We have another tip from our fellow member in Australia. Richard has come up with a simple jig for
making flat rope coils like those laid on the deck beside cannon to take up the spare rope, quick and
easy.
You need two small square non flexing discs just a bit larger than the biggest coils you want to make.
One of the discs needs to be made of clear Perspex so you can monitor the coil as it forms. In the
Perspex disc cut a slot like a slice of pie or a deep but narrow letter U shape leaving a small opening to
apply the glue when the coil has been formed. The slot should reach to almost touching the hole in the
center and should have a rounded inner point rather than a sharp point. (The discs themselves can be
round if you want to go to the trouble.)
Drill a hole in the center of both discs into which a small dowel is inserted with a snug fit. This dowel
captures one end of the thread and acts as an axel as you wind the coil.
With the thread held between the two discs, squeeze the discs together on the dowel until there is just
space for the thread. Start turning the discs in one direction checking thru the clear Perspex that the
thread is forming a true circle and not going oval or oblong in shape. The two discs keep the coil flat.
When you get to the size you want, start applying diluted PVA glue or a product like Fray Check with
a small brush to the part of the coil which is exposed in the slot cut in the Perspex disc. When the
glue is dry, rotate the disc to expose another section of thread. Repeat until the whole coil has been
glued. When totally dry, carefully separate the two discs and there is the coil, glued and flat, ready to stick on
the deck. If the glue tends to stick the thread to the discs, cut a couple of this flexible squares
of Perspex (from the top of a box of cards, etc.) and place them in between the two original discs so
that the rope coil forms between them.
A bit of care needs to be taken when separating the discs that the thread does not remain stuck to the
axel and start to pull the coil apart. Experience will show how to do it successfully. Once the coil is
made, it can be cut into what ever diameter inside the outside that is required.