How to make Natural Cordage, the EASY WAY! Retting Yucca

[@Johggd]

Perfect explanation Simple enough for beginners like myself and Perfect presentation

[@clayhayeshunter]

I'm glad you liked it

[@garysapper8716]

Clay, I watched your video where you beat snake plant and scraped it for fibers to make a bowstring. I did that and my neighbor was not happy with my beating the leaves for 2 hours. I've used yucca for years, but this retting process is the way to go. Thanks!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Oh yeah, it's way easier.

[@mojorising1]

Invite the neighbor over next time to help it's good stress relief 😊

[@ZoonCrypticon]

@@mojorising1 You mean, that the neighbor gets whipped ?

[@taitsmith8521]

​@@ZoonCrypticon😂😂 I think he meant the neighbor is a butt because he has a lot of pent up stress. But either way, sure. 😂

[@UniversalSovereignCitizen]

​@@taitsmith8521rat trap in the letter box... with a piece of paper over top.

[@Serenity_Craft]

It is amazing how many skills were normal survival in the past, that we have forgotten today. Learning these skills is important, and I have also learned that Yukka was used to make sandles/shoes in the past. I belive it was the Navajo who traditionally made the shoes with yukka, but I may be remember the incorrect tribe. I don't know if that is something you would like to learn and teach, but it is cool and interesting.

[@joshjames253]

Making cordage feels like you are experiencing something that you’re hands were made for. It’s like a muscle memory from your ancestors. It’s a thing that lets you know you ARE from Earth.

[@clayhayeshunter]

absolutely!

[@superfuntoyz123]

Earth = Heart

[@Xizario2]

I doubt it. It is hundered time faster to make it with 3 people. All these videos in KZbin are like you are playing single player. In reality people never lived alone.

[@ivancrews4361]

Nothing to do with cordage but the ucca plantis cordage, soap, food and a hunting tool for small game... Root used for soap... The dry ucca stalk can be hollowed out easily using a skinny sapling having the end cut similar to a chisel which makes a blowgun... The leaves you cut about 8" long and let them dry... As the dry they roll up on themselves creating a long needle so you chew or hammer the bit end to fray it and you have very sharp darts for your blowgun... The white flower petals can be boiled and a little honey added to make a pudding... There is also a needle and thread in the leaves...

[@jt_astamir]

Clay, you are a wonderful person. There are very few people like you left among us, humanity. A big greeting to you from the other side of our Planet.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks

[@user-pq4il4xo9s]

AMONG US

[@knightteblar2777]

Greetings from Greece!!!The best video I ever seen!!!Go on!!!

[@VADIMHARDRADA]

Man two week ago I made my second bow(first I broke) its made out of 2 pieces of elm, and conected with 3rd little piece of elm too, its 67 inches long, pulls around 50lb at 29 draw length, today I made 6 arrow and tried it, man its just a pleasure to shoot it even tho I am bad at it. Just wanted to thank you, because of you I found out that Nature is the only one and true God in the whole Universe, thanks for all the videos you made, thanks for all the work you have done. You are just fucking amazing man! And you made 17 year old boy's life from Ukraine way better!

[@taylorsealy5091]

The real God of the Bible made nature and you too. I pray he blesses and makes himself real to you in Jesus' name.

[@woodsy3495]

Besides fire making, this has got to be one of the most useful skills for someone to know in an extended survival situation, or just for fun! Thanks Clay. Been hoping you would show how to do this.

[@uncletello]

Do you wax the cordage to extend its life or does wax adversely affect it? Also, since you compared it to sinew, could these fibers be used for backing a bow? More for safety versus improving performance? Great video!

[@dragonsage6909]

Awesome, I've been thinking about string making a lot lately. Thanks :)

[@davidbailey991]

Great video I’ve been wanting to try this myself. Yucca grows all through our cow pasture where I live, my papa always called it “bear grass”.

[@sunriseshowdown4580]

I always wondered how to get the smaller materials to connect without breaking. Awesome info! Thanks!

[@lisamcqueen8509]

I remember reading in Bowyers bible, Tim Baker wrote of laying his materials out on the lawn, yard and letting the Dew, do, the retting! Thanks for sharing, Clay! Have a great day, Steve

[@robertfleming387]

Retting is a lengthy process but worth the work when you have time and need alot of cordage,,, i alao found soaking said cordage when finished, in ash water, keeps it pliable and lengthens the life of cordage...ty

[@MonicaLopez-ze3dd]

❤❤Awesome video, Clay! Clear and informative. Love learning from you!

[@waderemington817]

Definitely one of the most useful videos I’ve ever seen on YT. Thank you, Clay!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Glad it was helpful!

[@timothylongmore7325]

Another great video Clay. I've always been fascinated with cordage. I don't know why , but it is the modern thing that's taken most for granted. I've got a ton of sinew to do before the mice eat it all. I had beef cattle that I butchered and saved the backstrap sinew and about a half dozen deer. This is a skill every kid should be taught.

[@clayhayeshunter]

That'll make some great cordage!

[@timothylongmore7325]

@@clayhayeshunter Cool. Hey Clay I heard somewhere that sinew from large animals wasn't as strong , pound for pound as say whitetail deer. I know you've used both , have you ever heard that? Sound like bs to me.

[@dylanhixenbaugh4575]

@@timothylongmore7325 I Believe it’s not the size of the animal , but the lifestyle. Cattle stand and graze while deer and elk run jump and climb , growing stronger muscles and tendons pound per pound . It’s the inactivity that makes bovine back strap so tender

[@MrTrixer]

..Yeah no, im impressed, nuff said. I didnt think it would be as easy as to let it rot naturally in the water like that, and the end result of the fibers, just wow.

[@whiteraven886]

Great video, such a good job showing EXACTLY what to do. That stuff comes out nice enough to use for jewelry applications! Many uses come to mind. Beautiful work. Totally following you now! Lol. Come to Maine and teach a workshop!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thank ya!

[@akasutton]

when i saw you swishing it in the water, i thought of musky or pike fishing - you could probably make a unique bucktail spinner bait with it too!

[@julesprice5805]

Absolutely interesting, extremely useful and just awesome. God literally gave us everything we needed on earth to survive

[@bradlafferty]

This retting is like the process done with processing flax, if I recall correctly. Great video. Thanks.

[@debsalady2]

Yucca!! Very strong! Ive made some, after i tried mowing over some yucca plants lol it wouldn't mow down

[@kevinwild_]

i learn with every single video :D thanks and greets from Germany

[@clayhayeshunter]

Glad you like them!

[@sweetchariotengland]

All about Stinging Nettles for cords I hear, I should probably take a whack at doing a bowstring Great content squire

[@kolo890]

Horsehair works great too

[@Ou8124u]

Amazing

[@MMountain82]

Good tutorial, my grandpa was a lariat maker , although they used the mescal, this made me think of my grandpa. Good stuff

[@Coltbreath]

Badassery! 🙏

[@ozgrozrn8194]

Clay i m your fan in Turkia (Turkey), i learned to much stuff thanks to you. Turkish subtitles pls.

[@jimstewart5739]

As always - excellent! Thankee!

[@Makete100]

That was great and very understandable. Thank you.

[@ordulf7193]

Hope your place is safe from the fire this week!

[@CR055130W]

GREAT Video, Thank you!!

[@Clark42EoC]

Thank you Clay

[@wildhoser]

Another excellent video, thanks Clay

[@markbrandli]

You don't have to Rhett the yucca, it can be scraped with a bone or antler scraper. It works very well and quicker if you need cordage in a hurry. I have used it many times.

[@williamsdesigning1949]

Amazing man

[@clayhayeshunter]

Glad you liked it

[@LtDarkShadow14]

I've never made my own string before, but that looks like a normal modern-day rope I'm not sure what i have around me to be able to practice something like this... I'll look and find out as always, being an amazing teacher 👏 knowledge is something that can always be given and is not finite, teach the younger generation (such as myself) give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. teach a man to fish and he'll eat for he'll get good eats : keyword being "teach":

[@user-hz5nk9kk5d]

Wow that is amazing !!

[@adamhoffman9965]

Fair warning. If you do this in a bucket, it will stink to high heaven!

[@Antler_addict]

All my favorite channels that I am subbed to, I never ger notifications to even tho I clicked "all". The vids do pop up at random in the standard recomended vids but not always. KZbin sucks. I wish there was somewhere else that was better & just as popular & used by the channels I follow.😮‍💨

[@bobkin611]

Idk what you mean by that intro. This is absolutely an interesting topic. Helps that you’re entertaining tho 😂

[@TheoriginalPhilGood]

Thanks for the video, excellent.

[@clayhayeshunter]

You are welcome!

[@romeur8709]

Muito bom o video. Obrigado por compartilhar

[@briantaulbee6452]

Yucca fiber bowstring. Interesting. I knew yucca had fibers but i would not have thought about using it for this. Just learned something. I did have a thought though, if you had some soft wax you could add as you twist the strands together, would it hurt the fibers

[@jack1d1XB]

Q, can wax be used to keep cordage from being brittle?🤔

[@teejay3510]

Nice one. Making cordage is a good way to pass the time at camp. It would be cool to see you make one of your fish landing nets with a netting needle using natural cordage. A whole heap of work I know but it would be interesting to see how it compares to using bankline with the needle, and just give people an idea of how much time it takes for a project that doesn't seem all that significant when you do it with modern cord. My first landing net took me 6 hours to weave the net, not including the time it took to make the needle. I reckon it would be days if I had to make my own cordage (fibers ready to go). What's your guess as to the time it would take for you?

[@ndiyiliitsoh]

thanks

[@wildnesssurvival]

Awesome video!

[@pkgoldopalhunting]

great work mate

[@Backyard.Archery]

Good stuff…thanks

[@FunnyBone-TV]

I soaked my yucca fibers in water and then hung a weight from one end of the finished string to stretch it. Does it matter wet or dry? Can't wait to try the retting method. :)

[@RandomActsOfRandom]

Waiting two months to go fishing is wild.

[@ivandejanovic4963]

Fantastic video Clay. Very clear instructions on how to do it. Will give it try in my Hadza bow build I am trying currently. If I may be bold and suggest that you maybe try to build a Hadza like bow. Hadza are people living in Tanzania and from sources online seems to build bows from a bigger branch or a small tree. They do not harvest a big tree and split it lenght wise into quarters. Reason I am asking is there is no way for me to legally harvest a big tree in Serbia for a bow builds you do. That is why I am trying Hadza build. It will help me a lot if somebody who actually knows how to build a good bow try it and make a video about it since you could probably give me some tips I will not get anywhere else. I know it is a big ask. If you can do it thanks. If you are not interested thank you anyway for all the great resources you are giving to us. Many thanks from Serbia.

[@shannondavis1106]

Ive made with yucca before but never heard of this method, thank you for information. What do you do about the severe hand cramps after about an hour of cord making? It really makes you respect cordage and keep plenty of it on hand

[@eduardocanales3483]

B-e-a-utiful

[@kentonward97]

Would waxing the string help to make it stronger and quieter?

[@ZoonCrypticon]

An excellent method, thank you ! With these white fibres you could even make a wig for the supreme court judge.

[@clayhayeshunter]

haha

[@OsborneExploration]

Thanks for this! I never knew that when adding fibers you twist once then fold back down the excess.. I've always seen people just lay it in and cut the excess off later.. Does this weaken the rope by not laying it back down? Great video Clay! Been following since you were on ALONE. ATB ✊

[@JuliaJulia007]

Cool

[@ApeMtb]

Amazing, ill have to find out what plantsare best in my country

[@Dirk_Mcgurk]

excellent video

[@KnifeCrazzzzy]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@forendetta8164]

Je connaissais se processus, il y a pas une technique plus rapide? Cette technique est bien mais hyper longue, en cas d'urgence

[@123osterei]

👍

[@ddoherty5956]

Heave you tried doing this with a mild acid or Alkaline solution Clay? Wondered if it might be faster/ more hygenic? 👍🇬🇧

[@CrossRootedForge]

How many shots have you taken with it/how many it take until it broke if it has happened to break? I've made a few yucca strings. Never seemed to get more than 120 shots.(I will acknowledge some amount of makers error)

[@user-ui2jb6sf4k]

this technique should work just as well with palmleaves, shouldnt it?

[@sfg_night4th745]

Hey, I live in sweden what is something to recommend to begin with using as a material for a beginner?

[@whistlingbadger]

Clay, have you ever messed with fibers for bow backing? I've been working on making a bow backed with dogbane, but haven't gotten a shooter yet.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Not yet

[@aaronhall5367]

I heard those fibers cut themselves? How many shots do you think they have in them? Greetings from Missouri!

[@WetaMantis]

How long should the string be for your size? what should your brace height be? It must be instinctive to you but could you demystify it and give examples of correct and incorrect sized bow strings?

[@clayhayeshunter]

I usually make my strings a few inches longer than the bow and wrap the extra around the lower nock. That way I have extra to splice the string back together if it breaks. My brace height is usually somewhere around 6.5 inches.

[@WetaMantis]

@@clayhayeshunter Thank you for taking the time to answer.

[@guadalupeskitchen3734]

I'm tellin' you what, the next time I order paracord I'm gettin' 5000 yds of 12 strand !!!

[@jimf1964]

So I may just be stupid, or it may be the kids distracting me (probably the kids🙂), but I couldn’t quite get what was going on with the folding over when you added more fibres. So you ended up folding over on itself in half and used he same piece for both strands, or just for the one?

[@clayhayeshunter]

The lower section of the added piece is laid alongside the bundle nearest me. I make one reverse twist which then takes the top bundle and puts it on bottom of nearest me. Then the extra piece of the added bundle is folded back on top of that. That's probably even more confusing!

[@roylesterjr7052]

I haw a question?? Can you BACK a bow with yucca fibers?? I'm from the southwest united states & that's all I have that's available, I live on the Navajo Reservation.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Probably

[@aaronhall5367]

You can literally back a bow with an old tshirt. Try it out or ask the bowyers on your res

[@mojorising1]

❤

[@Uncle_Red]

How do you make the loop on the other end?

[@aaronhall5367]

He showed the bowyers knot. But if you want a loop on both ends...untie th hitch but maintain the loop.then untwist the chord maintaining two strands to the point where the loop you made meets the main line. Then untwist where those meet and put one strand through the front and one strand through the back. Go down one more and continue the process. Untwist the main line put one strand through the front and the other strand through the back. Tighten and Repeat at least 1.5 inches. Good luck!

[@aaronhall5367]

When you untwist the main line I mean open a hole in between the two twisted strands

[@barettisawesome]

Hello sir I've got a question about your book, is it instructional enough to be carried as a survival guide? I've borrowed and read les Stroud's book and that's the idea of his book is it can be carried as a survival guide. I also have the us military survival guide in my go bag. I'm looking for reading material for the bush but I'd like it to be worth its weight in useful information if that makes sense. Otherwise id bring a novel which I don't care for.

[@clayhayeshunter]

It’s not a guide

[@barettisawesome]

@@clayhayeshunter thankyou sir

[@dougroll8139]

Can you do this with nettle or dog bane by soaking it?

[@timothylongmore7325]

pretty sure it does.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I think it should work but I've only ever done it with Yucca.

[@SolutionsWithin]

Home Depot and all the other stores better darn well be shuttered before I'd ever do that much work and have to wait 2 months+ to make cordage.

[@sober84]

Think the concept here is to teach a skill, not patience. 🤣#sarcasm

[@Mr850man]

wen boots?

[@billg7101]

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@chad8566]

Cast all your care on him: for he careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7, and remember these words, "Be sober, and watch: for your adversary the devil as roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1Peter 5:9 The time is near, so REPENT of sins and your old ways. For through the blood of Jesus Christ your sins are paid for, come to the Lord, he loves you so much.

[@ScottRauber]

Oh hell no, after soaking, checking back, beating, then.....I'm tired, and I thought it was gonna be easy.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Easy doesn’t necessarily equal quick 😉

[@coldhandjacinth9069]

Clay makes Martha Stewart look very ignorant in comparison studies.

[@weapons_ofmassdistraction_9550]

3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

[@chrism3839]

BAD ROCK! NO!

[@simplefieldcraft]

Ok, Interesting subject about making primitive cordage from natural fibrous material. But did you really need to click bate the title with NEED, SURVIVAL SKILL. If I had to wait two weeks to create the cord to make a bow drill set, which is not a survival skill, to light my fire in a SURVIVAL situation I would die. I know you need to create content and get views to raise money but with something that could be serious that is just irresponsible.