Hi,
This is likely the most basic question ever asked, but I really don’t know much about knots.
I’d like to tie a rope to make a loop that can be “tied tight” (or tightened) and that holds strong when a force acts to try and prise the loop apart.
A diagram might help (see below). What sort of knot would you use to tie the red rope together such that the loop has little or no slack and that will hold strong if A is pulled away from B?
Hello tieitup and welcome.
There are plenty of solutions to your challenge and so I will list one and perhaps others will add theirs.
Without knowing any particulars other than the distance shown in your graphic, I will suggest that you make the cord/rope go around through both attachment points again (or as many times as feasible) and draw tight. It will be like using pulleys, so to speak. See Versatackle. (#26 at page bottom) http://www.southee.com/Knots/Knots_Miscellaneous.htm
This will allow you to maintain the major portion of your tension and then you can tie off the ends with a reef/square knot.
Of course you could use another tie off knot that would release easier, if that is a consideration.
Plenty of additional ideas to be had, just let us know more if the above doesn’t suit your needs.
SS
That would be my first thought as well but the distance between the attachment points is so short that even if access is easy it will be difficult to work in such a small gap. You might be better using wire and a mechanical fixing such as a Gripple.
Barry
Hi tieitup,
you could join the ends of the rope (as shown in your diagram) using this bend/binder
http://igkt.net/sm/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1870.0;attach=6241;image
( http://igkt.net/sm/index.php?topic=1870.msg21229#msg21229 )
A short Poldo Tackle should work too.
Ciao,
s.
Thank you Barry, I think you’ve found the perfect solution for my problem, especially given my skill level. The Gripple specs are impressive and they are quite economical too.
SS & knotsaver, thanks very much also for your suggestions. The simple adjustable bend/binder looks neat. The Versatackle would be a challenge for me. I’m not sure I could squeeze the rope I was hoping to use through attachment B twice, but maybe just. Ease of undoing/releasing the knot is not a consideration of mine.
I’ve also realised that a slightly different rope configuration would work and allow for other (hitch?) knot types (see below, although I’m not sure what knot would work best). That said, I really like the wire cable + Gripple suggestion and will be trying that.
In just four inches?!
A short [i]Poldo Tackle[/i] should work too.
Oh, how I’d luv to see you try to fit this in,
and then, to work it!
Hi Dan,
please look at the picture BendX10cmx10mm.jpg, I tied it with a 10mm rope!!! (did I exaggerate?)
I know you “love” Poldo Tackle, Dan! 
Here I used a 3mm rope (I don’t think tieitup will use a hawser!)…please look at the picture PoldoTackle10cmx3mm.jpg
(the bowline on the left was tied using the “with a rope under tension” method (then I tightened the tackle (using pliers too))).
Ciao,
s.
knotsaver, that’s very impressive. I was originally planning to use 3.5mm nylon starter rope or similar, so indeed your suggestions would likely work.
In the diagram, “B” is fixed in a wall. “A” has the potential to move, and a significant movement away from B is what I’m trying to prevent. Access to tie a knot is reasonable, although somewhat restricted due to the wall and “A” being fixed to a large solid object too.