Knot Tying for Scouts and Scouters Gary Panczner
KNOT TYING Table of contents; Parts of a rope...3 Properties of rope fibers...4 Whipping...5 Overhand knot...5 Figure eight knot...5 Fisherman s knot...6 Square knot...6 Surgeon s knot...6 Half hitch...7 Two half hitch...7 Taunt-line hitch...7 Clove hitch...8 Timber hitch...8 Lark s head...8 Bowline knot...9 Sheet bend knot...9 When To Use Knots and Lashings......10 Bibliography....11 2
Parts of a rope and knots... Standing End 3
Properties of rope fibers Breaking Tenacity Dry (grams/denier) STRENGTH Wet Strength vs. Dry Strength Shock Load Absorption Ability Manilla 5.0-6.0 Up to 120% Poor Sisal 4.0-5.0 Up to 120% Poor Cotton 2.0-3.0 85-90% Very Poor Nylon 7.0-9.5 100% Excellent Polyester 7.0-9.5 100% Good Polypropylene 6.5 100% Very Good Polyethylene 6.0 100% Fair Aramid* 18-26.5 95% Poor UHMWPE* * 30.00 100% Fair WEIGHT Specific Gravity Floats Manilla 1.38 No Sisal 1.38 No Cotton 1.54 No Nylon 1.14 No Polyester 1.38 No Polypropylene 0.91 Yes Polyethylene 0.65 Yes Aramid* 1.44 No UHMWPE* * 0.97 Yes * Based on Dupont Kevlar Data * * Based on Allied Signal Spectra Data - Type 900. Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene. * * * Resistance is relative to the length of the exposure, percent of concentration and temperature. ROPE ABRASION RESISTANCE Surface Internal Manilla Good Fair Sisal Fair Fair Cotton Poor Fair Nylon Very Good Excellent Polyester Excellent Excellent Polypropylene Good Good Polyethylene Good Good Aramid* Fair Fair UHMWPE* * Very Good Excellent 4
Whipping rope ends- Prevents fraying of the ends. Common Whipping Lay the end of a length of suitably strong twine along the end of the rope and then, beginning at the part furthest from the rope's end, take six or more turns against the lay of the rope around both the rope itself and the twine end, ( lay refers to the direction taken by the rope strands. A majority twist, or 'lay', to the right.) and haul each as taut as possible. Next, form a loop in the twine and lay the second loose end along the rope and over the turns already made. To finish the whipping, continue taking turns around the rope, working towards its end and passing the bight over the rope s end with each turn. When the bight becomes too small to pass over the end of the rope, pull the second loose end through the turns already made, haul it taut and trim off the ends. Melting... Overhand knot... Figure eight knot... 5
Fisherman s knot...two overhand knots giving a smooth secure connection (21-30% rope strength reduction). Square knot...for tying two ends together, tends to slip (65% rope strength reduction). Surgeon s knot...the double twist at the bottom holds tight, high resistance to slipping (5% rope strength reduction). 6
Half hitch...a quick way to tie off to a post. Two Half hitch...a more secure way of tying off to a post (25% rope strength reduction). Taunt-line hitch...an adjustable knot. 7
Clove hitch...for tying off to a post (25% rope strength reduction). Timber hitch... For hauling logs, timbers, heavy pipe, etc.. Lark s head...a quick, loose temporary knot. 8
Bowline...A non-sliding loop (40% rope strength reduction). Tip. If you use this knot in a man carrying situation - perhaps a rescue where a harness is unavailable - then you MUST use a stop knot Sheet bend...for joining two different size ropes, high resistance to slipping (50% rope strength reduction). Sheepshank...To shorten a rope too long. 9
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Bibliography; Knots for the Outdoors...Cliff Jacobson (2 nd. Edition). http://www.lehighgroup.com/knots.htm Animated knot tying http://www.42brghtn.mistral.co.uk/knots/42ktmenu.html http://www.animatedknots.com/indexscouting.php?logoimage=logogrog.jpg&website=www.animate dknots.com http://www.troop346.org/skills.php Animated Knots and Lashings http://www.bsatroop542.org/knots.htm 1