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Shortening a Prusik Cord?

BowhunterXC

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Joined
Feb 14, 2021
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Location
N.W. Ohio
I have a couple of prusik cords that are too long. It would be easy enough to just tie an overhand knot or two, in the cord to shorten it.
However, would that compromise the integrity of the cord?
 
I have a couple of prusik cords that are too long. It would be easy enough to just tie an overhand knot or two, in the cord to shorten it.
However, would that compromise the integrity of the cord?
All knots reduce the break strength but whether or not that is acceptable is up to you. What hitch are you using this for? That would determine where you could tie the knot to shorten it.

Maybe @Brocky has a way of tying whatever hitch you’re going for in a way that wouldn’t load the knot.
 
@gcr0003
I use a 6mm prusik cord that's 24" long, on 9.5mm rope, but it bites and holds pretty hard with 5 wraps on a Knut Hitch, so I reduced it to 4 wraps and it works much better for climbing. However, it's longer than I need/want.
 
@gcr0003
I use a 6mm prusik cord that's 24" long, on 9.5mm rope, but it bites and holds pretty hard with 5 wraps on a Knut Hitch, so I reduced it to 4 wraps and it works much better for climbing. However, it's longer than I need/want.
So it’s just cordage, not an eye to eye or loop?
 
So it’s just cordage, not an eye to eye or loop?
Yes, it's an eye to eye 24" prusik cord, from Ape Canyon Outfitters.

I have 6mm and 7mm cordage, but I'd have to tie a Flemish Bend to make a loop for a carabiner. Doable, but I thought they eye to eye would be quicker. :)
 
Not sure on this but you might try tying a cornell and see if that takes up enough of the cord to work for you. It is similar to the knut
 
To answer your question, tying the overhand will “reduce strength” as @gcr0003 said but IMO it is not to an unreasonable degree. Overhand knots are used to shorten slings and cordage all the time. If you’re nervous and you have the extra length to do so, tie a F8 stopper instead of an overhand for the added holding power and eating up the excess cord. That said, I use overhand knots all the time to hang from and shorten stuff. I feel very comfortable as long as I have at least 2” of tag.
 
I would just leave it without the knot. The hitch cord has to be so long that it make one hand tending a chore or when I'm hanging the part coming off the tree is almost all hitch cord and little tether. I've found when I make cosmetic decisions then it's more likely to go sideways.
 
I would just leave it without the knot. The hitch cord has to be so long that it make one hand tending a chore or when I'm hanging the part coming off the tree is almost all hitch cord and little tether. I've found when I make cosmetic decisions then it's more likely to go sideways.
This is how I see my sense of style compared to my wife’s.
But your point is valid as hell.
 
@gcr0003
I use a 6mm prusik cord that's 24" long, on 9.5mm rope, but it bites and holds pretty hard with 5 wraps on a Knut Hitch, so I reduced it to 4 wraps and it works much better for climbing. However, it's longer than I need/want.
Cut it off. Put piece of heat shrink on, superglue or hot glue the cut end then heat the heat shrink over the glued end.
Or if you don't have heat shrink, use a peice of a large enough straw over the hot glued end....
 
I was thinking shrink wrap like @Samcirrus suggested (EWO sells it for cheap with adhesive built in, just use a hair dryer or heat gun) or super glue and super duper electrical tape would work too. You can terminate however you like (double fish, hunter’s bend, figure 8 stopper, etc)
Thank you for clarifying lmao! I was initially confused... I had a preconceived notion it was an eye-to-eye that he wanted to shorten the leg length on, while retaining the sewn eyes.
 
Their cords are 18kN. So provided you don't put more than 400lbs on it, you're good. Most of your weight is on the climbing line anyway
This is a 6mm 24" eye to eye cord and it is marked 23kN.

Just for my own and everyone else's peace of mind.... I will not be tying any knots in this cord. :)

I'll either use it as is or tie a different hitch, to eat up more cord length.
If it turns out that this doesn't work out, I've got plenty of 6mm and 7mm cord that I can use to tie the hitch of my choice and then connect the ends with a Flemish Bend to secure it. :cool:
 
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