Page 38 - The Pocket Guide to Outdoor Knots

Spectra/Dyneema
13. in (8 mm), 8-plait extensible polyester sheath with nylon core
14. ⅛ in (3 mm) sheath-&-core Spectra
15. in (8 mm) yellow sheath-&-core shock elastic (bungee) cord
16. ¼ in (7 mm) silver sheath-&-core shock elastic (bungee) cord
17. in (8 mm), 16-plait sheath-&-core Spectra/Dyneema
18. ⅜ in (10 mm) black 8-plait multifilament polypropylene
19. ⅜ in (10 mm), 16-plait sheath-&-core polyester
20. ⅜ in (9 mm), 8-plait orange matt sheath-&-core polyester

Rope’s ends

Whatever the type and construction of rope, never cut it without first ensuring
that the severed ends are prevented from first unraveling and then fraying.

Synthetic hawsers in particular, lacking the cohesive friction of vegetable fiber

ropes, will fall apart quickly; and a frayed end is impossible to work with, as
well as being a costly waste of material.
Temporarily tie or tape either side of the place where the cut will be made.

Use a pair of strangle or constrictor knots (figure 7; pages 48, 94–95), or a single

piece of friction tape (figure 8), which can be sliced through the middle to secure
both ends at a stroke. Alternatively, with synthetics, use a heated knife blade to

sever and at the same time heat-seal the cut ends. There are even proprietary
brands of “liquid whipping” (quick-drying, latex-based or polyvinyl acetate

[PVA] glues) into which already cut and tied or taped ropes’ ends can be dipped
and then left to congeal and dry in the air.