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Prusiks

Submitted by An Outdoor Idiots Team Member.



Page 7 of 10    Previous    Next    [Index]

Some Example Uses of Prusiks (1)

Let's start with a use for the Penberthy Prusik. As already mentioned, this Prusik often works even if the cord or rope it is tied around isn't thicker than the Prusik cord. This opens up the interesting possibility of using a Penberthy Prusik to tie a piece of cord to itself, thereby creating an adjustable loop.

This can be fairly difficult to tie, but there is a harder way and an easier way, depending on whether you have props available, and depending on just how friendly your particular piece of cord is at holding any twists you put in it.

One specific use for this that I've had is to replace broken bungee cord on a rucksack. I replaced it with non-bungee accessory cord, and used the Penberthy Prusik to make it adjustable. This was particularly difficult, because first I needed to thread the cord through the loops on the rucksack, before I could tie the Prusik.
Making an Adjustable Loop with the Penberthy Prusik - the Hard Way
Start by making the turns, as in Fig. 30. Note that there will need to be a lot of cord left after the turns, so the end (the one on the left in the photo) should be quite long - probably even longer than shown in this photo.

Tying an Adjustable Loop with a Penberthy Prusik (1)
Fig. 30. Starting the loop.

Then, the idea is to capture the cord at one end of the turns with the cord at the other end of the turns, by tying a loop around it. Fig. 31 shows which bit of the cord should be attempting to capture which other bit.

Tying an Adjustable Loop with a Penberthy Prusik (2)
Fig. 31. Twisty bendy red thing.

One way of doing this is to tie a very loose simple overhand knot as shown in Fig. 32...

Tying an Adjustable Loop with a Penberthy Prusik (3)
Fig. 32. Loose overhand knot.

... then, "capture" the bit of cord indicated, before re-threading the end back through the loosely tied overhand knot, and tightening the knot when finished. as in Fig. 33:

Tying an Adjustable Loop with a Penberthy Prusik (4)
Fig. 33. Getting there...

Finally, tighten up the turns so that there is plenty of friction between them and the cord. This is easier said than done. Here is one way of approaching it, with reference to Fig. 33 above: First, grab the whole set of turns, and rotate them together in such a way that you are "hauling in" the end of the cord that you tied the loop in. Then, once the loop is snug up against the turns (or very close), keep rotating in the same direction, but this time treat each turn individually, and work from the left to the right, causing each turn to contract snugly around the cord that goes through it. Finally you should end up with a fairly tight arrangement as in Fig. 34:

Tying an Adjustable Loop with a Penberthy Prusik (5)
Fig. 34. All tight.

If you prefer the knot to look a little neater, you can yank the cord that is on the bottom in Fig. 34 over to the right, so the arrangement looks something like Fig. 35:

Tying an Adjustable Loop with a Penberthy Prusik (6)
Fig. 35. Blurry.

... finally, you have a nice adjustable loop, made using a Penberthy Prusik. See the finished article in Fig. 36.

Tying an Adjustable Loop with a Penberthy Prusik (7)
Fig. 36. Nice.




Making an Adjustable Loop with the Penberthy Prusik - the Easier Way
It would be much easier if we could just tie the Penberthy Prusik the straightforward way as on page 6. It is possible to do this to some extent, if we have a prop available and the cord we are using is well-behaved. The idea is that we tie the Prusik, in the normal, easy way, around a prop. Then we remove the prop and replace it with the rest of the cord.

It might be possible to use your finger as the prop, however for best results the prop really needs to be very straight and smooth, so that it can me removed without disturbing the turns. Here's one way:

Tying an Adjustable Loop with a Penberthy Prusik (8)
Fig. 37. Tying a Penberthy Prusik around a bottle opener.
An everyday occurence at Outdoor Idiots.com.

[The Editor speaks: "If I find out someone on my team has been drinking on the job..."]

Tie the Prusik fully, as detailed on page 6, and shown in Fig. 38:

Tying an Adjustable Loop with a Penberthy Prusik (9)
Fig. 38. It grips, you know.

If the adjustable loop you are making needs to be fed through things, such as loops on a rucksack, then now is a good time to do that. The end that exits Fig. 38 to the left can be fed through whatever is necessary. Next carefully remove the prop, and if your cord is well-behaved it will all stay together nicely, as in Fig. 39.

Tying an Adjustable Loop with a Penberthy Prusik (10)
Fig. 39. A Propless Prusik.

Now feed the other end of the cord through the turns, as in Fig. 40.

Tying an Adjustable Loop with a Penberthy Prusik (11)
Fig. 40. A job well done.

Finally, tighten everything up and you are done (you can go back to the description of tying this the hard way, from Fig. 33 onwards, for some ideas about how to finish things off from here.)









Page 7 of 10    Previous    Next    [Top of Page]

Page 1: Introduction to Prusiks, and the Original Prusik knot

Page 2: History of the Prusik Knot, and Understanding Prusik Knots

Page 3: The French Prusik

Page 4: The Bachmann Prusik

Page 5: The Kreuzklem Prusik and the Kleimheist Prusik

Page 6: The Penberthy Prusik

Page 7: Example Use (1) - An Adjustable Loop made with the Penberthy Prusik

Page 8: Example Use (2) - A Line Tensioner made with two Original Prusiks on the Same Cord

Page 9: Example Use (3) - Tying a Prusik to a Rigid Pole

Page 10: Getting the most from Prusiks, and Prusik Safety




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