Thursday, September 1, 2011

Cub Scout knot practice boards

When your Cubmaster husband comes home from day camp and says, "They had these neat knot-tying boards there.  We should make some to use at pack meeting," the correct response is to scream and say, "ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!"  Of course, if you're like me and say, "Sure, that sounds like a great idea," then read this post and consider yourself forewarned.

To make your own knot practice boards, you'll need your base wood (we used a 1x10 board cut to 12-inch lengths), dowel (3/8-inch), rope or cord for the knots, drill and bits, wood glue.  (You may find a glue gun helpful, too.)

Step 1 - Cut your boards to desired size.  Sand edges and surfaces.
Step 2 - Cut dowel to desired length (about 2.5 to 3 inches).  You will need 4 pegs for each board.
Step 3 - Mark locations for holes.  You will need two holes through the board and about 2 inches apart for the square knot and the sheet bend, single holes for the bowline and slip knot, two holes each (3 inches or so apart) for the two half hitches, clove hitch and tautline hitch with one hole in each set drilled partially for the dowel peg.  Across the bottom you will need at least three holes -- one for a peg to practice the hitches, and two for rope.  Ours pictured above has four lengths for practice with the idea being that you could have two people working at once or have three knots tied in the practice area.
Step 4 - Drill holes.  You will probably need two bits, one big enough for your cord to feed through the holes and one to fit your pegs.  If desired, use a router or Dremel tool to widen holes on the back so the board can sit flush against table with knotted cords in place.
Step 5 - Using wood glue, glue pegs into partially drilled holes.
Step 6 - Decide how long to make each length of cording.  We thought having two colors for the square knot and sheet bend would be helpful to show how the knot is tied together, but you could just use a single length fed through both holes.  It's helpful to pre-tie the knots instead of just assuming that "this looks like it should be long enough."
Step 7 - Feed cord through holes, tie up your example knots and you're ready to go!  (We found that the cording stayed more secure by hot gluing the knots to the back of the board.)

We also included instructions for tying each knot on a double-sided sheet in a sheet protector for weather durability.  Let me know if you're interested in the instructions.

50 comments:

Chrissy said...

I love this idea! I wish I found it a week ago, as I'm hunting around for a cool scouting themed prize. I may do this with my Den at a later date though(with everything pre-cut of course).
Thanks for posting!

Julie B. said...

Is there any chance I could get a copy of the directions for each knot?
julie.babcock86@gmail.com

Thank you in advance. :)

The Clayburn Family said...

I would love the knot tying sheet as well! Thank you
Amy Clayburn
maclayburn@juno.com

Unknown said...

hi i would a love a copy please krystalpollard@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

Please send your instruction sheet to baggettdebi@gmail.com. I need these instructions by tomorrow, if possible. Thanks.

Erin Thompson said...

I'd love the knot tying instructions too, thank you so much
erinthompson4@sbcglobal.net

Darylsmama said...

Great job! I'd love to have a copy of the knot tying instructions if still available! Thanks for sharing! sjkram@hotmail.com

noell said...

This is awesome. I would love the instructions!

Unknown said...

Please send knot instruction sheet. Thanks! Nora_hndz@msn.

Linda C said...

Great idea! Would love the instructions thanks!
tigerden186@outlook.com

Unknown said...

I would also the the directions for the knots that you created. ttridle28@gmail.com

Itty_Bitty_Wittes said...

I would love a sheet too!

valeriewitte@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Well you tried to warn all of us, but its 4 years later and we are all still loving the knot practice board. Any chance you are still willing to send the instruction sheet you mentioned for the knots?

Thanks so much,
Lisa at lisakmoon@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

I would love the directions for knots!

Thanks,
Rachael
rachwilk693@gmail.com

3greatkids said...

I would love the instruction sheet that goes with the board
lisaallin@shaw.ca

Linda C said...

Love this idea! I would love a copy of the instruction sheet. Thanks!

Unknown said...

Could you send knot instructions please? Deirdrehealion@yahio.com

Unknown said...

Deirdrehealion@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I would love a copy of the knot instructions if they're still available. rozeyparker@hotmail.com Thanks!!

Aw said...

great idea! Would love a copy too of the instructions too.awirthlin1776@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I would love a copy of the instructions. Thank you! Savhancey@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Like all my predecessors here I would love a sheet of the knot instructions. Thanks a lot in advance.
abcfab77@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I would like a knot instructions sheet if available. Thanks for doing this post.
Webelos3219@ gmail.com

Unknown said...

I would like a knot instructions sheet if available. Thanks for doing this post.
Webelos3219@ gmail.com

April said...

I also would love board making instructions and knot tying instructions. These are great and can be used for girls camp certification!

campinasrm@yahoo.com

taylortx425 said...

Hi. I would like a knot instructions sheet if available. Thanks for doing this post.
taylortx425@gmail.com

whitesilkpurse said...

If you are still sharing, I'd like all the instructions you are willing to share. :) I'm off to camp this summer.

Many Thanks,

whitesilkpurse@gmail.com

JMcKayPhoto said...

I'd love a copy if you're still offering guidingturtle@gmail.com

Sabrina said...

Love this for my Girl Scouts ....
Could I get the knot tying instruction booklet as well ?
gstroop241x@gmail.com

Linda said...

I love this. Could I get the instructions
Lmmhughes2@gmail.com
Thank you

Unknown said...

Can I get instructions rachelreczek@gmail.com

Bridget said...

If you still have the instruction sheet, I would love one!
wintlefam@gmail.com

Thanks!

Rayel said...

I would love the instruction sheet. I think this is a great idea that could be used even with older scouts. You could even do different knots.

ladydragona@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Can I have a copy of your knot instruction sheet too please.
jmaugust@sbcglobal.net

Unknown said...

hello. Please send me a copy of the instructions for the knots. Thank you!
pack127hj@gmail.com

Jmorrise said...

Thanks you so much for posting this!
Can I have a copy of your knot instruction sheet too please.
judy.morrise@gmail.com

Betsy Damon said...

I also would love board making instructions and knot tying instructions please. bdamon@mansd.org

Robin said...

Do you still send out thr instructions? If so, I'd appreciate them.
robear529@gmail.com

Unknown said...

If knot instructions are available I'll gladly accept a copy. klamoreaux78@gmail.com

Amanda said...

I would greatly appreciate a copy of the instructions! ashvlgrl@gmail.com

Unknown said...

If instructions are still available I would love a copy as well. Thank you!

Unknown said...

I'd love instructions too if they are still around. aldacko@gmail.com thank you!

Unknown said...

I would really appreciate the instructions! Thank you!

Dean said...

Thanks for sharing I would really appreciate details and instructions for my cub pack. Thanks in advance Dean. 1stwerribeecubscouts@gmail.com

Cubs On The Run said...

I would appreciate you instructions. Thanks, Mary

Pam said...

Thanks for sharing I would really appreciate details and instructions for my cub pack. Thanks in advance. I am making binders for my Webelos and AOLs that have a practice board as well as patch holders for Troop life. Thanks.
pamelajmcbride@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Thanks for posting - this is great! Could you please email me the details and instructions so I can use with my den? cmbouda@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Thanks for this post. I am just beginning to work on knots with my den.I would love a copy of the knot instructions if they are available. keb383@msn.com

Jlambug said...

Thank you for sharing this great idea. Is there any way I could get the copy of the knoy instructions please? Jlambug@gmail.com Thanks so much!

Sierra said...

Hello, Not sure if you still have the instructions this many years later but we would like to make this for our troop as well. thank you! Sierra654321@gmail.com
~Sierra