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Distel on 8mm linemans vs prusiks

A

Alaska at Heart

Active Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2023
Messages
190
Location
West Michigan
I bought my used Overwatch saddle with ropes and two pouches this fall and it is providing me a pretty good start. The saddle itself is more than satisfactory in fit and function, but I immedately changed out the pouches for a pair of EWO saddle cloth that I like much better than Tethrd mesh. The tether was a no-name with a Ropeman 1, which I replaced a few weeks ago with an EWO Predator 11mm sewn eye rope. I put the Ropeman 1 back on and it is doing great for its purpose.

The linemans is an 8mm Latitude Vapor Line with a 6mm prusik in good shape, but trying to adjust the prusik during a climb to get over the plaform or whatever is difficult.....even with a tender. I looked at a Kong Duck, but then saw a few SH threads that spoke of a mechanical ascender damaging the rope in an acutal fall situation. That got me to looking at friction knots like the Distel and Schwabisch as an alternative non-mechanical application. So last night I spent an hour online viewing different videos of tying the two knots and such.

My question is where to find the double looped 6mm cord to tie one or the other? Also, from reading past SH threads, what is the preferred knot for this application? The arborists speak of a roller....do SH use them? Thank you in advance......continuing to learn as I go.
 
Exhumis said:
6mm accessory cord is what you’re looking for. REI carries it, if you’re close to a store they’ll have lots of flavors in stock and will cut to length. Sterling makes a 6mm as well and you can order it cut to length.
Click to expand...
Thanks......what about the double loops needed for those two knots?
 
Cruzr sells 6mm with sewn loops that’s long enough to tie a distal hitch. I use a Distel hitch with tender on all my ropes and have no issues with it moving smoothly on 8mm line.

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If you want cord with two “loops” like you described, you’re looking for an “eye-to-eye” but honestly you are better off with a length of 6mm cord tied into a loop. I also think there are way better hitches for a LB than Distel or Schwabisch. Those two are fine for a tether or vertical load but messy as hell on a horizontal load such as a LB IMO and don’t grab the way I’d like. I would suggest a standard 3-wrap prusik with tender (I do not have trouble tending like you described) or a Klemheist. They’re both easy to tie and the Klemheist unloads pretty easily, especially with a tender.
 
Also, no reason that you couldn't tie a variation of a Sticht or Klemheist using a Beal Jammy (my preferences), although I do have the EWO 6mm Probe eye-to-eye tied in an Arbsession hitch on my tether...
 
I have been using a cornell hitch this season on my tether and LB and I am not finding anything to dislike about it. It self tends well and breaks under load easily if needed. Easy to tie with an eye to eye as well. But it can also be tied with regular rope a couple different ways that I am aware of.
 
Alaska at Heart said:
Thanks......what about the double loops needed for those two knots?
Click to expand...
@DelaWhere_Arrow hit it, you’re wanting eye to eye but honestly you might like a piece of line with just one eye only or no eye as it gives you more flexibility in the knots you can tie and usage scenarios, also allows you to run a longer cord as some friction hitches require more length. Iirc rock n arbor sells a 6mm eye to eye, 6mm is harder to find. You find a type of cord you like some suppliers like Sterling or rope.com will sew eyes onto the ends for you.
 
Exhumis said:
@DelaWhere_Arrow hit it, you’re wanting eye to eye but honestly you might like a piece of line with just one eye only or no eye as it gives you more flexibility in the knots you can tie and usage scenarios, also allows you to run a longer cord as some friction hitches require more length. Iirc rock n arbor sells a 6mm eye to eye, 6mm is harder to find. You find a type of cord you like some suppliers like Sterling or rope.com will sew eyes onto the ends for you.
Click to expand...
Wesspur also provides splicing and sewing services on almost everything they sell.
 
Exhumis said:
@DelaWhere_Arrow hit it, you’re wanting eye to eye but honestly you might like a piece of line with just one eye only or no eye as it gives you more flexibility in the knots you can tie and usage scenarios, also allows you to run a longer cord as some friction hitches require more length. Iirc rock n arbor sells a 6mm eye to eye, 6mm is harder to find. You find a type of cord you like some suppliers like Sterling or rope.com will sew eyes onto the ends for you.
Click to expand...
The arborist videos I've watched have double sewn loop/eyes, so that is what I have been going on. I did see online some cord with a single eye loop though. Does DelaWhere sell rope/cord?
 
DelaWhere_Arrow said:
If you want cord with two “loops” like you described, you’re looking for an “eye-to-eye” but honestly you are better off with a length of 6mm cord tied into a loop. I also think there are way better hitches for a LB than Distel or Schwabisch. Those two are fine for a tether or vertical load but messy as hell on a horizontal load such as a LB IMO and don’t grab the way I’d like. I would suggest a standard 3-wrap prusik with tender (I do not have trouble tending like you described) or a Klemheist. They’re both easy to tie and the Klemheist unloads pretty easily, especially with a tender.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your insights. It makes sense that the Distel or Schwabisch works better on a vertical line, as that was the way it was shown in the videos. After watching a couple videos on tying the Klemheist knot, I think getting some 6mm cord with one sewn eye or tied into a loop is a better option. What is the manner of tying a length of cord into a loop called? Does the tag end length on a Klemheist matter?
 
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A simple loop would be an overhand knot but absolutely DO NOT use this in climbing applications, this would be more for securing gear to your pack or something.
A good knot to use would be a double fisherman’s knot. Very secure and as they push against each other they further tighten.
 
Ok....so I went downstairs and looked over my lineman's carefully/ I it a Latitude Vapor Line 8mm with a Vapor Line 6mm prusik. Is there any reason I could not untie the prusik and use the same cord to retie into a Klemheist?
 
Alaska at Heart said:
Thank you for your insights. It makes sense that the Distel or Schwabisch works better on a vertical line, as that was the way it was snown in the videos. After watching a couple videos on tying the Klemheist knot, I think getting some 6mm cord with one sewn eye or tied into a loop is a better option. What is the manner of tying a lenght of cord into a loop called? Does the lag end lenght on a Klemheist matter?
Click to expand...
Tag length doesn't matter! Creating an "endless" loop will be a "sling". I actually had some 6mm Edelrid slings listed. I also tagged you in a variation of a Klemheist by @Brocky

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Alaska at Heart said:
Ok....so I went downstairs and looked over my lineman's carefully/ I it a Latitude Vapor Line 8mm with a Vapor Line 6mm prusik. Is there any reason I could not untie the prusik and use the same cord to retie into a Klemheist?
Click to expand...
No reason why not. 6mm vapor cord probably already has the fisherman’s knots in it, so all you have to do is feed the prusik back through itself to untie it then retie in klemheist or whatever hitch you want. You can add or subtract wraps to get the length right and it shouldn’t affect your performance too much. I’m jot sure what your question about tag ends on klemheist is referring to but if it’s in a continuous loop with fisherman’s knots, the tags should be about 2-3x the “height” of the knot. If my fish knot is about 3/4” tall so-to-speak, I’ll have a tag end about 1.5-2” long.
Obligatory “not an expert” disclaimer before I go further lol.
 
Alaska at Heart said:
The arborist videos I've watched have double sewn loop/eyes, so that is what I have been going on. I did see online some cord with a single eye loop though. Does DelaWhere sell rope/cord?
Click to expand...
Lol no I don’t. REI, Eastern Woods, RocknArbor, Wesspur…that’s where most of us get our ropes and cords.
I’ve never “needed” an eye to eye in a hunting situation. Some guys like them for convenience and strength but none of the hitches I use require eyes, they can all be achieved with continuous loops or “slings”.
And Brocky is right. He’s pretty much always right.
 
Alaska at Heart said:
Ok....so I went downstairs and looked over my lineman's carefully/ I it a Latitude Vapor Line 8mm with a Vapor Line 6mm prusik. Is there any reason I could not untie the prusik and use the same cord to retie into a Klemheist?
Click to expand...
Yes like others said that's OK to retie a different hitch. If I recall it's a sewn loop on that comes on that. Just offset the hitch a little so the sewn portion isn't at the end of the loop where you'll be hooking up. I also struggled with the the Vapor line, but only just retired mine
 
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