Anyone else enjoy knots and ropes?

[guitar1580]

I've always been amazed by people who know how to tie a different knot for every occasion, and it seems I'm able to stare at the intricate decorative ones for hours, like a work of art.

I remember buying some antique furniture many years ago, and was struggling to tie it into the back of my truck with my lame knots, and the seller, who had some sailing experience, used my nylon rope to tie everything down as tight as can be in about one minute flat ... it stayed tight and was easy to untie when I got home.

Since then, in my quest to build my knowledge of knot tying, I started fooling around with military spec parachute cord, and some of the things that folks are making with it these days. It is amazing stuff, and has many uses ... and was even used to repair something on a space shuttle mission to the Hubble telescope.

Parachute cord - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Below are some ornamental lanyards / switch pulls that I just designed in Feb. 2012. I named them the Dragon Egg, for the purpose of selling some on ebay. They are made from a centuries old sailor's throwing knot. There are many around which are wrapped around everything from golf balls to round steel ball bearings of all sizes. I believe I'm the first, to my knowledge, to make these beaded oval shaped ones. I've added in some metal end buttons and other decorative knots & hardware to form what I consider a work of art. I checked with Lee and he said it was okay to post some for sale on the forum, so look for my 4-sale ad which I may post this eve. in the accessory section, or let me know if you're interested in one.

So I just wondered who else here is experienced with knots, and if you have any useful ones to share, or pics of them, info, etc. I recently ran across the International Guild of Knot Tyers, and there is some good info there.

Josh P

One of my first prototypes

They're great for workshop light pull swithes

Go Steelers

 

[jkc]

The "knot" you've made is a "monkey's fist", typically of course much larger and fairly heavy, with something substantial ( a round rock or the like) around which the line is wrapped, and used for throwing the monkey's fist, baseball fashion, with a light "messenger" line attached, usually to allow the messenger line to be used to haul a larger line or hauser from one vessel to another, or etc., as in arranging for a tow. A rudimentary knowledge of lines and knots is invaluable, and a more sophisticated knowledge is all the better... The classic and still standard reference, so far as I know, is The Ashley Book of Knots, which is as elegant as useful.

 

[sqhead]

tying knots can be an art,such as what you do and as in daily life a good skill to know.If it were'nt for tie down straps,my harley would be dragging on the side of the trailer going down the road,after tying my shoes i'm lost.

always figured the more loops and wraps and tugs it would hold,of course it never does and something always gets dinged up,and i just look at the pile of rope that I can't believe did'nt work.

 

[DeathGrip]

Pretty cool. I'd like to see one with some old brass and fabric rope. Do you think you could work with other types of rope?

Added... Brass beads, Lets get nautical.

 

[Aticus]

When I first read the title to this thread I thought we were going to get a little kinky. Boy talk about being wrong!

Great stuff, though. I'm with sqhead, once past my shoes (I'm not very good there either.) I'm lost.

Pecos

 

[doublesharp]

I can't do fancy stuff but I can tie a bowline that won't let loose and then I can untie it without cutting after it's been under load. Bowline is my favorite knot but I can tie a knot for about every occasion.

 

[guitar1580]

Yes, the bowline is a good strong knot.

And yes, I have some ideas I want to try with some larger natural fiber rope. I've learned some ring lacing that was used on ship's wheels, and it looks really neat. I'm going to wrap it around a wooden post in my garden this spring with some cool rope I've located.

Also, I'm experimenting with adding some chain links between ropes, like the one below. If anyone has any old broken copper or bronze chain fragments with at least a 1/8" opening, or interesting beads that you don't need, please let me know. I like putting old items to use. I can work with as little as 2 or 3 links. Let me know and I'll gladly mail you a self abused stomped antelope.

Josh P

 

[35Rem]

My Dad was in the Navy. I did not get the knot tying genes...

 

[pilgrim6a]

Been carrying my keys on this for 40 years.

 

[guitar1580]

That's really cool, pilgrim. I like the brass clasp and snap hook too.

Josh

 

[Waldo]

As an apprentice Ironworker, I had to learn a bunch of knots,splice rope, reeve blocks and a lot of different rigging skills. I think I had to be able to tie about 10 on demand to get my journeyman's card. In the field I only used 4 or 5 knots regularly. But I have seen guys tie all kinds of knots. Some of them really get into it. It is just a matter of wanting to learn and practicing.

 

[Stevens]

There are several Knot Guides available for the Iphone and I pad, some of them free.
Steve W

 

[LVSteve]

When I first read the title to this thread I thought we were going to get a little kinky. Boy talk about being wrong!

Great stuff, though. I'm with sqhead, once past my shoes (I'm not very good there either.) I'm lost.

Pecos

I live in Vegas, so kinky is normal here.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

My Dad was in the Navy. I did not get the knot tying genes...

Same here! When I was a kid & a rope broke my Dad had no problem
splicing the two ends back together, not to mention all the knots he
tried to teach me but I was too daft, or lazy to learn.

The rope gene simply skipped a generation in our Family.
Our youngest son is an Electrical Lineman and he ties all sorts of different
knots for different applications. Hey, maybe I should learn from him?
Naw, made it to my mid-50's using granny knots & trucker's hitches
so I guess I can limp along during the rest of my "journey" using those.

When I learned rappelling I used to be able to tie a mean Monkey Fist,
but probably couldn't tie one now even if my life depended on it.

 

[Oldiron]

For basic knots get a Boy Scout knot book. A Blue Jacket manual (check with your local Squid/Navy guy) has basics on splicing etc. along with knots. From there you have the knot books and macrame books.
Larry

 

[old bear]

I've wasted many an hour trying to get a decent monkey's fist knot finished, but it's a real sense of accomplishment when you do. I also braided a "pigtail" for my pocket flashlight, keeps it secure and also doubles as an emergency blackjack.

1580 your work looks really nice.

 

[OFT II]

That's some nice work. I have trouble tying my shoes. That's why I usually wear boots.

 

[wetdog]

Here's a book I bought a long time ago. I haven't practiced with it for years. Thanks for the thread. It doesn't show the knots above.

 

[sjmjax]

As a sailboater, I learned to tie knots for both practical and decorative purposes. Fun and relaxing, usually, but sometimes annoying and frustrating instead.

Here's a neat web site for animated tutorials on tying a wide range of useful and decorative knots. Wish this site was around when I was learning. Ashley is a great reference book but a bit tough sometimes to follow with satisfactory results.

Animated Knots by Grog...
Animated Knots by Grog | How to Tie Knots | Fishing, Boating, Climbing, Scouting, Search and Rescue, Household, Decorative, Rope Care,

 

[DeadAye]

I've been into Marlin Spike Seamanship for many, many years.
The *Animated Knots by Grog* is just super - Thanks for the link