Seriously, buggered if I know, but this is apparently what experiments indicate. They're two different knots, btw, not just mirror images of each other. In the right-handed version, the working end (the "rabbit") goes around the back of the standing end (the "tree") and ends up hanging down into the loop, and in the left-handed version it goes around the front of the standing end and ends up sticking out to the side. I tried to knock up some sketches to show the difference, but can't get them to display properly :-(
It might make a very slight difference in cable-laid (twisted, and thus chiral) rope, but yeah, I think simply reflecting a bowline doesn't significantly affect either its strength or security :-)
Got a link this way :)bethanthepurpleAugust 6 2008, 22:30:24 UTC
I like your use of terminology.
My list is probably safety first, then comfort, speed, security, and finally prettiness. Breaking strain *really* doesn't matter as people will damage before rope. They're squidgy like that.
Safety is covered by rope & knots with a good bite that will grip to itself. 4 or 5 round turns before a cinch & then a reef is enough to stop tightening and is pretty comfy, but takes a good while to tie.
My favourite for a while has been the larks foot for sheer speed. Twist, hand through, tighten, and a secured partner! Not one for strugglers as it's thin, but easy to get in and out of.
The rope I use is cheap soft magician's rope, £25/100m. Comfy, wide, flexible, secure with good bite, and cheap enough to not matter if it needs to be cut. I wouldn't use it to bear loads in suspension(!) but it does very well to hold someone securely on a bed or other horizontal surface.
SM 101 & Erotic Bondage by Jay Wiseman are both good for this subject.
Re: Got a link this way :)pozorvlakAugust 8 2008, 12:10:00 UTC
I like your use of terminology.
Er, thanks! :-) I think all the terms I use are standard, for some value of "standard".
Safety is covered by rope & knots with a good bite that will grip to itself. 4 or 5 round turns before a cinch & then a reef is enough to stop tightening and is pretty comfy, but takes a good while to tie.
Makes sense.
My main use-case for the lark's foot is as an attachment point for climbers to the belay anchor. Lark's foot a sling through the abseil loop on the front of your harness, then clip it into the anchor setup with a screwgate karabiner. Interesting the different uses people have for things, isn't it? :-)
The rope I use is cheap soft magician's rope, £25/100m. Oh yeah, I know the stuff. Yes, that holds knots beautifully. Much nicer than hildabeast's B&Q polyprop rope...
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Seriously, buggered if I know, but this is apparently what experiments indicate. They're two different knots, btw, not just mirror images of each other. In the right-handed version, the working end (the "rabbit") goes around the back of the standing end (the "tree") and ends up hanging down into the loop, and in the left-handed version it goes around the front of the standing end and ends up sticking out to the side. I tried to knock up some sketches to show the difference, but can't get them to display properly :-(
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My list is probably safety first, then comfort, speed, security, and finally prettiness. Breaking strain *really* doesn't matter as people will damage before rope. They're squidgy like that.
Safety is covered by rope & knots with a good bite that will grip to itself. 4 or 5 round turns before a cinch & then a reef is enough to stop tightening and is pretty comfy, but takes a good while to tie.
My favourite for a while has been the larks foot for sheer speed. Twist, hand through, tighten, and a secured partner! Not one for strugglers as it's thin, but easy to get in and out of.
The rope I use is cheap soft magician's rope, £25/100m. Comfy, wide, flexible, secure with good bite, and cheap enough to not matter if it needs to be cut. I wouldn't use it to bear loads in suspension(!) but it does very well to hold someone securely on a bed or other horizontal surface.
SM 101 & Erotic Bondage by Jay Wiseman are both good for this subject.
Reply
Er, thanks! :-) I think all the terms I use are standard, for some value of "standard".
Safety is covered by rope & knots with a good bite that will grip to itself. 4 or 5 round turns before a cinch & then a reef is enough to stop tightening and is pretty comfy, but takes a good while to tie.
Makes sense.
My main use-case for the lark's foot is as an attachment point for climbers to the belay anchor. Lark's foot a sling through the abseil loop on the front of your harness, then clip it into the anchor setup with a screwgate karabiner. Interesting the different uses people have for things, isn't it? :-)
The rope I use is cheap soft magician's rope, £25/100m.
Oh yeah, I know the stuff. Yes, that holds knots beautifully. Much nicer than hildabeast's B&Q polyprop rope...
Thanks a lot!
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