Page 145 - Randy Penn Everything Knots Book

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THE EVER YTHING KNOTS BOOK

Most hitches are tied by using Half Hitches (see page 132) in
various combinations. When using more than one, Half Hitches can
have a left or right orientation, and many hitches are tied by com-
bining just two Half Hitches. Some hitches that seem different from
each other are in fact made with the same exact combination of
Half Hitches—the only difference may be that in one case, the hitch
is tied directly onto an object, and in the other, it is tied around
the standing part. An example is the difference between the Clove
Hitch and the Round Turn and Two Half Hitches.

ESSENTIAL

Rope bound tightly will protect cargo from shifting, but it can
also damage it. Pulling a rope too tight, especially with a
leveraged hitch like the Trucker’s Hitch, will result in a crushing
force that can crack a canoe or collapse a container. Rope can
leave indentations in hardwood furniture. Use padding where
the rope comes in contact with wood.

Leveraged Hitches and Slings

Some hitches allow you to put up to three times more strain on
the rope than you are applying to tighten it. A Trucker’s Hitch pulls
on the rope as if you were using a pair of pulleys, allowing you to
make pulling tackle from a length of rope. The magnification factor
at any point is determined by how many ropes under equal ten-
sion are connected to it. Don’t get confused by trying to think
about which direction the rope is pulling. It helps to consider that
a rope can only pull, not push.
Some hitches attach rope for pulling or hoisting large objects.
The Timber Hitch is used on logs. The Barrel Sling can be used
to hoist a barrel while holding it upright, and the Barrel Hitch is a
sling that is tied like a Cow Hitch around an object. Its weight keeps
the hitch snug.

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