It seems everyone who gives directions on rewinding a cat-scratch post, starts by using glue, a staple, a nail, or even a screw. Since the safety of my cats is a big concern, I would prefer to use only knots to secure the sisal. There would need to be 3 knots for the project: a knot to secure the sissy to the round post; a knot to connect the coils of sisal (I bought 3); and a knot to finish off at the top. The knots will be applied to bare wood and must not loosen or slip, bearing in mind that 3 with-claws cats will be pulling them downward.
If anyone has some thoughts on this, please speak up! Also please note that I may need simple instructions, since every explanation I’ve read so far, with or without illustrations, has been baffling to me, and the animated versions move too fast! I just can’t follow.
I really would appreciate the help of any knowledgeable persons. So many of the knots listed seem to be for a temporary purpose; whereas what I need would all be permanent, tight, non-slip knots that will secure the sisal to the wood for at least a few years before needing to be replaced.
If it were me doing your project, I would tie three consecutive common whippings, one after the other on the wood (instead of the rope shown), as shown on this link that has both a static picture of instruction and a fairly slow animations (pause-able) as well.
There are other knots on the site that might inspire you to do some other rope projects.
I agree with SS on this but I would probably do it slightly differently from the method shown in the link viz.:
Take your tail end and tape it with say electrical tape (easily removed) near the top of the post. Now take a second cord, double it and place the 2 ends at the bottom of the post leaving at least 6 to 8 inches below where your wraps will start with the bight end taped next to the tail end of the rope. Take your working end and wrap from bottom to top over the tail end and over the doubled cord. Don’t wrap tightly at this stage. When you have finished wrapping leave a long end before cutting off and place the end through the bight of the doubled cord - only the end though no more than a few inches. Pull the 2 ends at the bottom to feed your wrapping end down beneath the wraps and out.
You should have one end emerging at the top and one at the bottom. Now starting from the bottom tighten the wrapping until you reach the top then pull all the slack out using the end at the bottom. Trim off the ends which are now completely buried underneath the wraps. This is similar to a common whipping but more robust and should be tighter. Repeat for further wraps.
I’m glad I stumbled on this thread as I was just about to post a question about whipping the handles on a plastic tub I use for hauling firewood. The handles are very strong but very thin and cut into the hands when the tub is loaded with 30kg or so of hardwood. Initial experiments indicate this will be a satisfactory solution.
Before adding a whipping you might try taking a short length of hosepipe, slitting it lengthways and placing this over the handle first adding a whipping over the top.
This was a great idea, and in fact I did happen to have some lengths of cheap hosepipe in my junk pile so I tried it out.
Only problem is … well, I liked the feel of the hosepipe better than the whipping, so I’m going to leave it with the bare hosepipe.
I hope that doesn’t get you into trouble - leading me away from a cordage-based solution. I wouldn’t want you to be deregistered or dis-membered or whatever happens to disgraced tyers (perhaps they have their favourite lanyard ceremonially cut in two and are then declared “ri-tyered”).
Glad you found the hose idea useful! Knots are wonderful things but sometimes we all get carried away by using cordage when there is a better solution just because we are knot tyers. At the risk of being drummed out of the Brownies I admit to occasionally using cable ties (zip ties)!
