Lineman Knots & Terms 13Mar19

Half-Hitch

The knot is used for finishing other knots and hitches, and for temporarily fastening to an object for a steady right-angle pull. It is tied with the end nipped under a turn of the rope on the far side of the object. This is fairly reliable if the use is temporary, the pull is steady, and the arrangement is not disturbed.

Bight

Any curl, or turn, or circle of a rope.

Two Half-Hitches

As its name states, it is a knot made by simply tying a half-hitch twice. It is quickly tied, reliable, can be put to many uses.

Square Knot

Can be used on light loads to tie up a package or duffle bad, or tie a handline to a pole. It is unsuitable for wet or slippery ropes, and should be used with caution - it unties easily when either free end is jerked. The knot is easy to tie but the finished knot should be checked to make certain it is correct. Two legs of each rope must line on the same side of the loop formed by the other rope as shown.

Munter Hitch

Use this knot to secure a line around an object. It can be loosened under strain and then slacked under control.

Granny Knot

Similar to a Square Knot, but has one end of the rope coming out on each side and is a *danger knot.*

Fusing a Rope

Tape the nylon, polyester, polypropylene rope around the area to be cut. Cut in middle of the tape leaving tape intact on each side. When cutting these fibers with a pocket knife or scissors, the cut ends should be fused with a match or candle flame to prevent untwisting. Natural fiber ropes do not fuse.

Running Part

The end of the rope that is free to maneuver when tying the knot. Typically, the short end.

Figure-Eight Knot

The most common use of this knot is at the end of a rope to temporarily prevent the strands from unlaying. It is also useful for preventing the end of a rope from slipping through a block or an eye. It can be tied easily and quickly and does not jam as easily as an overhand knot. It is also larger, stronger, and cause less injury to the rope fiber.

Standing Part

The rest of the rope; its end is not free to maneuver when tying the knot. Typically, the long end.

Clove Hitch

This common knot is useful for tying to any cylindrical object. If the load can rotate, add an overhand knot or one or two half-hitches back around the standing part. Without the half hitches, if the load rotates, the this knot can roll itself undone.

Common Whipping

Whipping refers to wrapping the end of a rope, so individual strands are no longer exposed. Whipping is an excellent method of seizing the end of a line. Be sure that all cover slack is out of the line before applying a whipping. If they are, the true ends of ropes, not crowned or back-spliced strands, are whipped or sewed with a strong twine or cord.

Hitch

A knot used to secure a rope to a pole, post, ring, hook, or another object, usually temporarily.

Loop

A full circle of rope formed by passing the working end over itself.

Knot

A general term for any means of fastening a rope to itself or to another object.

Bend

A knot used to fasten one rope to another.

Releasability

How difficult it is to untie a knot after it has been loaded. Knots that are difficult to untie are said to jam. Knots that come untied with less difficulty are referred to as non-jamming.

Double Sheet Bend

If the pulling will be hard or jerky, such as pulling cable into conduit, use this knot.

Whipping a Rope

Lay twine (or dental floss) on rope to form a loop. Wrap the twine around with neat, tight bindings until the length of whipping is two to three times the diameter of the rope. Pull the working end of twine through the loop. Pull hard on the other end of the twine to draw tight under the wraps. Cut off loose ends and roll the whipping under foot.

Bowline

This is one of the most useful and widely used knots. It makes a temporary eye in the end of a line. It never jams or slips if properly tied. Single bowlines can be used for hoisting or hitching directly around a ring or post. Two interlocking bowlines can be used to join tow ropes together. They cannot be untied while under strain. After relieving strain, if really tight, bowlines can be loosened by "breaking the back" - bending the top loop back over the standing part of the line. To help remember how to tie a bowline, memorize "The rabbit comes out of the hole, goes around the tree, and goes back in the hole."

Single Sheet Bend

This is the knot to use to join two ropes together.

Rolling Hitch, or Taut-Line Hitch

This knot can be used for lifting round objects such as poles, pipe, or bar-steel. The knot grips tightly if pull is constant, but slackens when tension is relieved.

Timber Hitch

This knot is used for fastening rope to posts, and for hoisting planks, timbers, and pipe, but use it only when the load is steady. The wraps need to form an eye to get the proper choke effect. When the wraps are spread around the back of the load, the holding power is greater than when the wraps are tight coils near the eye. It holds without slipping, does not jam, and loosens when the strain is relieved. Add one or two half-hitches to keep a plank or length of pipe on-end while it is being lifted.

Catspaw

This knot is used to attach a rope to a hook and is particularly useful when securing the middle of a rope to a hook. Make at least 3 twists. It does not jam and unties by itself when removed from the hook.

Running Bowline

This makes an excellent slip knot or noose. It runs freely on the standing part of the rope. It is very strong and efficient, and can be untied easily. To tie: Make an overhand loop with the end of the rope held toward you. Holding the loop with your thumb and fingers, bring the standing part of the rope so it lies behind the loop. Take the end of the rope in behind the standing part, bring it up and feed it through the loop. Pass it behind the standing part of the loop, and bring it back down through the loop.

Bowline on a Bight

Use this knot to tie a bowline in the middle of a line to secure, pull, or tie a line around an object. It can also be used to make up a set of double-leg spreaders to sit in - sit in one loop, and put the other loop around the back and under the arms. To tie it, double up the rope, make an overhand loop and pass the loop end up through. Bring the loop end toward you down, and over the other loop section. Bring the loop back up until it lies behind the standing part. Draw it tight with a slow even pull on the upper right side as shown.

Lashing

Used with knots, bends, and hitches to hold two poles together, or to anchor blocks being used to raise, lower, haul, or hold a load.