Page 38 - The Ashley Book of Knots
P. 38
ON KNOTS
Round metal-tipped shoestrings are excellent for knot practice
and are sometimes procurable in colors, but at the present time long
shoestrings are difficult to obtain.
135. To wind cord into an ordinary ball, take a few turns around
one hand, and make these turns intQ a wad by first twisting into a
figure eight and then clapping the ends together. Wind as pictured,
rotating the ball constantly and changing the axis from time to time.
136. To wind a kite string or a string that is wet, the following is
perhaps the best method to employ. "5" turns, exactly the same as 1~6
belaying-pin turns, are taken in the same manner, except that the
hand which holds the stick is pivoted or twisted right and left, so
the winding hand does not have to describe so large a figure "5." '51
To dry wet rope, coil loosely, and lay on a grating in a strong
draft.
137. To uncoil large rope, or wire rope, place the coil on edge, 139
make fast the end, and unroll. Wire rope must not be allowed to
kink.
138. On shipboard new running rigging is rove off by leading it
through a tail block that is bent to the rigging above the coil. The
end of the rope is drawn from the center of the coil. Care must be
taken that the proper end of the coil is uppermost; the rope should
come out counterclockwise as shown in '# 139, that is to say, in a
direction opposite to the normal progress of a clock hand.
139
139. Kinks are removed from new whale line by making large
successive left-hand coils and drawing up the lower end each time
through the center of the coil. The rope is led through a tail block
in the rigging. Whale line is finally coiled down right-handed in a
tub, in a manner to be described later, as '#3105.
140. The common way of taking out kinks and excess twist from
the end of a line is to twirl or spin it, beginning preferably at a dis-
tance from the end and working toward the end, but it is sometimes
worked the other way. Repeat until the entire rope lies fair.
141. To untangle a snarl, loosen all jams or knots and open a hole
through the mass at the point where the longest end leaves the snarl.
Then proceed to roll or wind the end out through the center exactly
as a stocking is rolled. Keep the snarl open and loose at all times and
do not pull on the end; permit it to unfold itself. As the rocess is
continued the end gradually emerges. No snarl is too comp icated to
be solved by this method; only patience is required.
142. To break twine or small cord, lay the right forefinger across 141
the standing part and revolve the finger exactly as the marlingspike is
revolved in making a MARLINGSPIKE HITCH, but ause when the cord
is in the position shown in the first diagram. Ho d the cord firmly in
the palm with the thumb and fingers. Grasp the upper end with the
free hand, and jerk either with the right hand, the left hand, or with
both.
The method is used with varying technique; often the thumb is
!mployed instead of the forefinger. Do not allow the cord to slip
while jerking, or a cut finger may result.
142
