Mesh boards

The mesh board sizes that you see on the site relate to their mesh size and use. A commonly used size is 2 1/8th inch, this gives a mesh of 4 1/4 inches which allows a rabbits head to pass through but entangle the body. The rabbit is easily dispatched in the net this way, allowing the removal of the rabbit when dead. It also allows the ferret to pass through the net without too much distaurbance. Even half grown rabbits are usually held in a net using this size of mesh.

The next size is the 2 1/4 inch mesh board giving a mesh size of 4 1/2 inches, this mesh board is more commonly used for making long nets and stop nets where a fair amount of bagging is built in, allowing the rabbit to entangle itself as it runs in from the field.

The varying size of net needles which we use depends on the amount of twine which is going to be held by our needle, as well as the ability to pass a loaded needle through the mesh when knitting the net.

The largest needles are often used to make long nets and stop nets where a lot of twine is needed to make the net, or used on fox nets where the twine used is much thicker and therefore we need a larger needle to accomodate the twine.