PE - issues with a rope bed ... was Bedding types

[Cherie Nolan]

So what do you use as bracing for the sides. My friends broads bowed really badly when they was in it. i was waiting to here a big pop from the broads giving way :). Are
they suppose to bend. Marguerite



"Barclay, Peter C. MAJ" wrote:
> 
> Greetings from Master Terafan,
> 
> Lady Marguerite des Fleur asked a bunch of questions about rope beds:
> 
> >How do you like sleeping on the ropes? I am asking because I slept on a
> friends beds that was a ropes bed and it was
> >really uncomfortable. and swore I would never have one.
> >But there are those the would not have anything else. I am not a small
> women by any means short and stocky, but smiles a >lot. :) But the ropes
> felt like they was cutting
> >into my hips and hurt. not sure if it because of my weight or the design or
> that was how they are suppose to feel like.
> 
> I may (or may not) be able to answer some of the questions.  I have
> discovered several things about rope beds and I will try to summarize them.
> My rope bed is different from Cariadoc's, and can be seen at
> www.greydragon.org/furniture/ropebed.html
> 
> 1) the bigger the rope, the more you will feel each place the ropes cross
> (over and under).  It will feel like a lump or a knot.  I use 1/4" sisal and
> have never had a problem with strength and it results in very small lumps.
> A simple solution to the lumps is to unfold a piece of cardboard on top of
> the ropes, and under any other padding you are using.
> 
> 2) the wider the space between ropes, the more sag the bed will seem to
> have.  My ropes are about 6" apart.
> 
> 3) It seems very difficult to get the ropes tight enough with only one
> person.  I use someone to help me (after the bed is laced).  Each person
> sits on the ground on opposite sides of the bed.  I start by bracing against
> the rail with my feet and pulling the first rope as tight as I can.  I then
> hold the rope on the outside of the board with my thumb, and tell my partner
> to pull the next rope.  (I hold with my thumb so I can get my fingers out of
> the way.)  My partner pulls the rope, and then holds with their thumb and
> tells me it is OK to pull the next one.  Normally, I am able to put enough
> pressure with my feet that by the 3rd or 4th rope I pull, the 2x6 rails of
> the bed are starting to bow inward.  We let them bow and continue working
> our way down the bed, alternating back and forth, pulling it as tight as we
> can.  The bowed rails keep the bed tight, and even after two weeks at
> Pennsic, I have not had to tighten the bed once.  In the picture of the bed,
> you can see some bow in the side rails.  It takes about 5 minutes to tighten
> the bed after it is laced.
> 
> 4) Obviously, the better the padding, the more comfy it will be.  I have
> used blankets, the thick wool felt that goes under carpets, down comforters,
> air mattresses, and thick foam pads.  My experience is that any padding that
> would be comfortable if you were sleeping on the ground, will be equally
> comfortable on my bed.  Right now we use an air mattress, with a down
> comforter (for insulation) between the mattress and the sheet.
> 
> Hope this helps.
> 
> respectfully,
> 
>                      Terafan
> 
> Master Rhys Terafan Greydragon           barclayp at eucom.mil
> University Chancellor, brewer and probably other things I can't remember...
> Seneschal, Incipient Shire of Blauwasser
> 
> 
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Lady Marguerite des Fleur, 
marguerite at ih2000.net
4260 Arthur Lane
Beaumont, Tx. 77706
phone 409-899-1488
cell 409-892-0206
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