Attn Treetx, knut hitch

[Matt Follett]

Yeah I tied it today as in Mahk's picture... and your right, once loaded, the friction is up on the coil... both ways seem somewhat similar in feel, and right now I'm playing with them as attachments for my lanyard, will actually climb with them tomorrow, and as such will have a better understanding (I've been 'under the weather' and stuck inside trying to recoupe... tying into the rafters of the shop..., and fixing gear

 

[mikecross23]

I just tied up a lanyard using the picture that Mahk posted. I've been using a prussik w/ steel snap. The knut hitch is a LOT lighter when tied w/ locking aluminum biner. I haven't loaded the knot yet but see how it could be handy. I'll probably get a micropulley for the one handed thing and try out a few different "advanced hitches for my lanyard. This knut hitch should be a great back up. Thanks for the lesson!

Pictures
I should probably mention that I havent used this set up so I have no personal experience of how well it works. But I will soon!

 

[mikecross23]

Side view. . .

 

[mikecross23]

My gurantee the knot will never come off the end. . .

 

[mikecross23]

I think that one handed adjustment will be harder without the tender pulley, but I did tie my hitch short. . .

 

[mikecross23]

Hangs nice and light by my side. I wish wire core lanyards were as flexible as my climbing line. . .

 

[Matt Follett]

yeah mikecross23, I climbed with the Knut today on my lanyard, na, no need for the tending pulley, one hand slack up no problem, SMOOTH MAN!! love it large

 

[murphy4trees]

I noticed Big Jon just joined AS... It's about time!!!
Maybe a case of cabin fever got him moving in our direction.. Anyhow... perhaps he'll get around to sharing the details on the "Turner Twist"...
ANd I was a little surprised no one took a shot at it.. I bet Tim would have gotten it.. Anyone heard from him lately?
Gid Bless,
Daniel

 

[mikecross23]

The tress cord I used from end to end was only 21" inches long so there is not much for long legs on the hitch. How long did you tie your's? I think it might open up better if I start w/ a longer piece of sta-set. Good to hear that you like it w/ out the pulley.

-Mike-

 

[treeclimber165]

If you are like me and have difficulty remembering lots of different knots, here's another easy fix if you forget (or drop) your tender pulley: Just run your line inside the carabiner in between the two legs of your tres cord and the bar of the 'biner will act like a knot tender. Just use your normal hitch (Distel, V.T., etc.).

The Knut hitch looks like it would work well but I'm almost certain I wouldn't remember it when I needed it.

 

[NickfromWI]

I do that!

The trick 165 talked about is a good one. It's just too simple for some people to figure out! I use every once in a while. It's not as smooth as the other knots in this post (Knut, for example), or having that pulley, but is sure better than needing two hands to advance your hitch!

love
nick

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

Brian,

You might try 4 rising turns (like in Blake's), bring top leg down on outside of 4th coil of bottom leg (as in Blake's). Take a small bight of the lower leg just past where the top crosses down pinched between 2 fingers, with the other hand continuse sending the lower leg around the host in the same direction as the other coils it was making, only let it grab the top leg laying down also on this turn too and slide the lower leg of the coil that you are bringing around through the bight in itself you are holding open pinched betwixt the 2 fingers(as to muenter around both the upper leg and host at the same time).

Really, 2 familiar moves and watching how you join them.

i reall like that simple trick their Bri, did i say that?

 

[Mahk]

I usually cut my cords 51 - 52 inches long. I use a double fishermans on each end and sometimes vary the finished length of the cord by changing the length of the tail for the DF.

The cord in the picture was an odd piece and is just a little bit longer than 52 inches. It is a clean piece of NER T-900. I used it for the picture because the white contrasted well with the orange of the Hi Vee. I used that cord yesterday and found that four wraps (as in the picture) was a little too loose on my climbing line (which is also relatively new and clean). I added a turn on top and the Knut worked as it had with four wraps with a shorter cord. This is just to reiterate that the length, type and diameter of both the cord and the climbing line can affect the performance of the hitch. It's important to try things low and slow and realize that you may have to add a turn or shorten the split tail.

The Knut can also be self-tending when you are climbing. Once you reach a certain height in the tree, the weight of the climbing line will pull slack through the knot. This can be very helpful when simply ascending, but it can also be a hindrance when working at or just below your TIP. The French prusik can do this also and it is sometimes such a nuisance that I tie a stopper knot above the hitch.

I tried to order some of the Sta Set from Sail Net, but when the site asked for payment I got a message that said that the security code was not valid and my payment information might be sent to or viewed by other recipients. Has anyone else had this message? Can I pay Sail Net with a check?

Just for comparison I visited West Marine to see their price for Sta Set. It was 89 cents a foot.

Mahk

 

[treeclimber165]

Mahk,
I have never seen that message at SailNet, but you can call them and order it over the phone also. I think they are in the middle of revamping some of the online ordering process, order tracking isn't available this week either.

The Sta-Set has a much softer lay than the T-900 since the core is poly instead of that high-tech stuff. The double fisherman's knots tie tighter, so you need about an inch less than the T-900 for the same length finished cord.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I'm using stable braid (5/16) from Seatle Marine for around .40/ft delivered. I got a full roll.

jsut ordered a spool green 1/2 inch from them for under .70/ft (delivered). They cut it into 3 peices for me too.

 

[treeclimber165]

For the time being, JPS, I think SailNet's 22¢ per foot for 8mm white Sta Set has that beat. Check them out, they have lots of different cords on sale right now and free shipping.

 

[hillbilly]

Hmm... 22 cents per foot and free shipping. I just might try getting
a few feet delivered to my door in Sweden for free
I gotta find something cheaper than my current all Dyneema
32-braid for 60 kr / m, equals $7/m.

 

[d kraus]

This knut hitch is great! Thank you Mark and Matt for bringing it to the forum. And thank you Knut for coming up with it.

On the mikecross 23 pictures. one thing I like to do is attach the lanyard tail to my belt someplace, instead of the carabiner, then it acts as a backup in case the carabiner fails somehow. One drawback of that though, is it then makes a wider loop to catch on things.

 

[treeclimber165]

In this particular case, Dan, I have to disagree. Part of what makes me an efficient climber is being able to trust my equipment 100%. If I need to create an obstacle by attaching the end of my lanyard to something other than the carabiner, it's time to throw the carabiner away and buy one I CAN trust 100%.

I inspect my gear every time I use it, and every time I put it away. If it doesn't pass muster then I do not use it. If I use it, I trust my life on it without question. Bypassing a 'biner on my belt 'in case it fails' makes absolutely no sense to me. If it's on my belt, I must trust it 100%.

 

[mikecross23]

I used the knut hitch that I posted pics of on Wednesday and didn't like it much. Maybe it was just because I wasn't familiar w/ it. Put my hip prussik back on. I will sooner or later get another micro pulley and make a longer lanyard for my ideal pruning lanyard. I think for gaffing up spars the wire core flips much easier though.

After I tied the knut a few times, I almost forgot how to tie the distel. Just another reason I'll probably leave that one alone.

-Mike-