Help me identify 'Iron Knot'. A 'self releasing knot'.
DantesBeard
A few years ago, a guy showed me what he called an 'Iron Knot'. It
will hold any weight, even up to the breaking point of the rope, but
when the tension is released the knot comes apart. Useful for lowering
buckets off a roof for example. When the bucket lands on the ground,
the knot falls open and you can pull the rope back up.
It was practical and elegantly simple. And I forgot how to make it
before I made notes.
I'd be grateful for any help so I can stop kicking myself.
Best, and thanks,
DB.
rootw...@yahoo.com
You may have seen a half hitch arranged in a certain way, such that
its nipped end is placed on the far side of the object. Something
like this:
http://www.ruckus.org/albums/album26/half_hitch.gif
Depending on the rope and the object, it may not spring open and self
release when you want. And using such a trick may result in a spilled
load.
You may also want to look at this hitch:
DantesBeard
Thank you for the leads. the Tumblehitch is similar to what I can
recall, but you have to draw the opposite end to release it. I think
the Iron Knot did have a loop which was nipped or trapped. I think I
made a comment at the time that it seemed similar to how I was taught
to tie a Bowline with one hand, the 'standing part remaining passive'
just like in the Tumblehitch instructions.
Thanks again,
The search continues...
DB
rootw...@yahoo.com
>
> - Show quoted text -
Since you bring up the Bowline, another knot form that I had in mind
was a partial or uncompleted bowline. It is quite unstable, but can
be made a little more stable in pliable rope by winding the rabbit up
the tree instead of going down the hole. It's related to the bell-
ringer's knot discussed here:
http://www.geocities.com/roo_two/spanloop.html
see also:
http://www.geocities.com/roo_two/bowline.html
(second step)
F Long
F Long
Hmn, earlier post came untied.
Have you considered the Awning Hitch?
rootw...@yahoo.com
>
Could you post an image link or a description so as there is no
confusion about your candidate for a knot that can be released from
afar when not under tension?
F Long
ABOK 83
rootw...@yahoo.com
>
> ABOK 83
Perhaps it'd work better in old frictive rope, but in modern rope, I
have trouble making ABOK 83 hold anything more than insignificant
loads.
Dan Lehman
> Since you bring up the Bowline, another knot form that I had in mind
> was a partial or uncompleted bowline. It is quite unstable, but can
> be made a little more stable in pliable rope by winding the rabbit up
> the tree instead of going down the hole. It's related to the bell-
> ringer's knot discussed here:
I think that this is on the right track, although it would
be nice to somehow nail the origin of this "Iron Knot".
There is some variance to how well the Bellringer's knot can perform.
One way to I think improve both the knot's holding AND releasing,
and get some better wear resistance to boot,
is to make a fixed eyeknot in the end of the line,
and to size this so that its double strands will be what bear the
load, and its bight-end will be what is nipped by that Bowlinesque
turn -- the twin tension on the bight will better resist capsizing
forces of the nip, and should maybe also better help spring
apart and better free themselves with some helpful rope shaking.
The pre-tied eyeknot just makes this twin-loaded bight possible,
vs. trying some other way of involving multiple strands in the
nipping turn. Maybe works best if minimal bight-end is brought
through the nip (set & load carefully).
I just tried playing around with some other constructs, and there
seemed
an annoying risk that the release wouldn't go as hoped, and one would
end up with a simple but at least some-force-sustaining knot in the
rope when one wanted it to come free. (easily freed by a groundman)
(Heck, using 3/4" manila, hoisting 62.5# of wgt.s, I ended up
loosening
an Overhand eyeknot in this system before I shook free the nip !!
HUH?!)
--dl*
====
DantesBeard
> I hope someone here can help me with instructions for a knot. A few years ago, a guy showed me what he called an 'Iron Knot'. It will hold any weight, even up to the breaking point of the rope, but when the tension is released the knot comes apart. Useful for lowering buckets off a roof for example. When the bucket lands on the ground, the knot falls open and you can pull the rope back up.It was practical and elegantly simple. And I forgot how to make it before I made notes. I'd be grateful for any help so I can stop kicking myself.Best, and thanks,DB.
Hello fellow knotheads. I'm still looking for the elusive Iron Knot.
Best, and thanks,
DB
dan_l...@hotmail.com
Yes, it's an old thread, but with an unanswered question, still.
It would help to post this to the IGKT's forum at
www.igkt.net/sm, under Practical Knots.
And it would help to have some details on :
1) what rope you've tried this knot in (or in which
you saw it tied & used) --or did you even do this,
or otherwise only get some tying instruction but
never actual-factual usage?
2) how quickly/simply tied it was (just to try to better
understand what might be its brevity of structure);
3) how many strands of rope ran through the hypothetical
bucket handle --just one, or a bight (pair) ?!
These clues might guide some imagination towards re-discovering
the mysterious-so-far "Iron knot". --or something else as effective.
Cheers,
--dl*
====
angelo.n...@gmail.com
alas after failing trying to reinvent the wheel, we tried tying a simple Single Sheet Bend with 1/2" climbing rope under tension (full rack of coconuts about 180lb), and was all we ever needed! Make sure to have as short of a tail end as will hold the knot.
For buckets: 550 paracord and Voila!
It took playing around with rope types/widths to find which one works best for each application. It's not "The Iron Knot" but it works.