Stay-tight loop made of braided rope.
Posted: 09 Feb 2017, 20:00
Hollow-braid rope is braided from groups of filaments and is hollow inside. It ranges from cheap polypropylene to expensive, but ultra strong, Dyneema. It can be spliced by inserting one end of the rope through an opening in the braid and pulling it down the center of the braid. When tension is placed on the rope, the braid tightens around the inner part and holds it in place. This can be used to make a loop of rope that can be tightened, but will hold its size when pulled open.
To make the loop, get 4 feet of cheap hollow braid polypropylene rope and melt or whip the ends. Tape a short pencil or similar to one end so it is in line with the rope and insert it from the side of the rope a few inches from one end through a gap between two sets of filaments. If you hold the rope with both hands and push them toward each other, the gaps will open. Push the pencil back out about 1 1/2 inches below the entry point and pull the rope through. Now hold both ends of the rope and pull. The loop will tighten. Hold the ends of the loop away from the splice and pull. It should stay the same length. You may have to hold the end of the rope that did NOT pass through the center also, to keep the braid tight around the splice. It depends on the stiffness of the rope and length of the splice. Experiment.
This is a small loop of Amsteel rope, good for tightening a hogtie. In the upper photo the loop runs through the shackle, in the lower one it doesn't. I'm still experimenting to see if it makes a difference. Some tension must be on the non-inserted rope end, to keep the braid tight and gripping. To release. squeeze the ends of the outer splice toward each other, just like the old Chinese finger trap.
To make the loop, get 4 feet of cheap hollow braid polypropylene rope and melt or whip the ends. Tape a short pencil or similar to one end so it is in line with the rope and insert it from the side of the rope a few inches from one end through a gap between two sets of filaments. If you hold the rope with both hands and push them toward each other, the gaps will open. Push the pencil back out about 1 1/2 inches below the entry point and pull the rope through. Now hold both ends of the rope and pull. The loop will tighten. Hold the ends of the loop away from the splice and pull. It should stay the same length. You may have to hold the end of the rope that did NOT pass through the center also, to keep the braid tight around the splice. It depends on the stiffness of the rope and length of the splice. Experiment.
This is a small loop of Amsteel rope, good for tightening a hogtie. In the upper photo the loop runs through the shackle, in the lower one it doesn't. I'm still experimenting to see if it makes a difference. Some tension must be on the non-inserted rope end, to keep the braid tight and gripping. To release. squeeze the ends of the outer splice toward each other, just like the old Chinese finger trap.