Pilum Wrapping

[Hibernicus]

Decimus, never use cotton.. way too expensive for soldiers!

If the only cord/string you can find is thick its AOK to unwind it! Hey, you'll end up with three times as much!

Another trick is to apply a layer of glue to the shaft and wrap it while the glue is still tacky!

My favorite technique is to use sinew with hide glue... especially for repairing a wood shaft tha tstarted to split from too much tossing!

[Decimus Apollonius]

Thanks Jerjenivs,

This is a pilum that was made in shop by the IXth Legion. Very sturdy! Very nice piece.


Hey Hib,

I think I will try to hunt down some more sinew....but on the flip side I was thinking just what you said as to unravel the 1/4in stuff.

[Matt Lukes]

I just used regular jute twine for mine- starting the top end vertically (end facing down) with a small drop of glue, then twisting it 90 degrees and wrapping it around so the end is underneath. Then at the bottom I use a blunt awl (a nail or anything like that would work too) to force the end up under the wrapping- easy :wink:

[Decimus Apollonius]

Very Nice! I am going to try and hunt down something that size today. I do like the cleaner look to your wrapping. Thanks for posting the pic.

[Matt Lukes]

Sure thing- you ought to be able to find this stuff pretty much anywhere- Home Depot, Lowes, general hardware stores

[Peroni]

Yep. You can get it in jute, hemp, sisal or cotton in most any craft store.

NOT sisal.. it is a Mexican Agave cactus-based fibre IIRC. Flax-based string or similar would be more accurate for Romans, if you want to get picky! :wink:

[M. Demetrius]

Right you are, Peroni, and they also make another substance from agave root--Tequila! And its cousin, Mescal. Either one will knock your lights out as sure as a glans from a sling. Maybe a little more fun.

And you can mash the leaves to make soap.

I guess it might be hard to tell the difference between say, sisal and manila for most of us. But the craft shops around here usually have one or the other. Manila is what's most often used for common rope, hemp is a little rarer here, except for cord for necklaces, etc. It has, uh, other sorta quasi-medicinal purpose too, the leaves, that is.

[Peroni]

It has, uh, other sorta quasi-medicinal purpose too, the leaves, that is.

I'm sure I don't know WHAT you mean! :wink:

[M. Demetrius]

I'm sure I don't know WHAT you mean!

Me either. Of course not.

[Decimus Apollonius]

HA! :lol: Well I found some smaller Jute to re-wrap. Will post pics of the new wrapping as sonn as I am finished. You guys have a lot of great ideas!

[Dan Diffendale]

Well I found some smaller Jute to re-wrap.

The little ones don't give much trouble. If he does, though, you could also try an Angle or a Saxon.

[Marcus Mummius]

Well I found some smaller Jute to re-wrap.

The little ones don't give much trouble. If he does, though, you could also try an Angle or a Saxon.

:lol:

[Peroni]

It's best to position the binding at the pilum's natural point of balance too.

Otherwise, when it's thrown, you'll be gripping it where there's no binding! :wink:

[M. Demetrius]

Or, if it's self harvested hemp, perhaps binding it where there's no grip...uh, never mind, what were we talking about?

[P. Clodius Secundus]

I tried using hemp to wrap the cheapy-chuckers I make, but every time I used my torch to burn off the loose fibers I had to stop to order a pizza. The I would uuuunh... woooah...wwhat was I talkin' about???