Ropework - Pioneering Projects

1 1 RopeworkROPEWORK2 RopeworkStopper knotsStopper knots are used as atemporary method of stopping a ropefrom fraying or as a method of lockingother knots which maybe prone knots are theOverhand KnotFigure of Eight KnotOverhand Overhand Knot canbe used to create a loopby doubling the ropeand then tying the of Eight3 Joining KnotJoining knots are used for joining ropesof different thickness together. The ReefKnot and the Fisherman s Knot areused when joining ropes of the samethickness together whereas the SheetBend is better suited to ropes of Joining Knots areThe Reef KnotThe Sheet BendThe Fisherman s KnotReef Reef Knot is used for tyingbandages because when tied itlies tied with light and heavylines it may be necessary tosecure with a stopper knot orcomplete a number of turns as itStage 3 ROPEWORK4 Fisherman s knot is particularly usefulfor tying fishing line togetherFixing KnotsFixing knots are those knots whichare best suited to fixing a rope to apole or object.

2 The Clove Hitch andthe Round Turn and two half hitchesare the main knots used for Marline Hitch is used forattaching the rungs to a rope you need to drag a log or starta diagonal lashing you use theTimber Hitch. The Highwayman sHitch is a fun knot which can be usedto fix a rope to a branch so as to climbup or down a tree. The beauty of thisknot is that it can be removed from theground by pulling on the slip loop. Thefixing knots are:-The Clove HitchThe Round Turn and twohalf hitchesThe Highwayman s HitchThe Marline HitchTimber HitchThe Clove Hitch is normally used forfixing to a pole when starting a lashingThe Clove Hitch can also be tiedusing two loops which are passedover the top of a pole5 Round Turn and two half knot is normally used tosecure a rope to a tree or pole as itwill not slip under strain. Normallyused in boating for tying up a boatto the s loopROPEWORK6 Marline KnotsThe Bowline, Figure of eight loop and Manharness Knot are essentially climbingknots.

3 Each knot creates a loop that will not slip under strain. The Bowline isnormally used to tie yourself onto the end of a rope. The Figure of eight loop isused to attach a rope to a karabiner however it can also be used to tie yourself onto the end or middle of a rope. The Manharness Knot can do the same jobhowever this knot is normally used to tie on the middle of a on ropekeeps knot in of Eight friction knots are illustrated herethey are the Pruzzik Knot and theItalian Hitch. Both knots are normallyused in climbing and caving. ThePruzzik Knot has the unusuallyfeature, it is non-slip when underpressure and can be slid along arope when pressure is remove, auseful knot for climbing up a Italian Hitch is used with akarabiner and allows a person to belower down a rope under control dueto the friction created between thekarabiner and the KnotsManharness isattached toclimbers beltor belayThis part of therope held byclimberLoad or strain onropeItalian order to prevent a rope from fraying awhipping is applied to the end of a and plastic ropes are easily preventedfrom fraying by sealing the end of the ropeby melting the fibres using a candle orsoldering this end of thread to pullloop under the whippingPlace end of whipping threadthrough loop before pulling loopunder whipping to RopesBack spliceA back splice is used to prevent a ropefrom fraying.

4 It is created by unravellingabout 120 mm of the rope end. The firststep is to make a Crown Knot. Thentaking each strand in turn plait it back intothe rope. This is done by skipping onelay of the rope and passing the strandunder the next. Move to the next strandand repeat this process until all thestands are plaited back into the the splice on the ground and roll itunder your foot to work in the plait. Tidyup the frayed ends of the splice byburning off spliceA long splice is used to join two ends of arope. The first step is to unravel about120mm of the end of each rope. The strandsare spread apart and placed together equallyas shown. The rope is then plaited as withthe back splice - skip one lay and under thenext. Tidy up ends by SpliceThe eye splice is slightly more complicatedthat the other splicing methods however theplaiting method is the same.

5 Normally it isnecessary to have an awl or pointed dowelto enable the lay of the rope to be is done by twisting the rope, pushingthe dowel between the lay to create a holeso that the plaiting strand can be passedthrough the lay of the the end of the rope by about120mm. Turn the rope to create the the lay of the rope. It will have 3strands and it is necessary to place a strandunder each lay of the rope. Be careful not toget your strands crossed - under the samelay - otherwise the splice will not plaitcorrectly. When the strands have beenplaced equally under the lays plait the ropeas in the back splice - skip one lay andunder the next. Tidy up the ends by burningwhen finishedCommando ropeThe toggle rope came into prominenceduring the second world war, especiallywith commandos, who often in the courseof their duties had to scale walls, climbcliffs, cross deep streams.

6 Most of thetasks required large quantities of bulkyrope to be carried. Rather than burden afew men with such an awkward load,each soldier was given a piece of ropeabout 2 metres in length, and 20mm -25mm in diameter, with an eye splice onone end and a toggle on the other,secured by means of another eyesplice. The open eye splice was largeenough to allow a toggle to fit throughwith no danger of the toggle is a varsitile piece of equipment thatevery Scout should have. It has manyand varied uses on hikes, in pioneeringor for emergency measures and metres in lengthROPEWORK12 LashingsLashings are knots which usea combination of knots andwrapping to create a bindingwhich holds poles Square LashingTraditional square lashingThis lashing is used for joiningpoles that cross at right angles. Theknot is started using a CloveHitch. The free end of the rope isthen passed around the poles asshown and pulled tightly after eachturn.

7 When five or six turns havebeen made you twist the rope anddo a number of frappings betweenthe two poles. The frappings pullthe wrappings together and tightenthe lashing. Finish with a CloveHitchDiagonal LashingThe diagonal lashing is used tolash together poles which crosseach other at an angle. Thislashing is started by using atimber hitch. Once secure thewrapping is created as the frapping and finishingwith a Clove Hitch13 Norwegian LashingThe Norwegian Lashing iseasier to lash and results in atighter lashing due to the factthat you are tightening therope against itself. Thelashing is created by halvingthe lashing rope and startingat the middle around theupright pole. Make fourwrappings by pulling andchanging over the lashingropes. Then create a numberof frappings in a similarfashion and finish the lashingwith a Reef KnotJapanese LashingThe Japanese Lashing is similar in techniqueto the Norwegian lashing in that it is used byhalving the lashing rope.

8 Start by halving thelashing rope and creating a secure looparound the poles. Using the two strandsmake the wrappings as shown. Switch thedirection of the wrappings so as to have twosingle strands working in opposite directions,best done around a pole and frap the with a Reef KnotROPEWORK14 Shear LashingThe shear lashing is used to join twopoles together to create shear legs whenthe butt of the poles are spread apart andto create a long pole and keep themparallel. Two lashings are required one ateach end of the overlapping poles. Start withand finish with a Clove Hitch. Wrap and frapas shown. In the case of a shear legs use afrapping whereas in the case of joining twopoles do not use a LashingThe turnique lashing is a quick andeasy lashing to create. It is createdusing a closed loop of rope ( heavierthan normal lashing rope) placedaround the poles.

9 A piece of stick isthen placed through the loop andtwisted until tight. The stick is thensecured to one of the poles with apiece of stringDanish Tripod lashingTraditional Tripod lashingTripod Lashing15 Rope problem - how to placea rope on a branch thatcannot be reachedThe problemYou need to place a rope on abranch on the opposite side of aravine or river - how do you get therope around the start by using a lighter ropethan the rope you intending usingfor your bridge or swing. Create aloop in the end of the rope andplace a small stick across the loopusing the lay of the rope to hold thestick in you need some light line orstring and attach a hooked stick onthe its end. See heavy line is thrown over thebranch - or you can use a light linewith a weigh on its end first andthen draw the heavy line over the hooked stick attached to alight line and try to pass it throughthe loop.

10 Once you snag the looppull the heavy line to you. You nowhave your line attached to theopposite bank and it will be easy tocomplete your bridge or management on rockBelayWhen ever you work withropes at a height it isnecessary to belayyourself to fixed object(rockface,wall) to prevent afall. A belay is the methodthat is used to tie yourself tothis object. This is doneusing certified equipmentsuch as tapes, climbingropes, chocks and metalpegs. A belay should befixed to at least two pointsin case one point up a belay correctlyrequires training and shouldnot be attempted unlessyou know what you aredoing. Your life maydepend on is a means of lowering yourself from aheight using a rope in a controlled manner. It is nota sport in itself but rather a technique used in rockclimbing, mountaineering and caving. Specialisedtraining is required and should not be attempteduntil you know what you are doing.