worm, parcel & serve (re: PAB #55)

General Discussion
1

Just got my IGKT-PAB newsletter (#55). The photocopied illustrations are a little murky, there is not enough contrast to read a lot of the text in the illustrations, but I’d like to understand what is going on. Let me know how wrong I am. 8)

“worming” appears to be winding a smaller cord into the … creases (I’m sure there’s a better technical term) of a rope. it looks pretty, but what is the function of this activity (rereading my post, i would now guess that worming is to even out the lumpiness of the rope for the purpose of more successful parceling)?

“parceling” appears to be completely wrapping the wormed rope with tape (sticky tape? climbing type tape?). one surmises that this activity is to protect the rope.

“service” seems to be finishing off the ends of the rope/tape combo with some type of whipping.

2

hello KnotMe…
…this is a good example of why an IGKT Dictionary
is needed…(on Derek’s Wiki):

http://igkt.pbwiki.com/

there would be definitions and examples/photos, etc of
worming/parcelling/servicing…etc..
…sometimes wire rope work is a real job: “cosmoline”!!
Dan-Alaska

3

Carol,
You are just about right - but the parcel material was/is generally canvas (but does not have to be)

Gordon

4

As far as I know you are right, Carol.

Worming is also done for show reasons. It does look nice to see a light coloured rope wormed with dark string.

Parceling was done before sticky tape was invented, in those times old, worn out sails where always at hand on (sailing) boats. These sails could be cut (or better ripped) in narrow sections. This would be used as tape. Sticky cloth tape will do the job and might well be easier to use.

Serving is winding string round the rope. It has to be done very tight and the different rounds should touch each other so water has no way to get in between the different layers of the protection.
There are several tools to do this job but the one that amazes me most is one that looks like a mallet with a bite missing. The missing bite is where it rests on the rope. The string is wound round the handle and kept under tension. The mallet with the string is wound round the rope. Sometimes it has a string holder, otherwise it is a job for a man and a boy (as they used to say.) In the old serving mallets the handle is severly bitten into by the string.
If you have acces to a copy of Ashley Book Of Knots, there is a picture on page 511, (Between ABOK 3082 and #3083 and some more info on pages 539/540, (#3336/#3351).

The final part of the job would have been waterproofing. I think tar was used but maybe other things too.

And if I used different words from what you did, maybe my spelling/words are wrong, I did look up the ABOK numbers, not the spelling.

Willeke

5

so, the whole rope is served (serviced?) not just the ends?

6

Hi Carol,

The “creases” as you called them are more generally known as the cantline, because they form a cant or slope to the line itself. You are correct that they are filled with the worming, sometimes done with two sizes of twine. The filling was done to present an even surface over which the parceling and then the service could be applied. The order of activity is -
Stretch the line to be covered
Support it along its length as needed with crossed sticks
Tar the line
Apply worming using the serving mallet to ensure that it completely fills the cantline tightly (usually done with all cantlines at the same time)
The worming and parceling is applied with the lay of the line
After worming tar the line
Apply the parceling tightly, with an overlap of about one-third the width of the preceding wrap (nowadays we use friction tape a cotton tape impregnated with adhesive and tar)
Tar the parceling
Apply the service by tightly wrapping the parceling AGAINST the lay of the line (this ensures that the parceling and service do not work against each other as the line being served twists during its work as a shroud, pennant, etc.)
Tar the service and dismount the line from its supports
The line should have gone slack from its original tension just prior to dismount, because the line has been stretched by the action of serving the line

Did you see the remarkable improvement in the original serving mallet using a small dowel in the handle so that the spool of modern nylon (polyamid) twine could be slipped over the end of the serving mallet and rest on the dowel, thereby doing away with the need for a man and a boy?

The worming, parceling and service are intended as chafe protection for the line being served. Additional chafe protection is added at the point in a shroud where it passes around the mast. Starting, finishing and joining in a repair of an additional piece of twine are part of the art of succesful service!

The whole piece of line would be served, if the line was to be used for a shroud. Sometimes a fancy canvas covering was applied to the bitter end of the line where it ended after being turned in around a deadeye. If the line was to be spliced, the service was stopped short of the spliced area and then, following the splicing completion, the splice would be served over, starting at the narrow end and working toward the thicker end. If the line was to be turned around a deadeye, the served line would be seized to itself in at least three places to hold the two parts (bitter end and standing part) together.

Thanks for asking!

Lindsey

7

Ashley calls the seams between the strands of a rope cxntlines’ where x = u (anticipating the forum’s sophomoric censor). In his glossary, Ashley says, under contline to see cxntline.

Webster’s Dictionary says ‘cantline’ and ‘cxntline’ are variations of ‘contline’. Webster says that cxntline has a folk etymology.

OED (Oxford English Dictionary) says the seam is a ‘contline’ and is uncertain about its derivation.

Although the folk associations of Ashley’s term appeal to me, I think I would probably use ‘contline’ as the name for the seams between strands of rope.

8

Hi Brian,

Now that yox come to mention it, the word contline in my version of the OED (Compact OED of 2474 pp, not incl. bibl.) says its derivation is uncertain and “…it has been suggested that cont is a variant of cant …” for which the entry reads that the word cant is from 1375 probably meaning edge, border or brink, which seems more fitting somehow - hence cantline.

Ashley does include the offensive terms in his Glossary but, for those less salacious, he refers to the cut splice #2832 as having been named in Phillips’ dictionary of 1658 with an alternative naming of cont splice. That having been said, it is interesting to note the term nevertheless and I feel sure we have said enough on the subject to be adequate.

Lindsey

9
and "...it has been suggested that cont is a variant of cant ..." for which the entry reads that the word cant is from 1375 probably meaning edge, border or brink, which seems more fitting somehow - hence cantline.
I would say more than just [i]probably[/i] means! In Swedish and Norwegian the word [b][i]kant[/i][/b] means exactly that: Edge, border or brink. You might, in other words, suspect a Scandinavian origin to the word cont or cant. During history, there has been a lot of contact (to say the least) between Western Scandinavia and the British isles, so this is hardly surprising.

Lasse C

10

Sheesh!! The things “some people” will do to their Standing Rigging!! :-/

I feel sure we have said enough on the subject to be adequate.

Uh…

Very confident, there! The Last Word!! Just imagine…

Well…

Except for a dumb question: Why would one use a Serving Mallet (a tool used to increase the tension applied when wrapping Standing Rigging with marline/string) for worming (laying in small stuff to fill the contline* as noted above)??

(BTW, yes, KnotMe, “Serving” is “Common Whipping” on the entire rope! Leagues and fathoms of wee string… You should try it sometime on a rail instead of Hitching.)

Personally, I believe all this (worming, parceling, serving, as well as leathering, & pointing) is as much to give sailors something useful to do as anything else, but I’m not “salty”. In deference to the salty crowd, sailors seem pretty good about using the right tool for the job, usually because the tool evolved (apologies to the RR) to fit the task. Take the Serving Mallet. (Please!) The grooves are to guide the Service to the head w/o nips or tucks, although they could certainly be caused by natural wear. And (from the literature) it would seem to me that there has been as much iron wire Service as fiberous cordage, which would just enhance that Natural/Design effect.

Speaking of which, earlier “Serving Mallets” or “Serving Boards” I’ve seen all have that curved part where the rope rides while the tool is in use.

Brion Toss describes a real trick: moving the rope around to get the Serving Mallet to sling itself around & around the rope, thereby riding the last wrap & pushing its own self forward for you. Neat!

Also, if I understand you correctly, isn’t the little frob (dowel) on the end of the Serving Mallet put there in order to allow the Service to be applied further up the rope – closer to the terminal tackle – and as such would predate extruded cordage?? I think I misread that, but Willeke mentioned the “string holder” already…

Not trying to speak after the last word, but KnotMe had asked for a clearer, deeper understanding.

Staying on topic, did anyone mention “SLUSHING”?? Taking nasty tar & enough solvent to make it flow, then squishing that down under your parceling to fill voids & prevent water infiltration seems like a good idea … until you smell it! Yuck! Hemp, tar, & wood – it’s amazing these things didn’t burn to the waterline all the time!

There again, at the risk of carrying on after the Last Word, what was that called, where you Worm a small cord in a big contline, then worm in ever smaller cords in the decreasing-size contlines thereby formed? “Reworming”?? “Worming-worming”? Whatever it’s called, do you start with very small stuff to fill the “bottom” of the big (first) contline?? Or is that what the Slush is for?

“The last word”? Prithee t’were so! Histoire is a Great Place for a lot of this! But as KnotMe implies, the subject is no less fascinating for its antique status! In fact, IMO, we should keep applying Service, just so we don’t lose that Cool Tool, the Serving Mallet!!

Ain’t I a stinker?

Jimbo

*SquareRigger, to give much-deserved props to knot_tyer, here’s an excellent example of exactly where the IGKT belongs: Pick a word!! C{aeiou}NTLINE is neither “offensive” nor “salacious”, unless one is somehow “aroused” by cordage… It’s a crazy world, but here’s where the Guild has its duty and responsibility: Pick a word! Use it! The rest of us will make it stick! Poly-Sci tip: If you happen to pick “C U N T L I N E”, the political controversy of making “c u n t” “respectable” in the USA (it’s not as “bad” elsewhere) will generate a lot of free publicity, which will advance the position of the Guild in the eyes of the world. And the word is…?

11

Jimbo wrote:
Also, if I understand you correctly, isn’t the little frob (dowel) on the end of the Serving Mallet put there in order to allow the Service to be applied further up the rope – closer to the terminal tackle

No Jimbo, to serve up close to an obstruction there is often (normally added by the user, not the maker) a grove/nick in the end of the mallet in line with the handle - the serving line is led over this nick, round the handle, round the mallet head and work then up the handle for tension

Gordon

12

trying to make potentially controversial terms respectable when, as Lasse C says, the appropriate term and derivation is fairly clear is a pointless expenditure of energy and frivolous abuse of power (assuming we actually have any 8) 8).

thus, i will remember cantline and service (although i will probably say “wrapping” or “whipping”)

ps. don’t shudder at those aroused by cordage. they’re a whole demographic that we want to bring into the fold, right? 8) 8)

13

You can see some better (?), well at least color,
pix at . . .

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lamivol/album?.dir=/ae31&.src=ph&.tok=phbGqxEBQ75oY0Vp

If those pix don’t clear things up, let me know and
I can send some full size orginal electronic pix.

And to explain the purpose of worming, parceling,
& serving, “WHAT LINDSEY (Squarerigger) SAID!”

14

I added a pic to the album found via the URL listed in the previous post. It should be the first pic in the album and it’s number is DSC92157.

It is a closeup of the lower topsail yard with the footrope, stirrups, & flemish horse identified. These are examples of lines that see pretty heavy use and are wormed, parcled, & served. Sailors stand on the flemish horses and footropes when they are furling/unfurling the sails.

We were working on a Flemish Horse in the pictures posted in Knot News. (Not necessarily this one, but it could be.)

Does this help clear things up (or am I whipping a dead {flemish} horse?)?

15

Hi aknotter,

Thanks for posting those great pics. It is great to see people doing the worm, parcel & serve thing.

Cheers - Brian.

16
No Jimbo, to serve up close to an obstruction there is often (normally added by the user, not the maker) a grove/nick in the end of the mallet in line with the handle
Thank you, Fairlead!

That actually answers a lot of unasked questions!

Now I’m trying to figure out how I heard about that!! I though it was in Toss’ Complete Rigger’s Apprentice, but look though I might, I can’t find it anywhere now… Such is the ‘H’ ‘E’ double-hockey-sticks that is my life.

Now where did little sister’s croquet mallets go…?

17
ps. don't shudder at those aroused by cordage. they're a whole demographic that we want to bring into the fold, right? 8) 8)
Hmmmm... I bet you're lots of fun at parties! 8)

Seriously, the BDSM crowd used to have the best instructions on knottery on the WWWeb. Before I found this site, the best online knot reverence I had used human models to show how to tie the various knots, and which ones not to use on a lover.

It’s hard to appreciate a Constrictor Knot if your reference adamantly insists that you never use it!

But (joking aside) I really do agree with you. My fundamental philosophy of life is to include, accept, understand, encourage, permit, tolerate, enjoy, and enlighten all other inquisitive people, regardless …

And there’s one other point that could fit here. Since you mentioned a certain censorship advocate, I just wanted to mention that the Internet was invented by a tribe who considers Freedom their most cherished posession, and Freedom of Speech is #1 on their “Don’t Tread On Me” list. So, while we “ugly Americans” will gladly give our lives to make sure anyone (our Constitution says “PEOPLE”, not “citizens”) can freely advocate censorship, that doesn’t mean we’re likely to listen to or support them.

(And “c u n t l i n e” was the Word, until some religious fanatic decided “the C word” would now be “naughty”. Would some censorship advocate PLEASE explain how that is supposed to work?? How can you people possibly expect us to respect you, if you just throw words away like that?? What are you thinking???)

Seriously, “cont” is not a word, so what would a “cont line” look like?? “Cant” means tilted, so that somewhat works… But look what else “cant” means:

cant2 (kănt)
n.

  1. Monotonous talk filled with platitudes.
  2. Hypocritically pious language.
  3. The special vocabulary peculiar to the members of an underworld group; argot.
  4. Cant See Shelta.
  5. Whining speech, such as that used by beggars.
  6. The special terminology understood among the members of a profession, discipline, or class but obscure to the general population; jargon.

See synonyms at dialect.

intr.v., cant·ed, cant·ing, cants.

  1. To speak tediously or sententiously; moralize.
  2. To speak in argot or jargon.
  3. To speak in a whining, pleading tone.

So, IMNERHO, maybe “cant” would work here on a few levels… “argot or jargon” … “moralize” … “vocabulary peculiar”, “obscure to the general population” – sound like they had “bowline”, “forecastle”, “gunwale”, “tackle”, “hitch”, “bend”, “turn”, etc. in mind?? If “the C word” (see n #2) so offends the obsequious as to inhibit conversation, then “CANT line” gets my vote as its censor-dodging replacement.

18

Hi Jimbo,

Thanks for your input, as usual. Your words are many and delightful and really get your point across. To give you your own props, you’re right, you’re right, you’re right, you’re right! Now, to answer (without the aid of a dictionary or even a balancing pole ;D) the questions you had previously posed…you had asked in a previous posting about why one would use a serving mallet to apply worming…

Except for a dumb question: Why would one use a Serving Mallet (a tool used to increase the tension applied when wrapping Standing Rigging with marline/string) for worming (laying in small stuff to fill the contline* as noted above)??

…and then later asked what the multiple thickness worming is called and how would it be applied…

There again, at the risk of carrying on after the Last Word, what was that called, where you Worm a small cord in a big contline, then worm in ever smaller cords in the decreasing-size contlines thereby formed? "Reworming"?? "Worming-worming"? Whatever it's called, do you start with very small stuff to fill the "bottom" of the big (first) contline?? Or is that what the Slush is for?

First question (not dumb): You use a serving mallet because it’s there and it works! The serving mallet ensures that the worming stays in place and fills the space (use whatever word you like - it’s a public forum!) - if the worming is slack it can leave the finished surface lumpy - aesthetics and practical solutions - who knew?

Second question: The multiple thickness is called worming as far as I know, but I am not the Last Word on this - maybe you know? It works when you don’t have a twine to hand (even a #120) that would fill the entire sort-of triangular space (I guess that it is really a portion of a circle) more completely. You put in the largest one first to take up the greatest space, and then make up the additional filler needed (if any) with smaller twine. I am not smart enough yet to put diagrams in here, but the simple geometry learned in elementary school should be enough to describe how one size does not complete the job well enough for some applications where a regular smooth surface is desired. I’ll try to put pictures in here for you. One last point - slush is not used for worm, parcel and service as far as I know - do you have some information that helps decide this? As far as I know, slush compounds are comprised of a grease and tar with a carrier solvent, used to preserve and lubricate (only where necessary on gaff-rigged vessels) the spars - am I wrong?

Your Last Word please… :smiley:

Lindsey

19

OK, here’s my 2 cents . . .

Use a serving mallet 'cause Ashley says so!
(((I mean that as a joke!)))

However, if you look at ABOK 3337, he shows a drawing of worming being done with a pretty detailed written description of the process. If I may quote it partially, “Large standing rigging is always wormed before parceling, the purpose being to fill all cracks and keep out moisture.”

And the very next knot, ABOK 3338 shows “Sister worming, also called backing and side worming.”

Ashley also uses the dreaded “C” word in ABOK 3338s description - horrors!

Yeah, I know, I have too much time on my hands!

20

Okay, now I’m an aknotter fan! Why? 'Cause Ashley says so!! :smiley:

"Large standing rigging is always wormed before parceling, the purpose being to fill all cracks and keep out moisture."
That doesn't mention smooth hand-comfort...
ABOK 3338 shows "Sister worming, also called backing and side worming."
That's an accurate quote, which serves well to illustrate another thread: "backing" has a different meaning here than in splicing -ambiguity inhibits communication- perhaps this is another "boo-boo" the IGKT could "fix"...?
It works when you don't have a twine ... that would fill the entire sort-of triangular space ... more completely. You put in the largest one first to take up the greatest space, and then make up the additional filler needed (if any) with smaller twine.
What about the space [b][i]under[/i][/b] the largest, first one?

I apologize for getting “slush” confused with the “usual” waterproofing tar. I should go look at a sailing ship some day…

Your Last Word please....
I get the hint. As an homage, let me quote CWA:

Worm and parcel with the lay,
turn about and serve away.