From the category archives:

Stopper

Whipping and Fusing Your Fast Rope Into Shape

by The ITS Crew on August 25, 2010

Making a Fast Rope for Climbing has certainly been a fun project to undertake for our Knot of the Week!

Today we’ll be demonstrating the last steps in completing your rope, which are whipping and fusing the bitter end. Whipping and Fusing are traditionally methods to prevent a rope from unraveling and to stop fraying. We’re essentially using these techniques in the same way on our Fast Rope, to strengthen and protect the end.

The reason we chose to terminate the Fast Rope in this fashion is that in reading the Mil-Spec for Fast Rope construction, it distinctly mentions that “The free end shall be seared and whipped.” Seared is just another word for fused and fusing is actually the proper terminology. [Read More…]

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Knot of the Week: Crown Knot

by The ITS Crew on August 17, 2009

We continue our look into decorative knots this week with another popular pattern called the Crown Knot.

You’ve probably seen the Crown Knot in keychains and other interesting projects.

Today we’re going to show you how to tie a four-strand Crown Knot, and why it’s a great way to carry paracord. [Read More…]

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Knot of the Week: Monkey’s Fist

by The ITS Crew on August 10, 2009

For this week’s Knot of the Week, we’d like to introduce the Monkey’s Fist.

The last two weeks we’ve been discussing Decorative Knots, and while the Monkey’s Fist is often used to finish off decorative knot work, it also has another more common practical application.

Primarily the Monkey’s Fist is tied ton the end of a rope to be used as a heaving line, or a line to be thrown over distance. This heaving line could then be attached to a larger or heavier line and pulled into position. [Read More…]

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