Page 7 - Des Pawson's "Knot Craft: 35 Ropework Projects"

KNOTCRAFT 2009:Layout 1 23/10/09 12:16 Page 6

Some Tips of the Trade

URING MY YEARS of working with rope I have come across
Dpieces of information, special solutions, tools and tech-
niques from many sources that have in some way been of signif-
icant help or interest, and I would like to pass on as many of
these as I can.

TOOLS HEAVER
HEAVING MALLET When I was in Mariehamn, the
This sadly neglected tool is a rigger on the Pommern known as
great help in pulling tight ‘Little Brother’, showed me a
stubborn strands in a large rope heaver made from a piece of
splice, for tightening seizings, metal pipe with a slot at one end
and anywhere else that an extra and holes at the other. The
bit of pull is needed. It works strand, or line, is put in the slot
best with a heaving board to and a spike put through the hole;
pull/heave against. the tool is then turned like a key
to tighten the strand or line.

MARLINESPIKE
Look for a good long taper on
your marlinespike. I prefer a
rounded, flattened point.
As with all tools it is rare

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