Knot Strength: Structures That Make a Natural-Fiber Knot Strong or Weak (2010)(allaboutknots.blogspot.com)
allaboutknots.blogspot.com
Knot Strength: Structures That Make a Natural-Fiber Knot Strong or Weak (2010)
http://allaboutknots.blogspot.com/2010/11/knot-strength-structures-that-make.html
7 comments
BD has a brief blog post testing knot strengths: http://blackdiamondequipment.com/en/experience-story?cid=qc-...
While the article claims there are no strength benefits to dressing a knot, it is almost certainly still a good idea if only for the fact that it is easier to recognize a mistake in a knot if it is dressed than if it is not.
This is he reason why when working with lines, splices are significantly better.
My go to reference is Brion Toss -- http://www.briontoss.com/
My go to reference is Brion Toss -- http://www.briontoss.com/
Where "better" means less likely to fail - in many cases, it could mean "quick" or "easy to teach" for example, which splices are not. Given the tremendous strength of much modern synthetic cordage (especially Spectra / Dyneema), quick-to-tie knots that weaken the line, even by a significant percentage, may be preferable.
For anyone interested in knots and knot tying, the Ashley Book of Knots[1] is a wonderful book to have. I've spent many happy hours pouring over the knots and their descriptions in this book.
[1] - http://www.amazon.com/The-Ashley-Book-Knots-Clifford/dp/0385...
[1] - http://www.amazon.com/The-Ashley-Book-Knots-Clifford/dp/0385...
It is _the_ book on knots, although it does miss knots invented later in the 20th century, like the Zeppelin bend. I was amazed to learn that it was used as a reference book by mathematical topologists. They will refer to a bend in space as Ashley#1024 for example, since all the knots in the book are numbered in a referential fashion.
The palomar knot is one the strongest knots for tying a hook to fishing line...unless you do not wetten the knot while tying it.