Specialty knots

DOC-CANADA said:
It seems that most people here are more concerned with playing with their new toys than actually learning skills, so this will be the last new thread I start.

Doc
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Yup; don't blame you for that - but do hope you reconsider...!

We use a rather small library of common knots for ropes rescue, toss in a hand-full of hitches for shelter and what-not, and I haven't much to contribute.

Always like this site though: http://www.animatedknots.com/

Cool thread; Thanks Doc!

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DOC-CANADA said:
Looking at the picture at the bottom of column 2 (#9), if you tie a toggle on the loose ends, you can loop the upper loop around your belt, or whatever, and place the toggle through the loop to secure it. If this isn't clear, say so, and I'll whip up a diagram.
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Could you please? A diagram would be helpful to understand what you're saying. Thanks.
 
I'm glad this thread has been re-activated. I looked at your Icicle Hitch diagram and realized I've been tying it a wee bit differently. My version has worked well enough, but it has never looked particularly suitable for a situation where the tension might come and go. I am now going to try to memorize this better version. Thanks Doc.

I've been using the icicle hitch as a sliding, adjustable knot for hanging our display cases from the roof frame of our market gazebo. I used to use a midshipman's hitch, but I've come to prefer the icicle hitch.

I tie the 'hanger' cord on to the handle of our display cases using a slipped buntline hitch. I like this knot because I can undo it really quickly with a simple pull on the tag end. Today at the market a squall hit. I managed to quickly untie the two hanging display cases and lay them on the ground.... but I didn't manage to secure the other cases on the table and one of them flipped in the wind spilling our art glass jewellery all over the ground. I couldn't attend to that immediately because there was a danger of my and my neighbor's gazebos all taking off into the air.... and we were all hanging on to them as best we could. But we got things under control eventually. I'm glad I could quickly untie those slipped buntline hitches. I heartily recommend this knot... here is a diagram:

SecureSlipKnot.jpg


I'm sure various people would be able to use a slipped buntline hitch to their advantage. I found it to be a particularly good knot for tethering my snares. It doesn't seem to slip at all, yet it can generally be undone with a simple tug on the tail end.
 
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Hey Coote,

Glad you're likin' the Slippery Buntline Hitch. It's one of my favourites. It's also relatively easy to tie one-handed.

Doc
 
Please don't stop posting your skills threads! I read and learn from all of them.

Knots are a good fireside skill practice.
 
I sure do like the slipped buntline hitch. I've never tried to tie it one-handed, but I guess I could do it in some situations. When I use it, there is often quite a bit of tension on the rope that I don't want to lose..... so I'm pulling everything tight as I try to pass the doubled tail end through a fairly small hole. One application where I use this alot is to tie a tight line between two legs of my market gazebo. The rope/cord is tied about halfway up the legs. I then drape one of the canvas sides of the gazebo over the rope, and it hangs there doubled. I do this when the weather is fine so as not to block the views at the market.... but the side is just hanging there to be lifted into postion in a hurry if it starts to rain. Having the gazebo side draped over the rope helps to make my gazebo look tidy as it blocks the view of my bags and boxes on the ground.

I could use a trucker's hitch or something similar for this application to get maximum tension on the rope, but I'd end up pulling my gazebo legs together.... and a trucker's hitch requires more time to untie it at the end of the day. A properly tied slipped buntline hitch virtually disappears when the tail end is pulled. I love it.
 
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