Cable Knots

[DarSax]

Hey all.

This came up many months ago actually, but I never found an answer and I just thought of it. The answer to this will probably be embarrassing, but I realize my (lack of) knowledge of knots is embarrassing, so here goes!

Let's say you have a batten. (Only one. It's a poor theater.) You approach that batten with a cable straight on (the cable will form a right angle with the batten), on the same level as the batten. The cable is plugged in to the wall behind you, but not affixed to anything else.

Once the cable reaches the batten, it needs to drop straight down, say, exactly 5 feet, so the cable itself will form (as close to as possible) a right angle. What knot do you use to make sure that that the cable doesn't slip down? (While placing the least amount of strain on the cable)


(to red flags: the cable is not holding anything up, it's just reaching a set piece and slack would like to be avoided.)

Thanks all!

[gafftapegreenia]

An LD I worked with had a method but I don't know the name of it. It was sort of a half clove hitch.

I usually just use tie line to create a strain relief.

[porkchop]

I'm of the opinion that anything involving cable and knots should be avoided at all costs. Wouldn't want to teach it bad habit you know. I have and would again use tie line, double wrapped with whatever knot you please (a can of worms I don't want to reopen at this time) and that should be plenty to keep the cable up.

[gafftapegreenia]

I generally agree with you porkchop however the method I witnessed did not appear particularly troubling.

I will say that I do everything in my power to stop people from tying cable ends together. Either gaff it or split the pins! Stop straining the cable.

[GreyWyvern]

Doing a clove hitch around the batten will keep the cable securely in place and not put any undue strain on it. It is the method I use and it has always worked. I like it because it doesn't really knot the cable itself.

[DarSax]

Just going through my hypotethetical, 5 feet isn't really that much; in reality it was more like 20 feet, enough weight to make the cable want to slip down further. (Though it sounds like these suggestions all still apply)

thanks all!

[Reqel]

Originally Posted by GreyWyvern

Doing a clove hitch around the batten will keep the cable securely in place and not put any undue strain on it. It is the method I use and it has always worked. I like it because it doesn't really knot the cable itself.

I'd put a half-hitch over the clove hitch to lock it off and be double sure its not going anywhere

[mrb]

I form a 180deg loop in the cable and lash the two parallel runs together with tie line. Then tie the loop to the pipe. This way I can get the drop length accurate, dont have cable swinging all over the place while trying to wrap it around the pipe, and can detach and reattach the cable to the pipe without disturbing anything else. This may not be perfect either, but has saved me alot of trouble a few times.

[gafftapegreenia]

Originally Posted by Reqel

I'd put a half-hitch over the clove hitch to lock it off and be double sure its not going anywhere

Again I feel thats to many twists and knots in a short run of cable.

[Grog12]

Originally Posted by gafftapegreenia

Again I feel thats to many twists and knots in a short run of cable.

GTG...he's talking about using tie-line not the cable itself.