Small marlingspike idea

[Guido in South Texas]

I was doing some display work with small stuff, three-lay cotton twine, and finished the ends simply with dental floss double constrictors. Pulling these up was initially a pain, so I used a pair of tapered chopsticks (quick at hand) as spikes to do so. The floss was so slick that two extra round turns were needed finishing the spike hitches to hold them secure, but the system worked so well that the eating utensils now became ditty-bag items.

To "refine" them (and make them fit the bag) I cut them to hand size, about 3 1/2", and duckbilled the tips. These will likely see usage constricting wire-bundles in tight places; I am no fan of plastic tie wraps.

[Matthew Sebring]

Sounds like a good idea. I'll have to make up a pair for myself. I must have hundreds of chopsticks lying around here there and everywhere. Welcome to the forum. Glad to see another South Texan. I'm here in Corpus.

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
Were you using the traditional Marlingspike hitch? If so, try the Pilingspike hitch, which is another of John Smith's marvels. Holds better, and probably much easier to tie, especially in these eentsy sizes.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

[Matthew Sebring]

Does anyone have an illustration of the pilingspike hitch?

[Guido in South Texas]

Brion,

I was using marlingspike hitches, adding two turns to the loop which is dropped over the end of the spike at the last. Waxed dental floss (ribbon kind) is very slick and taking the extra turns was a slow and deliberate process to do successfully; perhaps with more practice...?
The only reference to Pilingspike hitch I could find (other than folks seeking a Spanish translation) is in the January 1999 archive of Fairleads "Pieces of String Too Short to Save", and that is:


A knot that hasn't made it to mainstream print yet is what I've dubbed the Pilingspike Hitch. It is yet another gem from the hands of John Smith, and leaps in to aid the ailing Marlingspike Hitch, another old knot that has been marginalized by new materials. I'll see if we can figure out how to post some drawings of it on the site.

Is the John Smith to whom you refer the 17th century sea captian?

It has been more than a year since Fairleads has had a new article. Maybe this can be it.

[Brion Toss]

Yes, Fair Leads has been in a lengthy slumber, but I've been working towards waking it up. So stand by for the Pilingspike hitch. This year.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss