382 ROPE AND HARNESS WORK 



dry place. If It does get wet, stretch to dry it. Do not allow 

 the end of the rope to unravel. 



362. Requirements of a Good Knot. The three re- 

 quirements of a good knot have been stated as follows: (a) 

 Rapidity with which it can be tied, (b) its ability to hold fast 

 when pulled tight, (c) the readiness with which it can be un- 

 tied. 



363. Theory of Knots and Splices. Method of making 

 various types of knots can be acquired only by practice. The 

 method of making many good knots is obtained by close ob- 

 servation. There are no very definite rules that one can fol- 

 low. The following principles should be kept in mind : 



"The principle of a knot is that no two parts which move in 

 the same direction, if the rope were to slip, should lie along- 

 side of and touch each other."* . . . "A knot or hitch must 

 be so devised that the tight part of the rope must bear on 

 the free end in such a manner as to pinch and hold it, in a knot 

 against another tight part of the rope, or in a hitch against 

 the object to which the rope is attached."! 



The student should try to apply these two principles until 

 they are thoroly mastered. 



*Wm. Kent, Mechanical Engineers' Hand Book. 

 fHoward W. Riley, Cornell Reading Course. 



