# A knot tying tool. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 29, 2009, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-knot-tying-tool/504626 "2009-07-29T01:23:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-knot-tying-tool/504626/1 "2009-07-29T01:23:56Z")
Neither my eyes, nor my fingers, are quite what they used to be, and tying knots (mostly for fishing) is getting to be a real chore. An old friend had a tool that looked something like a big dull needle which worked okay, but being a gadget addict, I’d like to try something else. Any recommendations? Thanks, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-knot-tying-tool/504626/2 "2009-07-29T06:43:34Z")
My dad has some sort of knot tying tool - I helped him one day set up a whole heap of ready to go hook,sinker swivel combos. I will ask him about brand name and such and get back to you. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Real\_Regency\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@The\_Real\_Regency\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Real_Regency_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-knot-tying-tool/504626/3 "2009-07-29T15:03:45Z")
Would this work? [http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H203227TL](http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H203227TL) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-knot-tying-tool/504626/4 "2009-07-29T16:00:47Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > An old friend had a tool that looked something like a big dull needle… That was probably a [fid](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fid). ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-knot-tying-tool/504626/5 "2009-07-30T00:39:16Z")
> [@The\_Real\_Regency\_Elf](#): > > Would this work? > > [http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H203227TL](http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H203227TL) Nah, I don’t think so. But thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-knot-tying-tool/504626/6 "2009-07-30T00:57:50Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > That was probably a [fid](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fid). Yes, like [this](http://charles.hamel.free.fr/knots-and-cordages/img/Giant_fid_18th.JPG), but smaller and with a a hole in the fatter end. And not very sharp, just pointy. Bosun’s mate’s used this kind in the Navy. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-knot-tying-tool/504626/7 "2009-07-30T00:58:55Z")
I just love a good fid. And the bead knotter is specific to the kind of knot and the materials you’d use when stringing pearls or similar beads. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-knot-tying-tool/504626/8 "2009-07-30T01:21:52Z")
Maybe what he had was a [marlinspike](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://store.myerchin.com/catalog/a00875large.png&imgrefurl=http://store.myerchin.com/servlet/Detail%3Fno%3D3&usg=__VluT_DyN6uPGD_-9fqDtxyzZpqY=&h=139&w=480&sz=32&hl=en&start=9&tbnid=--UrS4jH3CqFQM:&tbnh=37&tbnw=129&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522marlinspike%2522%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den), which is close in appearance and use to the fid. There are many versions of both. One could say they are the same tool, I think. But I’m looking for gadget’s, more like [his](http://www.leduncan.com/) one. Which I’ve already ordered. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-knot-tying-tool/504626/9 "2009-07-30T01:51:27Z")
That’s awesome! I must have one. I didn’t see any ordering info on the site, though. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-knot-tying-tool/504626/10 "2009-07-30T02:17:02Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > That’s awesome! I must have one. > > I didn’t see any ordering info on the site, though. Kinda weird; [http://thealphacorp.com/item.jsp](http://thealphacorp.com/item.jsp) Type “tail” into the keyword window of their search box. ---
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-knot-tying-tool/504626/11 "2009-07-30T20:51:10Z")
Just bought two- thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-knot-tying-tool/504626/12 "2009-07-31T00:55:33Z")
Ten bucks? I’m so there! Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-knot-tying-tool/504626/13 "2009-08-01T23:09:20Z")
Mine came today. I gotta say, it works great. Fits good in the hand without turning on you, a problem with the pencil type. And the grooves in the tail are a good size, making it easy to feed the end of the line through. With practice I think you could tie knots in low light. Anybody know a good spot for bluegill (panfish) near the Oakland/Berkeley CA area? I’ll order a few more for gifts and one for a spare. Okay, I found this one. Are there any more I should try out? 😉 Thanks all. mangeorge