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  1. #1
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    How to untie knots

    Hey guys like an idiot I tied a knot in my amsteel hammock suspension....I should have kknown better, but I went ahead and hung in it and now that knot is hella tight. Any ideas for how to get it out, its just a basic overhand knot (i think thats what its called).

    Also, basically I accidently ordered the amsteele suspension instead of the whoopie slings. I think it is 1/8th amsteele, can that be set up using descending rings? I heard that it weakens the rope but in a pinch would I be ok to do that for a night you think? Luckily Arrowheadequipment is awesome and are rushing me the slings, my back up plan is the rings.

  2. #2
    Senior Member DemostiX's Avatar
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    You get knots out by working them. I pick, knitting needle or similar (eg marlin spike) will all do.

    The good news for you is that Amsteel is very tough, so it is not easy to damage the fiber while taking apart a knot. Yes, you are right that it is highly recommended that you splice rather knot Amsteel rope, but it does not suffer the weakness of of a kind of predecessor, kevlar, which was substantially weakened by small radius knots even after the knots were undone.

    If any of the above is wrong, a google search should turn up the error(s)

  3. #3
    Senior Member Wintec's Avatar
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  4. #4
    Senior Member samiam2714's Avatar
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    Go at the biggest loop in the knot and bend it the way it will move the most wiggle it if you can't do that with your hand do what ^ said and use a knitting needle or something similar. Keep wiggling at the different loops in the knot till you can get it out completely.
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    Senior Member oldgringo's Avatar
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    I use needle nose pliers to get a grip on the rope inside the knot, and then push on the knot with my thumb to loosen and open it. I try to be gentle, but I can't imagine that any of this, including pulling an overhand knot this tight, can be anything but bad for the rope. Funny how hanging on the stuff changes one's outlook on cordage.
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  6. #6
    Senior Member Eliteoomph's Avatar
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  7. #7
    Senior Member oldgringo's Avatar
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    A marlinspike, if you have one, is probably the least damaging tool for picking a knot.

    Dave

    "Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self."~~~May Sarton

  8. #8
    Senior Member GrizzlyAdams's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by aaronkmckay View Post
    Also, basically I accidently ordered the amsteele suspension instead of the whoopie slings. I think it is 1/8th amsteele, can that be set up using descending rings? I heard that it weakens the rope but in a pinch would I be ok to do that for a night you think? Luckily Arrowheadequipment is awesome and are rushing me the slings, my back up plan is the rings.
    I would avoid looping the cord through the rings the same way that you would loop straps. It does pinch, compression is the weakest link in Amsteel, but most importantly, there is no need to do that.

    A very simple knot secures the cord at (one) ring and comes undone with a yank. It is variation on the buntline hitch. The variation is that at the last step, rather hitching the working end, you hitch a loop (a.k.a. a bight). That leaves a tail hanging out of the buntline hitch that will release the hitch with a yank.

    Another simple knot that comes undone easily (but with a little more work) is the round turn with two half hitches
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  9. #9
    Senior Member opie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DemostiX View Post
    Yes, you are right that it is highly recommended that you splice rather knot Amsteel rope, but it does not suffer the weakness of of a kind of predecessor, kevlar, which was substantially weakened by small radius knots even after the knots were undone.
    Actually, Amsteel is weakened by severe bends just like any other cord. The difference between natural fiber ropes and synthetic fiber ropes is the slickness of the fiber. Fibers like Amsteel will pull a knot tighter than a similar knot in a natural fiber due to the lack of friction on the line. Hence increasing the bend radius in the knot. Knots actually derate synthetic fibers more than natural fibers due to this reason.

  10. #10
    Senior Member GrizzlyAdams's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by aaronkmckay View Post
    Also, basically I accidently ordered the amsteele suspension instead of the whoopie slings. I think it is 1/8th amsteele, can that be set up using descending rings? I heard that it weakens the rope but in a pinch would I be ok to do that for a night you think? Luckily Arrowheadequipment is awesome and are rushing me the slings, my back up plan is the rings.
    I would avoid looping the cord through the rings the same way that you would loop straps. It does pinch, compression is the weakest link in Amsteel, but most importantly, there is no need to do that.

    A very simple knot secures the cord at (one) ring and comes undone with a yank. It is variation on the buntline hitch. The variation is that at Step 5 you fold the working end over to form a loop (a.k.a. a bight) and push the fold through Steps 6 and 7 rather than the end of the cord.That leaves a tail hanging out of the buntline hitch that will release the hitch with a yank.

    Another simple knot that comes undone easily (but with a little more work) is the round turn with two half hitches

    A little practice gets these knots into your hands muscle memory and cord becomes your friend, not an enemy.
    Grizz
    (alias ProfessorHammock on youtube)

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