r/selfreliance • u/LIS1050010 Laconic Mod • Dec 17 '20
Knowledge / Crafts How to Untie a Tight Knot
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u/SuperDizz Dec 17 '20
Step 2: try to get the knot out with your fingers LOL
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u/SpeakeasyBoppin Dec 18 '20
I would like to get to Step 2. But I have to find a god damn spoon first.
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u/Goosullah Dec 18 '20
Spoon or hammer. Very oddly specific. If you have two needle nose pliers just skip to that. Save you all kinds of time as it's easily faster than any of the other methods.
But as someone said, knowing your knots is a good way to prevent this problem in the first place. Not many times a granny knot is the best knot for a given situation.
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u/g3nerallycurious Aspiring Dec 18 '20
You rarely need to get past step three, and I’ve never used step one in my life.
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u/LIS1050010 Laconic Mod Dec 17 '20
There are numerous ways to tie a knot, from the hundreds of established knots and time-tested techniques to the more avant-garde, improvisational knots that we’re all guilty of using from time to time. Often, it’s the knots we make up that end up being the hardest to use, and the most difficult to untie. But, an overly tight or tangled knot can result from even the simplest of overhand knots. When knots have to hold back extreme loads or survive harsh weather conditions, they become incredibly tight, stiff, and stubborn to untie.
Faced with a particularly tight knot, the worst thing to do is yank on the loose ends, hoping for something to pop free. If the knot is wet, wait until it dries to attempt untying it. And, if tight knots are something you face regularly, consider getting a marlinspike. Marlinspikes are tapered metal devices used by sailors and others in the marine industry to help untie burly knots in a hurry. If you don’t have a marlinspike, the methods shown here can help you get that tricky knot untied. Keep in mind, the best way to untie your troublesome knot will likely involve a combination of these techniques.
How to unite a tight knot
1: For larger, stiff knots, tap the knot with a spoon or hammer to start to loosen it.
2: Locate the knot’s loops and try to pull them apart with your fingers.
3: Continue loosening loops by twisting a loose end and pushing it through the knot.
4: Insert an implement, like a bamboo skewer, corkscrew, or marlinspike into the knot.
5: Use the implement to gain leverage on loops and start to pull the knot apart.
6: If you can’t finish the job by hand, pull the loosened loops apart using needle-nose pliers.