In the last article Basic manual for useful knots we have talked about the basic knots that you should know for every occurence. Now we are ready to move on to the next level: build a camping table completely by yourself.
There are plenty of ways to do it, but I am going to tell you how to realize one of the most effective and simple designs. Take a pen and a notebook, because we are about to start!
NECESSARY:
two ropes 2m long
eight ropes 1.50m long
one rope 4m long
10 wooden poles 2m long
1 board of 1.50x1m
two friends to help you
BRIEF INTRODUCTION:
Before starting, I would like to introduce you to the design of our table.
The bearing structure of the table will consist of two tripods. The table will be provided with two benches, whereas the board will be used as the top surface of the table. The two benches and the supports for the board will be tied to the tripods.
INSTRUCTIONS:
First of all we have to make our two tripods. To realize them, we will need 6 poles and the two 2-metres long ropes. So, lay down three poles one next to the other and make sure that the lower ends of the poles are on the same line. Now we can start tying them together at the upper end. First you have to secure the rope to the first pole on the left with a reef knot. The kind of binding that you need to do consists in a wavy line that runs over and under the poles. So, after tying the reef knot to the first pole, you have to wrap the rope over the second pole and then under the third. Pull tight. Now you have to do the same but the other way round. So, wrap the rope over the third pole, then under the second and finally under the first. Repeat the same steps until you have used half of the rope and remember to pull tight every time that you complete a round. It is time to fasten the binding wrapping the rope at right angles around itself in the spaces between the poles. This will help the poles to stick together. Close the binding with a reef knot at the first pole to join the two ends of the rope. The first tripode is done, now you have to make the other one!
Once the tripodes are ready, you can lift them up and open them. This is a very delicate step, because you have to move the legs of the tripode until they find the balance, but you have also to align the two tripodes so that one leg for each tripode points outwards and the other two legs stand on the same line and same distance from the two of the opposite tripode.
This brings us to the next step: to set up the benches and the supports for the board. To do this, we will need the four 1.50-metres long ropes and the four remaining poles. For each pole we are going to tie one of its end to the left tripode and the other end to the right tripode. So the poles will be horizontally oriented and they will join the opposite legs of the two tripodes. Two poles will be fixed at a lower level one in front of the other (the two benches) and the other two at a higher level one in front of the other (the supports). You can take measurements yourselves, depending on how high or low do you want your table and benches to be. It is recommended to tie the supports in the inner side of the tripode pole, whereas the benches in the outer one.
But now let’s have a look on the kind of binding that we are going to tie at every end of the poles. Therefore you need to make the same binding eight times.
Before anything else, keep in mind that to do this you will need one or two friends who have to lift the pole that you are about to tie and keep it in the right position to allow you to make the binding correctly.
First, you have to secure the rope to the tripode pole with a reef knot (or even with a clove hitch). Next you can start the binding by wrapping the rope over the horizontal pole, then behind the tripode pole and, again, over the horizontal pole and behind the tripode pole. Repeat the same procedure until there are 70cm of the rope left. It is time to fasten the binding wrapping the rope at right angles around itself in the space between the poles. This will help the poles to stick together. Close the binding with another reef knot to join the two ends of the rope. One binding is completed, now repeat the same steps in the other seven spots!
Hold on, we are almost done!
Now you can see that your table is taking shape, just a few more steps and you will sit at it. The only missing piece is the top of it! Fortunately, this is the most simple stage.
Take the 4-metres long rope and secure it to one of the supports with a reef knot. Then, make a zigzag line between the two support poles by alternately wrapping the rope around them. Make sure to keep the zigzag lines quite close one to another (you should use the whole lenght of the rope). When you have reached the opposite side of the supports, you can close the binding tying another reef knot to one of the supports.
It’s time to place the board on top of the table and…enjoy it!
