Page 79 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

The Seamstress

426. The seamstress as well as the sailmaker constantly employs

the THUMB KNOT (~5I4)' which is generally either a SINGLE or a

DOUBLE OVERHAND KNOT.

- Girl and Boy Scouts
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427. The SCOUT COIL is based on the HANGMAN'S KNOT (~366).
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After the end is stuck through the left loop, the right loop is pulled

on until it is firm. A second tier of turns may be added and the

other end be stuck instead. Whichever loop is left is hooked to the

belt.

428. A long rope may have HARNESS Loops (#329 or #105°) added

to assist in climbing.

429. The GIRL SCOUT HITCH is in principle the same as the BINDER

KNOT (~220). It is designed to hold up the stocking. There are a
428

great many other knots throughout these pages that Scouts employ

constantly. They will be found listed according to their uses.

The fisherman's litter (~283) is a bit of first-aid equipment that

every Scout should know. It consists of two poles or oars, a coil of

rope, and a bunch of seaweed.

The Ship-Model Maker

430. For seizings and whippings the CONSTRICTOR KNOT (~1249)

is recommended. Wax a strong linen thread, tie the knot, draw

snugly, and trim short (see ~ 344)' Instead of whipping small lines

merely touch the tips with Duco cement.

To splice small lines: Thread the strands and thrust the needles

without attempting to open the lay (see SPLICE ~ 2685).

To make small wire rope: Take two or three fine wires. Fasten

430 one set of ends in a vise and the other set in the chuck of a small

hand drill. Twist hard and rub well with the round shank of a screw

driver, while holding the rope taut.

To make small plain-laid rope: Take a large button having four

holes, a hand drill, and a small fishline swivel. Secure three threads

to one end of the swivel, hold the swivel in a vise so that it will not

turn. Reeve each thread through one of the holes in the button, and

hold the button close to the swivel. Secure one strand in the hand

drill. Hold taut and turn the driII to add to the lay of the thread.

Count the number of turns made with the crank and, when twi.'ited

sufficiently, keep it taut and make it fast. Repeat, giving the same

number of turns to the other two threads. Place the ends together

• • • while holding them taut and secure them, or, better stilI, have some-

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one else hold them. Hold the button in one hand, and adjust the vise

so that the swivel can turn. Keep the strands taut, and move the but-

ton away from the vise steadily to the other end. If the strands have

43\ • not been allowed to kink, the result should be a fair plain-laid rope.

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• • F or four-strand rope use all four holes in the button .

Make cable-laid rope in the same way, but with opposite twist,

using three of the ropes already made, or else three small twisted

fishlines.