When to Use Knots and Lashings
A good knot must pass three tests:
- It is easy to tie,
- it stays tied, and
- it is easy to untie.
12 common knots fall into five categories are described below along with two methods to prevent rope ends from fraying.
The five categories for these knots are bindings, bends, loops, hitches and lashings.
BINDING KNOTS
A binding knot restricts an object(s) with a single line. Tying your shoe and tying up package are examples of
binding knots.
A square knot tied with a single rope line is a
binding knot.
Use a binding knot to tie bandages, packages or
most any type of object.
BEND KNOTS
A bend knot joins two separate rope lines together.
• A square knot, also called a reef knot or joining
knot, can be used to join two lines of the same
diameter (thickness).
A sheet bend joins two lines of different
diameters.
Use a bend knot to lengthen a rope by tying
two lines together.
LOOP KNOTS
A loop knot creates a closed circle at the end of a line.
A bowline ties a loop that will not adjust in size
once tied. It is referred to as a rescue knot
because it can be tied around oneself one-handed,
and is used to lift people out of
dangerous situations.
A taut-line hitch is actually a loop knot that
easily adjusts its loop size under tension, but
remains secure once the knot is taut (pulled
tight).
Use a loop knot for tying down cargo, hold
down a automobile’s trunk lid or hold just
about anything in place.
HITCH KNOTS
A hitch ties a rope to an object like a post or ring. Think
of hitching a horse to a “hitching post.”
Two half-hitches is knot that holds a
line when being pulled from a post in
one direction.
A clove hitch is a knot that holds a line
to a post when being pulled in two
directions, like a bridge’s rope handrail.
Clove means “two” just like a deer’s
hooves are cloven – in two parts.
Use a hitch knot anywhere an attachment
of a line is needed such as posts, eye ring grommets, or
stakes. The clove hitch pulls from two directions like
securing lines along a series of posts, or as starting or
ending of a lashing (see below).
A timber hitch ties a rope to a piece of
wood; it is intentionally difficult to undo.
Use a timber hitch to secure a line to a
tree, a log or to drag a log along the
ground. The timber hitch is used to start
a diagonal lashing (see below).
LASHING KNOTS
A lashing knot holds two poles together; think of the
log wall forts of the American frontier.
A diagonal lashing begins with a
timber hitch and ends with a clove
hitch. This lashing binds poles that
cross each other at a 45° to 90° angle.
Cross bracing at 90° is only used if a
gap exists between poles.
A square lashing begins and ends with
a clove hitch and binds poles at a 90°
angle. It is stronger than the diagonal
lashing, but the square lashing cannot
be used if a gap exists between poles.
A shear lashing begins and ends with a
clove hitch and binds poles at a 0° to 45°
angle. Use this when poles must flexibly
swing apart in a scissors motion such as
the shear legs of an A-frame.
A tripod lashing begins and ends with a
clove hitch and binds poles to be
arranged to form a pyramid. Use this to
hang a pot above a fire or hold a water dispensing
device over the ground.
Use lashings to build without nails useful simple
structures like a tripod, a chair, a hang-drying rack or a
flagpole. Pioneering is the use of spars and lashings to
build complex structures with trestle triangles like a
tower, a shelter or a bridge.
There are times to not use lashings. Do not build
structures without permission while camping – never
build lashing structures in backcountry. If lashing is
permitted, only use approved materials, then untie all
structures and practice principles of leave no trace.
WHIPPING
Whipping intends to stop a rope end from unraveling.
• Tie a rope end with a simple overhand knot and
wrap it with duct tape for a temporary fix.
A whipping knot uses twine to bind
natural-fiber rope.
Heat fusing with a candle or match melts
the end of artificial-fiber ropes made of
plastic or nylon.
References:
• http://www.ropeworks.biz
• The Boy Scout Handbook