Fid devices (Phid)

[cavscout]

What sort of DIY Fids are folks using and for what size cord?

Since the search feature won't find results for "fid" I thought centralizing some discussion under a thread with fid in the title might help some find out more about what can be used as a fid for various sizes of cord.

Even though fids are very inexpensive, they seem to come for cord no smaller than 1/4". I've been looking at aluminum knitting needles as I think they are hollow, at least the larger sizes, the smaller ones probably are not.

I'm using the 7/64" amsteel grey and have ended up using a piece of 14 copper wire doubled over.

This seems to work well, but I'm wondering if anyone has found a better house hold appliance to use for cord that small.

[Tedinski]

OK... I'm a newbie, and I'll bite.

What's a "fid"?

[Sailor]

Its a pointy cone shaped piece of wood, bone, metal, used for working between strands of line when splicing or other tactics. All boatswains and sailmakers carry them.

[Tedinski]

Thanks!

I've actually used one. Now I know what it was that I used!

[Cannibal]

Thanks!

I've actually used one. Now I know what it was that I used!

Might have heard it called a Marlinespike. Different beast, but a lot of folks use the terms interchangeably.

[MacEntyre]

Might have heard it called a Marlinespike. Different beast, but a lot of folks use the terms interchangeably.

Just for those who are dying to know, and reluctant to ask, a Marlinspike is metal with a slightly flattened point, and is best used for splicing wire rope. A Fid is wooden, completely round in cross section, and is only good for working with rope.

Belaying pins, on the other hand, were made with wood or metal. All of them, Marlinspikes, Fid and Belaying Pins, were exceptional at knocking heads during a mutiny, when all other weapons were locked up below.

- MacEntyre, living in the wrong century

[oldgringo]

Just for those who are dying to know, and reluctant to ask, a Marlinspike is metal with a slightly flattened point, and is best used for splicing wire rope. A Fid is wooden, completely round in cross section, and is only good for working with rope.

Belaying pins, on the other hand, were made with wood or metal. All of them, Marlinspikes, Fid and Belaying Pins, were exceptional at knocking heads during a mutiny, when all other weapons were locked up below.

- MacEntyre, living in the wrong century

I suspect serving mallets split their share of skulls, too.

[MacEntyre]

I suspect serving mallets split their share of skulls, too.

Probably right... but there were not as many of them, and they were usually inaccessible, being kept in the Bosun's locker.

Of course, everyone had a knife, but most had no point.

[Tedinski]

I honestly don't remember WHAT it was called -- we spliced a bunch of rope @ reenactment events to hold tops of poles, make eyes in the ends, etc.

[oldgringo]

Betcha this brass tubing for model airplane fuel lines could be fashioned into some dandy little fids.
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Airpl...Item=brasstube