[GSBN] re tying half bales

[Carolatkn at aol.com]

Hi
I'd really appreciate your thoughts on re tying bales. I did a straw bale  
workshop 3 weeks ago and my left arm is still throbbing from making half 
bales.  It is very painful. I've noticed this for a few days before, but it is  
definatley much worse this time. It could have been exacerbated by the fact 
that  they only had the really thick baler twine which is very difficult to 
pull  through.
We call our knot the "truckers hitch" although I don't think that is  
strictly correct - a loop on the end, a loop a hand width away, threaded through  
and pulled in as tightly as possible and tied off. So my questions are
 
Is this just me or has anyone else experienced something similar? I don't  
want to be demonstrating this technique if I could be injuring some one.
Is there a better way to do it or a tool perhaps that could take the  
strain? I've seen someone use a pallet strapper but the best tension is achieved  
with a metal buckle - could those buckles be a condensation point in the 
wall?  I've also heard of farmers making half size bales but inevitably some 
adjustment  will be needed so customising will always be needed.
 
best wishes
Carol Atkinson
_www.strawcottage.co.uk_ (http://www.strawcottage.co.uk) 
 
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