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Knots - Dave's Trucker's Hitch |
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This is Dave Vick, IATSE #274
Master Carpenter/Flyman/Rigger,
Wharton Center for the Performing Arts,
Michigan State University
We thank Dave for his contribution to our site.
"These knots brought to you courtesy of a tattooed rigger-type guy on the flyrail." :
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| In this case, a batten needs to be
secured, to keep it from swinging. Here's a length of 3/8" cotton sash
cord, which was clove-hitched to the pipe. We'll tie it off to the
rail, breasting it slightly upstage as we go... These hitches are
normally tied 4-5' from the securing point, to provide adjustment
range. For this demo, I'll tie it ~3' above the rail, so I can fit it
into the camera frame. |
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| Grasping the bight of the line, twist two or three turns in it, forming a loop. |
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| Pull the bight _below_ the loop
you formed through the loop, forming yet another loop. This is the
"tie-off" loop that'll do the actual work; the first loop merely
secures this one in the line. |
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| Pass the working end of the line
around whatever fixture you're tying off to. In this case, since the
line is ~100' long, I'll use another loop in lieu of a bitter end. (the
following photos will clarify this.) This has no detrimental effect on
the strength or ease of operation of the hitch. |
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| Pass the working end/loop of the line through the loop formed in steps 2 & 3. |
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| Pull on the working end/loop to
put tension in the lines. The mechanics of the hitch work along the
same lines as a block & fall... |
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Once the desired amount of
tension is applied to the lines, secure it by tying two half-hitches
around the working part of the lines, below the working loop.
...And there you have it!
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