# i need help tying a certain type of knot **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 26, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tying-a-certain-type-of-knot/204062 "2003-09-26T23:11:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tying-a-certain-type-of-knot/204062/1 "2003-09-26T23:11:10Z")
I’m using a piece of rope to secure two objects which are pulling on opposite ends. in the middle i need to tie a knot which will resist the 2 sides being pulled apart, but will allow me to tighten the knot. the ‘regular knot’, or whatever its called, where you simply make a circle and bring the rope through the circle helps prevent the 2 objects from pulling apart but i cannot tighten it w/o undoing the whole knot. What i’d like is a knot where all i have to do is pull on a part of the rope to tighten it, but it still resisted being pulled apart. like i said with the regular knot where you make a circle and bring the rope through the circle resists tensile pressure but i cannot tighten it w/o undoing the whole thing. Maybe a pulley type system where i double back the knot 2 times then wrap the end of the rope around something 5 or 6 times will work but i think that would take up too much space. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tying-a-certain-type-of-knot/204062/2 "2003-09-26T23:39:25Z")
How far apart are the objects? Would a “come-along” fit? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tying-a-certain-type-of-knot/204062/3 "2003-09-26T23:41:42Z")
What you want is a taut line hitch. [Here’s a webpage on tying it](http://gorp.away.com/gorp/publishers/menasha/knot0202.htm), or you can ask any Boy Scout. Its most common use nowadays is in tightening tent lines, but I suspect it had its origin on sailing ships. You’ll need to attach the rope securely to one end, and have something it can pull through (a grommet, an eyehook, a pulley, or the like) on the other end. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tying-a-certain-type-of-knot/204062/4 "2003-09-26T23:43:46Z")
Can’t tell you how to tie it, but a “prussic knot” or “tautline hitch” might work. A tautline hitch is used on tent ropes. It will slide up the rope, but won’t slide back. A prussic knot is used to climb a rope. It’s attached to a loop that you step in. The knot is slid up the rope and tightens when you put your weight on the loop. One for each foot. Exactly what are you trying to do? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2003, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tying-a-certain-type-of-knot/204062/5 "2003-09-27T00:38:22Z")
Prussic is a good idea, but if you need it real tight, I use a truckers hitch. Very very simple and easy to tighten. I use it for tying down loads on a trailer and such. Tie a loop in one end. Wrap the rope around the two obects (all the way, you will have 'two pieces of rope between them now). Thread the free end through the loop and pull back on it(the loop is now somewhere between to two objects), sorta makes a pully type of situation. Then, it is pretty simple to squeeze the free end of the rope in the loop to hold it, and then tie a couple of half hitches (granny nots) to secure it. Not the best if you are worrying about rope failure, it puts a lot of stress on it. But for making a tight loop, it works great. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tying-a-certain-type-of-knot/204062/6 "2003-09-27T00:43:02Z")
thanks. i think the tautline might work. maybe a windsor knot like the one used on ties will work too. If they don’t are there any devices i can use to keep the 2 pieces of rope together? I’m sure theres some cheap piece of plastic where you can press a button and slacken the rope(s) so you can tighten it and when you release the button the device compresses them together again. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tying-a-certain-type-of-knot/204062/7 "2003-09-27T00:45:09Z")
sort of like a crosby clip [http://catalog.thecrosbygroup.com/body\_046.htm](http://catalog.thecrosbygroup.com/body_046.htm) except with a press of a button or something instead of loosening & tightening bolts. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tying-a-certain-type-of-knot/204062/8 "2003-09-27T00:48:10Z")
I should say that the half hitches are tied right at the loop. Easy to do, not too hard to untie. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tying-a-certain-type-of-knot/204062/9 "2003-09-27T00:51:45Z")
And what are you tying? You could also get some motorcycle tiedown straps. Very strong, very easy to adjust. Get them at a bike shop. ---
**Author:** ![JCThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dc4da7/32.png) [@JCThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCThunder)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tying-a-certain-type-of-knot/204062/10 "2003-09-27T02:07:40Z")
Here’s a knot called the improved clinch knot. Very popular for fishing. The harder the objects pull, the tighter it gets - like a noose… [http://www.chicagolandfishing.com/memberservices/fishingknots/improvedclinch.jpg](http://www.chicagolandfishing.com/memberservices/fishingknots/improvedclinch.jpg)