Comments on: Tie-Down Gear Without Knots http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:05:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Chris http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-91929 Chris Thu, 12 Jul 2007 10:07:06 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-91929 I am very skilled at tying knots and know about nine different ways to tie the old trucker's hitch. I agree learning to tie knots is the best way, but the fact is that most people do not take the time to learn. I invented the Tite-Tie because I got tied of showing my friends how to tie a basic trucker's hitch and seeing people on the road with poorly secured loads fastened with rope and knots that looked like a bird's nest. P.S. the Tite-Tie will be available in the USA very soon, and it also works with straps too, no only rope. I am very skilled at tying knots and know about nine different ways to tie the old trucker’s hitch. I agree learning to tie knots is the best way, but the fact is that most people do not take the time to learn. I invented the Tite-Tie because I got tied of showing my friends how to tie a basic trucker’s hitch and seeing people on the road with poorly secured loads fastened with rope and knots that looked like a bird’s nest.

P.S. the Tite-Tie will be available in the USA very soon, and it also works with straps too, no only rope.

]]> By: PutnamEco http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-90291 PutnamEco Mon, 09 Jul 2007 03:55:04 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-90291 One thing the figure 9 has over the Tite-Tie, I can get it in the USA. I don't think I would entirely trust either of them over a good knot, although they both are convenient. I don't think they really outweigh the convenience of a good ratchet strap. One thing the figure 9 has over the Tite-Tie, I can get it in the USA.
I don’t think I would entirely trust either of them over a good knot, although they both are convenient. I don’t think they really outweigh the convenience of a good ratchet strap.

]]> By: Geoff K. http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-90197 Geoff K. Sun, 08 Jul 2007 22:28:03 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-90197 Stuey, the only thing I can say is, practice. You tie your shoes on a regular basis, and I assume you're relatively successful at that. ;-P That takes practice. Learn a bowline to put a fixed loop into the end of a rope, and it becomes extremely useful in lots of situations. Learn 2 half hitches and you can now attach a rope to an object securely. Learn a truckers hitch, and -- I don't care what Chris says about his magical TiteTie -- you can very securely snug down a load without any additional gizmos. Not that I don't think the TiteTie is an interesting device. Feel free to use it. I just think that it makes sense to know what to do if you don't have that special-purpose component handy, but you have rope. You can always find some sort of rope somewhere, and with it you can do a lot of cool things. The knots above are only 3 of a lot more cool knots, hitches & bends. The other day I replaced the nasty old pull on our attic stairs with a new piece of line. The line is held in place with a figure-8 knot inside the door, and I used a blood knot that creates a very comfortable knob at the end of the line. It makes the pull line comfortable and easy to use. Learn a few, practice 'em, and they'll come in handy in lots of situations. And Chris, stop shilling those things so hard... ;-) Stuey, the only thing I can say is, practice. You tie your shoes on a regular basis, and I assume you’re relatively successful at that. ;-P That takes practice. Learn a bowline to put a fixed loop into the end of a rope, and it becomes extremely useful in lots of situations. Learn 2 half hitches and you can now attach a rope to an object securely. Learn a truckers hitch, and — I don’t care what Chris says about his magical TiteTie — you can very securely snug down a load without any additional gizmos.

Not that I don’t think the TiteTie is an interesting device. Feel free to use it. I just think that it makes sense to know what to do if you don’t have that special-purpose component handy, but you have rope. You can always find some sort of rope somewhere, and with it you can do a lot of cool things.

The knots above are only 3 of a lot more cool knots, hitches & bends. The other day I replaced the nasty old pull on our attic stairs with a new piece of line. The line is held in place with a figure-8 knot inside the door, and I used a blood knot that creates a very comfortable knob at the end of the line. It makes the pull line comfortable and easy to use.

Learn a few, practice ‘em, and they’ll come in handy in lots of situations.

And Chris, stop shilling those things so hard… ;-)

]]> By: Don http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-89859 Don Sun, 08 Jul 2007 02:25:16 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-89859 Does a knot count as a tool? I think it does. Well, rope does and then knots could be like skills. A link should be posted on how to tie knots. I learned in Boy Scouts way back when. Does a knot count as a tool? I think it does. Well, rope does and then knots could be like skills. A link should be posted on how to tie knots. I learned in Boy Scouts way back when.

]]> By: Stuey http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-89203 Stuey Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:59:24 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-89203 I actually did buy two ropes last year when I moved from upstate NY to NJ. I learned a few knots then, but have since forgoten them. =( While I also agree with the merits of knowing how to tie a few useful knots, not everybody is as eager as myself to learn this kind of stuff. A lot of people go to the store, buy some rope, and then wrap it a few times before tying a shoe-lace knot. Thingamajigs like these will save or ease some frustration for them, and probably make everything a bit safer. I actually did buy two ropes last year when I moved from upstate NY to NJ. I learned a few knots then, but have since forgoten them. =(

While I also agree with the merits of knowing how to tie a few useful knots, not everybody is as eager as myself to learn this kind of stuff. A lot of people go to the store, buy some rope, and then wrap it a few times before tying a shoe-lace knot. Thingamajigs like these will save or ease some frustration for them, and probably make everything a bit safer.

]]> By: Randy http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-89143 Randy Fri, 06 Jul 2007 12:55:00 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-89143 NOT for me too. I like knots. They are cheap, useful, and can be interesting if you know more than 2 and try to understand how they work. Go buy a 50' package of 3/8" nylon or polyester braid and take the time to learn a new skill. This website is a good start. http://www.animatedknots.com/ NOT for me too. I like knots. They are cheap, useful, and can be interesting if you know more than 2 and try to understand how they work. Go buy a 50′ package of 3/8″ nylon or polyester braid and take the time to learn a new skill.

This website is a good start.
http://www.animatedknots.com/

]]> By: Chris http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-89142 Chris Fri, 06 Jul 2007 12:49:01 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-89142 G'Day Chuck and Geoff, There is one important feature with the Tite-Tie that you can't do with the Trucker's Hitch. When you use another half of a Tite-Tie you can create a double hitch, only now you can remove the half piece, slide it up and hitch again. You can repeat this three or four times and compact a load very firmly, the first Tite-Tie grips the rope allowing you to repeatedly hitch down your load giving you 4 times your pulling strength. See my video on YouTube to see how this double hitching works http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fKURe_pe6c G’Day Chuck and Geoff,

There is one important feature with the Tite-Tie that you can’t do with the Trucker’s Hitch.

When you use another half of a Tite-Tie you can create a double hitch, only now you can remove the half piece, slide it up and hitch again. You can repeat this three or four times and compact a load very firmly, the first Tite-Tie grips the rope allowing you to repeatedly hitch down your load giving you 4 times your pulling strength.

See my video on YouTube to see how this double hitching works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fKURe_pe6c

]]> By: Geoff K. http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-89121 Geoff K. Fri, 06 Jul 2007 11:31:10 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-89121 What's wrong with a few simple knots? There's no gizmo to either break or come loose, the metal piece needs careful placement if you don't want it rubbing against whatever it is you're holding down, and it just seems fundamentally unnecessary. 3 knots everyone should know would replace this device and would be sure to hold: 1) bowline for a fixed loop in 1 end, 2) a Trucker's Hitch for an adjustable, tensioned fastener, and 3) 2 Half Hitches to fasten the free end of the line. The 3rd isn't even required, it's just insurance for the Trucker's Hitch, and takes care of any slack that may be left over. Stick with the basics. Learn them & they'll never let you down. Besides, if you've got rope & no Figure 9 or TiteTie, what are you gonna do? What’s wrong with a few simple knots? There’s no gizmo to either break or come loose, the metal piece needs careful placement if you don’t want it rubbing against whatever it is you’re holding down, and it just seems fundamentally unnecessary.

3 knots everyone should know would replace this device and would be sure to hold: 1) bowline for a fixed loop in 1 end, 2) a Trucker’s Hitch for an adjustable, tensioned fastener, and 3) 2 Half Hitches to fasten the free end of the line. The 3rd isn’t even required, it’s just insurance for the Trucker’s Hitch, and takes care of any slack that may be left over.

Stick with the basics. Learn them & they’ll never let you down. Besides, if you’ve got rope & no Figure 9 or TiteTie, what are you gonna do?

]]> By: Chuck Cage http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-88947 Chuck Cage Fri, 06 Jul 2007 01:01:01 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-88947 All: As you've probably noticed from his link, Chris is financially involved in Tite Tie. That said, I agree with him. Stuey, I'm not particularly a fan of the Figure 9. I posted it because it was kind of an interesting idea. Personally, I feel like I can accomplish the job of both the Figure 9 and the Tite Tie without the tool. But if I were going to shell out for one of the two, it'd be the Tite Tie -- for the same reasons Chris of Tite Tie posted. All: As you’ve probably noticed from his link, Chris is financially involved in Tite Tie.

That said, I agree with him. Stuey, I’m not particularly a fan of the Figure 9. I posted it because it was kind of an interesting idea. Personally, I feel like I can accomplish the job of both the Figure 9 and the Tite Tie without the tool. But if I were going to shell out for one of the two, it’d be the Tite Tie — for the same reasons Chris of Tite Tie posted.

]]> By: Chris http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-88945 Chris Fri, 06 Jul 2007 00:57:00 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-88945 I agree with you Stuey. The Figure9 is only alloy and has only a 150lbs load capacity, its really only for very lightweight use. On the other hand the Tite-Tie is made from hardened steel and has a 1985lbs load capacity. Also, with the Tite-Tie one size fits all rope sizes and there's no need to lock off rope in sharp jaggered teeth like with the Figure9. See the new videos that have been added to the Tite-Tie web site: http://www.tite-tie.com.au/gallery/gallery.html I would choose the Tite-Tie anyday! I agree with you Stuey.

The Figure9 is only alloy and has only a 150lbs load capacity, its really only for very lightweight use. On the other hand the Tite-Tie is made from hardened steel and has a 1985lbs load capacity. Also, with the Tite-Tie one size fits all rope sizes and there’s no need to lock off rope in sharp jaggered teeth like with the Figure9.

See the new videos that have been added to the Tite-Tie web site:
http://www.tite-tie.com.au/gallery/gallery.html

I would choose the Tite-Tie anyday!

]]> By: Stuey http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-88913 Stuey Thu, 05 Jul 2007 23:00:57 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-88913 TM guys - I know that it's blackberries and rasberries, but how do you think this alum tie-down would compare to the steel tite-tie that you blogged about here: http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/21/reader-find-the-tite-tie/ ? Which would you guys choose? TM guys - I know that it’s blackberries and rasberries, but how do you think this alum tie-down would compare to the steel tite-tie that you blogged about here:
http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/21/reader-find-the-tite-tie/ ?

Which would you guys choose?

]]> By: Piett http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-88828 Piett Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:11:35 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-88828 I bet this works well but I wouldn't be pleased by the locking part of the device chewing up the rope. After a while that might make it less reliable on a worn rope. I bet this works well but I wouldn’t be pleased by the locking part of the device chewing up the rope. After a while that might make it less reliable on a worn rope.

]]> By: Blind http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-88821 Blind Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:52:04 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/07/05/tie-down-gear-without-knots/#comment-88821 My concern is 1) untieing the knot when i am done 2) the knot slipping This may not alleviate the second concern, but I would think that this would make undoing the knot at the end much easier. But eh. Better to learn how to tie knots in the long run. My concern is
1) untieing the knot when i am done
2) the knot slipping

This may not alleviate the second concern, but I would think that this would make undoing the knot at the end much easier.

But eh. Better to learn how to tie knots in the long run.

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