5Feb14 TAC Class

1. 5Feb14 TAC Class Knots and their usage The right knot, in the right place, at the right time

2. Agenda • 550 Cord/ParaCord • Tension Knots • Clove Hitch • Taught Line Hitch • Two Half Hitches • Loops • Bowline • Wireman’s Knot • Figure of Eight • Trucker’s Hitch • Securing • Square Knot • Sheet Bend

3. 550 Cord / ParaCord • Nylonkernmantle • General Purpose utility cord • MIL-C-5040H Type III • 7-9 core yarns (3 per) • 32-36 strand sheath • 30% elongation • 550lbs breaking point • Weight: 225 (69m) per pound

4. Tension Knots • Relies upon the friction of rope-on-rope or rope-on-object to remain tied • The more tension applied, the more efficient the knot becomes • Most are easily adjustable without loss of tension

5. Clove Hitch • Uses • General Purpose Hitch • Starting and Finishing Lashings • Easily untied • Adjusts length of rope • Not adjustable without loss of tension

7. Taught-Line Hitch • Uses • Periodical adjustment • Securing tent/tarp lines • Securing Loads • Easily tightened and loosened • Requires periodical adjustment for heavy loads

9. Two-Half Hitches • Uses • Attaching Rope to a pole / object • Safety knot • Used in conjunction with other knots for extra tension • Can be difficult to untie

11. Loops • Utilize sections of the knot to form a loop • Tension on the loop increases knot effectiveness • Easy to reinforce (___-on a bite)

12. Bowline • Uses • Form a fixed loop at the end of a rope • Rescue Knot • Easy to untie even after under a load • One-handed bowline

14. Wireman’s Knot / Farmer’s Loop • Uses • Form a fixed loop • Form a loop and allow for continuation of the rope • Tighten loads • Pull a rope taught • Pulley Mechanical Advantage

16. Figure of Eight • Uses • Create a loop at the end of a rope • Create a stop(s) • Difficult to untie after put under tension (ex. Figure eight on a bite)

18. Trucker’s Hitch • Uses • Cinch down loads • Secure objects to each other • Pull a rope taught • Pulley Mechanical Advantage • Easily untied

20. Securing • Use rope-on-rope friction to remain tied • Secures two or more ends of a rope together • Connects different sized rope

21. Square Knot • Uses • Secure a rope around an object • Binding objects • Secure two ends of rope (not recommended) • May be difficult to untie after put under tension

23. Sheet Bend • Uses • Secure two ends of rope together • Secure different diameter ropes together • Easy to untie • Rapidly untying ropes (slippery sheet bend)

25. Practical