How to Carve a Net Needle

**Pict** · 05-11-2009, 07:34 PM

I was recently given a Vic Alox Farmer and it has become my new EDC knife. The Farmer is a very strong knife and has a good assortment of tools for bushcraft or wilderness survival. I thought I'd give it a workout and carve a net needle.

If you have never carved a net needle they are a lot of fun. They involve all sorts of cuts with the knife and several other tools on a SAK. I think it is a much better test of a knife than just making fuzz sticks or a figure four. This afternoon I recorded the process on video and compressed it down to show all the steps and types of cuts in five minutes (including one break to stop the bleeding).

Mac

Carving a Net Needle

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**crashdive123** · 05-11-2009, 07:42 PM

Another great video. Is a demonstration on using the net needle soon to be on the plate?

**Pict** · 05-11-2009, 07:49 PM

It is a skill I want to learn, but yes, once I know what I'm doing. Mac

**snakeman** · 05-11-2009, 08:40 PM

Great video, That looks like a hammock weaving shuttle. I don't use a folding knife for carving any more, especially when they spring shut, because everytime they seem to fold up on me. Last time it got me stiches.

**crashdive123** · 05-11-2009, 09:07 PM

Oh yeah Pict - I meant to say - what a guy....taking one for the team and all with the gash in the thumb.....OK, gash might be a stretch.

**Runs With Beer** · 05-11-2009, 09:40 PM

Great job as allways, Is that a ceader shim your carving on?

**Ole WV Coot** · 05-11-2009, 10:07 PM

Very interesting. I am looking forward to seeing how it works, especially the knots.

**catfish10101** · 05-11-2009, 10:42 PM

How many people here (besides me) actually knows how to make a net with a net needle and string? My dad taught me when I was very young because I saw him doing it and kept asking. Eventually, he took the time to teach me.

**erunkiswldrnssurvival** · 05-12-2009, 08:16 AM

nice work pict,i havent seen one of those for a few years. i do a lot of fishing and i have a smaller one than yours its made out of bone.its delicate so i dont use it much. i guess you probably use your nets to catch birds?

**Ole WV Coot** · 05-12-2009, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by catfish10101

How many people here (besides me) actually knows how to make a net with a net needle and string? My dad taught me when I was very young because I saw him doing it and kept asking. Eventually, he took the time to teach me.

I could make one if the fish didn't laugh or the birds die waiting on me to finish. I do know practical experience sure beats any other way of learning and I have never made one.

**Pict** · 05-12-2009, 09:39 AM

Originally Posted by erunkiswldrnssurvival

nice work pict,i havent seen one of those for a few years. i do a lot of fishing and i have a smaller one than yours its made out of bone.its delicate so i dont use it much. i guess you probably use your nets to catch birds?

I'm pretty good at making cordage so the next natural progression is to learn net making. I have an ulterior motive. In Brazil part of my duties are maintaining a Sports Center. We have a court totally enclosed with nets and the soccer goals have nets that need replacing often. Behind the goals in the covered court we have huge nets to keep the balls from hitting the metal walls and annoying the neighbors, or flying outside on the other end. When I say I want to learn net making I mean it in a big way, they cost a small fortune to replace and they are made of really inexpensive plastic cord.

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This is our covered court and you can see how much net we use. The open court behind it is completely enclosed with the same type of netting. Mac