Sean, King of the Knots

Useful Jobsite Knots and Why You Should Know Them

First, let's go over the names and what the knots are good for. I won’t jump too deep into how to properly tie each one, there are a lot of guides that can help you with that already. Instead, let’s talk about what is important to know about using knots and how to use them effectively.

Before we talk too much about knots, let’s mention rope as well. Ropes come in many sizes and compositions, and the strength and toughness of rope vary widely. In any even moderately critical applications, an unrated rope is as good as garbage and should be left on the sidelines of whatever operation you intend to perform. In some circumstances, it may truly be a matter of life or death. 

Girth Hitch

Also known as a Lark’s Head, or Cow hitch, this knot can make a loop around an object in the middle of a rope. This can make it easier to have a single rope providing two taglines so multiple people can direct a suspended load into position. It can be used for many other things. It’s a common knot used by climbers and riggers. Like most knots, the strength of your rope is reduced when knots are used. In this case, 50% of the rope strength is the new load limit. It’s easy to tie, easy to untie, and can be done very quickly.

Bowline

This knot makes a loop at the end of a rope that won't move in either direction and is extremely secure. It is both easy to tie and untie, which is the mark of a good knot. Known for its versatility, the bowline has been used in so many different applications over time it’s been regarded as the best knot in existence by many. 70% of the rope strength is retained, this is the new load limit.

Double Fisherman

A double fisherman can be used to make a loop in a single piece of rope for use as a Prusik, or to connect two ropes together. We use it often to make tool lanyards for tying our tools off safely when working at height. We also use this frequently for prusiks, which will be covered below. 75% of the rope strength is maintained with this knot.

Figure 8

The figure 8 is the most common knot in recreational climbing and is extremely strong and easy to tie. There are several variations of this knot for tying on a bite of rope or tying a loop onto the end of a rope. In either case, this is a very strong knot that is tried and true. 80% of the rope strength is the load limit for this knot. 

Trucker’s Hitch

The trucker’s hitch is good for tying down a load or pulling a rope very tight. This is because it creates a basic 2:1 mechanical advantage system. It’s not a perfect 2:1, but it’s enough to put an extra bit of muscle onto a rope that needs to be tight. Mechanical advantage is an important topic we’ll cover at greater length in a future article. This is good for cinching down a load on a truck bed or trailer.

Square Knot

A square knot is a simple knot used to tie two ropes together, and very often used on construction sites to keep cords from coming unplugged on power tools. This knot reduces the rope strength to 45%, making it an unfavorable choice for heavy loading applications. It is useful for the odds and ends. 

Prusik

A prusik is a very useful knot common in climbing and hauling operations. This knot creates a friction lock on a rope and is commonly used as a backup for a double rope repel, or as a progress capture device on a pulley system. These loops can be made from the double fisherman’s knot, or a sewn loop from various manufacturers can be used. The strength of this setup is dependent on the type of cord being used and the primary rope in the system. More wraps in the prusik increase the holding strength, however, also reduces how easily the knot slides along the mainline. Generally, a balance must be found between these two factors to ensure the loading point is secure, and the ease of use is reasonable. When used correctly, prusiks can hold heavy loads and be instrumental in setting up an advantage system.