaven]

Re: Worm,parcel and serve supplies

Very helpful replies, George. Appreciate it, brother. Appears you are an accomplished rigger. What boat are those shrouds for? Also looking at options for a serving mallet. Did you fabricate all those in the photo?

[Woxbox]

Re: Worm,parcel and serve supplies

Allen Rawl, mentioned above, is a great resource. He sells some stuff and definitely knows where to get everything else if it can be had near you.

Allen C. Rawl Inc.
11314 Reynolds Rd.
Bradshaw, MD 21087
Tel: 410-592-2170
Fax: 410-592-3344
Info: [email protected]
Info: [email protected]

At the Kalmar Nyckel shipyard, parceling is usually done with old-style electric tape, aka friction tape -- its has a fabric base saturated with black gooey stuff.