The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Techniques and skills => Topic started by: Womble on March 17, 2010, 10:34:33 pm

Title: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: Womble on March 17, 2010, 10:34:33 pm

OK, I feel like a right numpty for posting this, but how on earth do you open feed sacks??

I remember my Aunt untying a loop in the stitching at the top, and pulling, whereupon the whole stitched seam just unzipped basically! So, why can't I figure out how this is done? I always end up cutting them open and feeling like a dork for not being able to work it out, despite having a degree in Engineering  >:(
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: Hermit on March 17, 2010, 10:47:46 pm
You just grab hold of the string on one side of the top of the sack and pull up.The weight of the sack keeps it on the floor and you are just tearing along the perforations. It is nothing to do with the string itself, you can put a loop in but they are normally long enough to just grab and pull. Hermit
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: cameldairy on March 17, 2010, 11:52:50 pm
 
I know what you are talking about, here you go,,,,

   1.
      Step 1

      Place the bag on the floor so the side with the flat stitches faces you. The other side of the bag has a line of knots along the top.
   2.
      Step 2

      Use the knife or scissors to clip the first stitch in the right corner of the flat stitch side. Unstitch the first two or three stitches with the tip of the knife or scissors.
   3.
      Step 3

      Hold the unstitched string in one hand and the knotty string on the other side of the bag in the other hand.
   4.
      Step 4

      Pull both strings in opposite directions at the same time. The entire string along the top of the bag will unstitch.
  :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
 
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: garden cottage on March 18, 2010, 06:33:46 am
step 5 take knife out of pocket and cut it open ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: JulieS on March 18, 2010, 06:35:50 am
 :) :) :) :)

I use the Hermit method.
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: dixie on March 18, 2010, 09:07:43 am
I use the garden cottage method! ;D
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: doganjo on March 18, 2010, 10:09:39 am
My chicken feed bags have a folded in end with pictures of hands where you just peel back the outer thin paper cover then push your hands in under the folded thicker paper.  Why can't they do that with other animal feedstuffs? ??? ???
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: Hellybee on March 18, 2010, 10:16:18 am
Some of our bags have the modern openings like the one Doganjo said about, some of the cotton which most of the time i give up on and just go for option five and get me ever ready pen knife out :)
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: carl on March 18, 2010, 10:30:20 am
Stanley knife, as I have given up trying to pull one thread and hope it zips undone.  ???
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: little blue on March 18, 2010, 07:32:51 pm
def option 5, works every time... small knife in corner of shed just for opening feed sacks, as I find the stitching stuff very unreliable, and by the time I've lugged a 20 kg sack all the way to the feed bin & hoiked it over, I want it open quickly!
Especially as we have 10 delivered at a time...
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: ballingall on March 18, 2010, 07:35:35 pm
There is a technique to it, and yes the string is designed to "unzip" not to just be pulled out, I don't think I'd be strong enoungh to do that. My partner has been living with us for over a year now, and he still can't do it, despite me giving him lessons! He feels a right numpty!

Some feed sacks are easier than others to undo, but basically, always start at the end where the string is shortest. There will be a loop, with a bit of the string through it. All you do, it take out the bit of the string through the loop, and then pull the loop you have left, and viola, the bag unzips.

I might try and get some pics, because it is hard to explain.

Beth
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: Womble on March 19, 2010, 09:23:25 pm

Thanks for the replies folks - at least I know now it's not just me!!  :dunce:

I'll have a read of this thread again the next time we buy feed, and will report back on progress!!   ;)
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: MiriMaran on March 20, 2010, 09:42:51 pm
Well done Womble, I was thinking of starting a thread on this the other day when I was struggling.  Sometimes the bag opens fine and other time they're a nightmare.  I'm not strong enough to just rip it open, but my OH does that.  However I do like the bags as intact as possible as I use them lots at work.

I will keep in my what Cameldairy has said and report back when I open the next bag.
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: CameronS on March 21, 2010, 07:12:35 pm
I'm gonna have to try "un-zipping" the bag now,
 just to see what the craze is about, i normally just slit mine but "unzipping" seems more fun   ;D  ;D  :chook:
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: juliag on March 21, 2010, 07:58:42 pm
pics explaining how to do this would be great as this gets to me as well. Sometimes the string just unzips beautifully but the majority of the times it just seems to knot and then wont go at all! I am afraid i just slit it open with a knife now but have always felt a failure!
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: xnbacon on March 22, 2010, 11:41:17 am
I'm with juliag - I KNOW they unzip but generally have to fiddle with both ends before I achieve it!!  Fine when its warm and sunny (usually am doing this outside) but in the winter with cold hands I've frequently lost my rag with it and stuck any passably sharp object into the bag and ripped it.  Will be buying a decent knife before next winter, though, screwdrivers just don't cut it in the tearing department!
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: juliag on March 23, 2010, 07:33:01 am
lol xanbacon I have tried the scredrivers method as well and it doesnt quite have the desired effect does it, I have also tried hoof picks, long nails, my teeth and supprisingly enough I am afraid I cannot reccomend any of the above! plastic in between your teeth is not a good look!
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: cameldairy on March 25, 2010, 08:24:22 pm
here's new wording, maybe will help better...If you closely examine the gunnysack, you'll notice that the stitches on one side of the receptacle are "flat", while the seam on the opposite edge of the cloth container has a knotty appearance. You'll want to face the fodder sack so that the flat stitches are on the right-hand  side as you look at the edge of the bag. Once the feed sack is so situated, find the first flat stitch in the right-hand corner. (This string "unzips" the opening.) Cut this tie off at the corner and lift out the first few loops, using a knife or a fingernail.

Next, to open the bag, grasp the just-sliced lace in one hand and hold the opposite string on the knotty side of the sack in the other hand . . . then gently pull on both strands. If you're doing this step correctly, the seam should easily unravel.

This simple trick will help you to feed your livestock in record time, and will leave you with an intact — and thus useful — feedbag as well!
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: juliag on March 26, 2010, 03:18:31 pm
here's new wording, maybe will help better...If you closely examine the gunnysack, you'll notice that the stitches on one side of the receptacle are "flat", while the seam on the opposite edge of the cloth container has a knotty appearance. You'll want to face the fodder sack so that the flat stitches are on the right-hand  side as you look at the edge of the bag. Once the feed sack is so situated, find the first flat stitch in the right-hand corner. (This string "unzips" the opening.) Cut this tie off at the corner and lift out the first few loops, using a knife or a fingernail.




Ah well thats what the problem was, I had me stitches on me gunnysack the wrong way round. What can you do if your receptacle is wrong in the first place!
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: sagehen on March 27, 2010, 11:52:37 am
Thanks cameldairy, that is definitely a useful tip. I've used car keys before when I'm in a hurry, and ended up ripping and kicking the feedbag, and of course spilling it everywhere (I have a terrible temper!)
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: valr on June 13, 2010, 10:40:19 pm
 ;D ;D I aslways end up attacking the chicken feed sacks with  a big pair of scissors ... so am grateful for these posts about how it SHOULD be done! :farmer:
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: TheCaptain on July 21, 2010, 02:47:39 pm
wear gloves and pull hard, away and up!!! I usually find that if I growl whilst doing it usually helps.   Ggggggrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Title: Re: Opening Sacks!?!
Post by: cairnhill on July 21, 2010, 03:57:46 pm
Well done Womble for posting on this.   I