How to catch nettle without gloves and without aching?

[Davy Jones]

Is there a particoular strategy to take it and manage it to make a rope without gloves?

PS: Is it ok say "aching" for saynh "get hurt"?

[Grizz123]

torch the needles off with a propane torch like the plumbers use. FWIW, I've never done this but thought it was a good idea

[hunter63]

Haven't used nettle for cordage.....But have suffered the "sting" many times.....

Assuming the stickers are on the stalk in one direction, or one way....I would think that pushing them down with the grain........or singing with fire may help.

You may not have a plumber torch.....but if you have fire, may be a possibility?

[Davy Jones]

Ehm maybe I have not explained it good...
I wanted to ask if there is a strategy to handle the nettles without gloves, fire and other artificial devices. Just with your hands.
If I am not wrong Ray Mears explain it in this video, but I am not able to understand what he is saying
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQHvqWCN5Eo

[hunter63]

Looks like he just pushed the nettle "stingers" over with his hands....or with the grain or direction....from base to tip.
I'm gonna assume that his hands have been toughened up from years of out door labor and use.

Did use gloves of the demo.

[Davy Jones]

ok... I have tryed to handle it with some leafs but it is very tough ahahahahaah

[Roel]

There is another way, I learned it from my grandpa.
When you are up to pluck the leaves, take a very,very deep breath and keep the air inside of your lungs.
When you do so, the surface tension of your skin will be a little higher as normal and the result of that is no, or at least almost no, sting.
But, when you just let go a little bit of the air....

[hunter63]

Well, I can truly say I had not hear that before......but then again I have been known to hold my breath when jumping into cold water.

Actually most of the nettles I have in contact with....mostly avoid them, I scrambling up a steep river bank when forced to potage or land a canoe....got to grab something....and yeah, you get stuff on your hands....arms and leg if wearing shorts and short sleeve shirts.

I generally don't when out and about.......no matter what the weather.

[Roel]

Just try it Hunter and you will knowe...

[wilderness medic]

Never had a problem handling it without anything. Only place it seems I ever get me is soft spots like the sides of my feet and ankles. Even then it's very mild and no concern to use anything to keep it from happening.

[Auban]

pluck it up from the bottom of the stem(where the stem starts being a root) and then beat it against a tree until all the leaves are gone.

[Wolfhound]

The tops of the leaves and the base of the stem are harmless. I often pick the leaves to eat in the summer time. Nettle tea or soup is a VERY good fertilizer.

[hunter63]

The tops of the leaves and the base of the stem are harmless. I often pick the leaves to eat in the summer time. Nettle tea or soup is a VERY good fertilizer.

........fertilizer?.......OK?

[crashdive123]

I can turn a bacon sammich into fertilizer.

[hunter63]

I can turn a bacon sammich into fertilizer.

Yeah, there is That.....
I was thinking laxative?....LOL

[ClayPick]

Nettle need to ferment before it gets used for a liquid fertilizer. I wonder how well it compares to human turd? I know it stinks worse if you leave it to long.