How to tie a car cable. Tips from the seasoned: a marine knot for towing and a new use for a shovel. Making a loop on a steel cable

Every motorist knows that in the trunk there should always be such things as a first aid kit, an emergency stop sign and, of course, a reliable tow rope. The road is an unpredictable thing, anything can happen along the way. Has the car stopped in the middle of the road or stuck in the mud? It is in such and similar situations that a tow rope will come to the rescue.

When choosing a tow rope, pay attention to those models that are equipped with a special carabiner or a one-piece hook-hook (they are designed to securely fasten your car to the tow car). It is better if the hooks are with latches - they will help to avoid accidental slipping of the hook during towing. Pay attention to the way the carabiner / hook is attached to the cable itself. The most reliable are twisted cables made of high-strength ship rope - the hooks are tightly fixed due to the weaving of the “tails” of the cable into each other. When choosing a ribbon cable, look at the places where the ribbon is sewn with the hook fastening - they must be stitched several times, not only from top to bottom, but also diagonally. Attach a carabiner to the left eye of the towing vehicle and the right eye of the towed vehicle, after which they begin to move. The recommended coupling option will enable the driver to rear car view traffic in the oncoming lane and control the road ahead of the towing vehicle. In this case, the towing cable will be located almost parallel to the axis of the car. In the absence of a carabiner or hook, the tow rope is tied to the car. There are several verified nodes. One of these is the bowline (it is also called the gazebo knot). To make a bowline loop knot, bend one end of the cable and twist it into a loop. After that, the loop formed is bent to the cable and another new loop is pulled out through it. Now they put the second end of the cable into this loop, pull it until a loop of the desired size is formed and put it on the hook. Such a knot is a reliable option for attaching a towing cable without a hook. At the end of towing, it will not be difficult to untie the bowline knot. Also one of the most common among drivers is the towing unit. In order to tie it correctly, one of the ends of the cable is thrown onto the towing hook of the towing vehicle from left to right in such a way that a loop is obtained and the free right end extends from below on the left side from under the tensioned cable. Then they make a regular loop on the left end of the cable, put it on a hook and pull the free end to the right from under the cable. Next, make a regular loop from the right end of the cable and throw it over the hook again. The free end is tied in a knot.

A properly tied tow rope is the key to the safe towing of your “iron horse”.

A reliable tow rope is one of the most needed items in the trunk of an entire car. On the shelves of modern auto parts stores, you can find a lot of types of cables: nylon, polypropylene, iron, flat, braided, ropes.

Instruction

1. Traditionally, motorists who purchase towing cables prefer cables with carabiners and metal hooks. This simplifies the application, and, say, in frost or rain, there is no need to knit knots.

2. When towing, the cable is hooked obliquely, from the left eye of the towing vehicle to the right eye of the towed vehicle. This helps reduce the force of the jerks and allows the co-driver to have a better view of the road behind the towing vehicle. However, some motorists reasonably believe that the place where the carabiner is connected to the cable reduces its safety.

3. In order to tie the tow rope to the car, several tried-and-tested knots are used, say, a tow knot and a bowline (or a gazebo).

4. Towing knot Throw the end of the cable onto the hook of the towing machine from left to right with a loop so that the free right end of the cable extends from below from under the tensioned cable to the left side. Make a primitive loop on the free left end and overlap it on the hook, pull the free end on the right side out of under a tight rope. Now make a primitive loop from the free end of the cable on the right and loop it over the hook again. Secure the free end with an ordinary knot.

5. Bowline or gazebo knot Take one end of the cable in your hand, bend it, twist it into a loop. Bend this loop to the cable and pull another loop through it (as in crochet). This loop is movable. Now insert the remaining end of the cable into this loop, pull it to the required loop size and put it on the tow hook. This knot is strong and excellently untied after towing.

Note!
Not all cables, as they say, are identically suitable. It would seem that the strongest iron cable has significant drawbacks. It rusts, and additional precautions must be taken when applying it. A rebounded iron cable is much more likely to break a person's bones. Rules traffic also did not ignore the sore subject of towing a car. In accordance with them, the length of the towing cable must be at least 4 m, and the cable itself must be marked with red flags.

What item must be present in the car along with the first aid kit and spare tire? Of course, the tow rope, which is also a dense and durable rope, designed to tow the car in the event of a serious breakdown or getting stuck in the mud (snow).

Modern manufacturers offer consumers a huge number of types of towing cables. Now you can even buy car accessories in bulk, but buying a quality cable does not guarantee that you can properly use it for its intended purpose. Why?

The fact is that you can securely attach a faulty or stuck car to a tug only by correctly tying the cable, and this is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. You will learn about all the secrets of the correct tying of the towing cable from the article.

Important nuances

Before you start tying the cable, you need to pay attention to the elements of the fastening itself:

The best cable models are those that are equipped with a carabiner or a hook - a hook with latches - latches.
For the most reliable fixation, it is better to choose cables made from a ship's rope.
The cables with a carabiner are hooked to the eyelet, moreover, to the left from the towing vehicle and to the right from the towed car. With this towing option, the cable will be placed parallel to the axis of the car and will not be able to interfere with movement.

It is clear that attaching a carabiner does not require special skills, but if there is no such part on the cable, you will have to tie the cable to the car yourself.

Tying options

The most reliable nodes for towing motorists call the following:

Arbor or bowline. To tie a knot, one of the ends of the cable is twisted with a loop, and its edge is thrust into the loop formed and twisted again, forming another loop. The protruding tip of the cable is thrust into the movable loop and tightened, after which it is put on the hook.
Kalmyk knot. To tie it, as well as in the previous version, they form a loop by bending the end of the cable, after which the protruding end is pulled into the formed loop, and then the end is pulled out, twisting it through the already formed knot and tightened.
Towing unit. To tie it, the end of the cable is looped over the hook for towing the car, after which the free end of the cable is again wound around the tug to form a double loop. After that, the free end of the loop is pulled through the knot between the other two and the loop is thrown over the hook again, after which the end of the cable is fixed with a simple knot.

These nodes are not only the most reliable, but also the simplest. This video will help you learn how to tie a tow knot:

The tow rope is relevant not only in construction work, we recall that thanks to it, very huge loads are dragged, but it is an important attribute for road lovers, outdoor advertising, maritime shipping. Therefore, you always need to make the right choice and purchase one that will be more powerful, and therefore more reliable. A cheap product is made of low quality material, so it wears out quickly. Its wear is affected by temperature drop, mechanical damage, dampness.

So there are two options right choice towing cable: either make it yourself or buy it in a store. Both paths are correct.

1. Materials for creating a cable

Towing ropes differ in the material of manufacture. Modern manufacturers offer the following materials for creating a cable: stainless steel (i.e. coiled steel wires) and synthetic materials (this is kevlar and nylon). The first type is very strong and reliable, however, its main disadvantage is rigidity and flexibility. When making a choice on a stainless steel cable, it is necessary to take into account the traction force. Since this is a steel product, it poses a danger to humans at the time of the break. The injury can be serious. By the way, good cables are made of anti-corrosion and heat-resistant steel. Then such a product is durable and it is able to fulfill its main purpose - securing cargo and lifting equipment. The cost of such a cable is democratic compared to what is made of synthetic material.

And now a few words about synthetic cables. They are safer because the tension of the synthetic rope is stronger. Therefore, these cables are very popular among drivers, as well as specialists who use them in the course of their work. Now in more detail. Synthetic towing cable is made from PVC, Kevlar or nylon fibers. Synthetic cables can be both twisted and made in the form of a pigtail. This is a special type of weaving made from synthetic fibers. When making a ribbon cable, specialists use different types sewing materials from synthetic threads.

The following is important: the strength of the Kevlar cable is not inferior to steel.The trouble is this: it is short-lived, so it fails over time. But PVC and nylon cables are durable. However, they also have their own drawback - they are not always able to withstand the declared load, therefore, they are torn as a result of an attempt to move a two-ton car.

By the way, in the process of creating a cable, it is important from what material its core is made. It can be organic or metallic. The first provides elasticity and flexibility to the rope, and the second increases its structural strength.

The weak point of the tow rope is hooks and grips. The fact is that the hooks on the towing cable are made in the form of carbines or grips with reliable latches, which prevent them from slipping off the eyes.

When deciding between forged or solid cast grips, preference must be given to the first, since they are more reliable. A cast hook is distinguished from a forged hook by weight. Usually, the weight of a cast light alloy hook is a maximum of 100-150 grams, while a forged steel hook weighs, on average, 500 g.

Summing up the information about what material it is better to create a cable from, it is important to say the following: the quality of the goods is in the first place here, then buyers will trust, and the demand for the goods will be great. Therefore, when choosing a material for a rope, always be careful and show special interest in manufacturers.

2. How to make a tow rope

You can make a tow rope with your own hands. Above, we described what material is needed to create it and its main characteristics, and now we will try to make it. After all, not everyone buys a tow rope, there are those who are trying to make it with their own hands.

Having decided on the material (a steel cable, a thimble and a high quality clip, otherwise a low one breaks very quickly), let's try to combine these parts together so that we end up with a steel towing cable. Next, prepare a vise and a workbench. Anyone who plans to make a cable must have strong hands. The process itself is not difficult, and it does not take much time. Therefore, having decided on the material and having acquired the necessary tool, you can begin to tie the cable. It is necessary to learn how to do it right. It's about the towing unit. True, it also happens that motorists buy towing cables, preferring cables with metal hooks and carabiners. The fact is that such a cable simplifies its use.

So, for example, in rain or frost there is no need to knit knots. However, now let's try to make them. We throw the end of the cable onto the hook of the towing machine. We do this from left to right with a loop, so that the free right end of the cable can stretch from below from under the stretched cable to the left side. We make a very simple loop on the free left end, put it on the hook with an overlap, pull the free end from under the stretched cable on the right side. Then we make a simple loop from the free end of the cable on the right, and again we overlap it onto the hook. Then we fix the free end with a regular knot.

When tying a towing cable to a car, several proven knots are used at once. For example, it can be a bowline (in other words, a gazebo knot, or a towing knot. Let's try to make a gazebo knot or a bowline. We take one end of the cable in our hand, bend it, twist it with a loop. Bending the loop to the cable, we pull out another one through it. We do it like this this loop should be movable.Then we put the remaining end of the cable into this loop, stretch it until a loop of the required size is formed and put it on the towing hook.The knot comes out strong, it is very well untied after towing.

As a result of towing, the cable is hooked obliquely, that is, it is pulled from the left eye of the towing car to the right eye of the towed one. This should help dampen the force of the jerks, thus allowing the co-driver a much better view of the road behind the towing vehicle. There are motorists who justifiably believe that the place where the carabiner is connected to the cable will reduce its reliability.

Disadvantages of a tow rope

When tying a cable, it must be remembered that there are disadvantages even for the most durable steel cable. It usually rusts over time. Including, using it you need to apply additional precautions. The fact is that a rebounded steel cable can break a person’s bones.

By the way, this topic was not ignored by the rules of the road. When towing a car, pay attention to the length of the towing cable. It must be at least 4 m, and the cable is marked with red flags. We will talk about this in more detail later.

3. Towing cable length

The length of the tow rope is one of the important criteria for its selection. It is necessary for traffic safety reasons. So, for example, if the cable is too short, that is, its length is less than 4 meters, there is a very high probability that the driver of the towed car will not be able to apply the brakes in time, so he can hit the towing car from behind.

Any rope or cable, although it is made of solid and strong steel, can unravel or even break at any moment. Despite the apparent complexity of the repair, anyone can do it, even without special skills. The most unpleasant thing in the current situation is the possibility of a collision with it anywhere and precisely when such an accident is absolutely not expected.

Therefore, it will be useful to know how to properly braid a steel cable. Moreover, this does not require any special tools or special skills. In the future, both the hook and the earring can be woven into the cable. At the same time, the strength of the structure will be at a high level, and it will serve you for more than one year. Before starting work, it is advisable to wear protective gloves, as the sharp ends of the strands of the steel cable can seriously injure your hands.

General information about ropes

In the field of agricultural and transport engineering, in the construction, oil and coal industries, in the fields of river and river, ropes and cables made of stainless or ordinary, but at the same time reliable and strong steel. Usually they are used as the basis of various transport, lifting and road mechanisms. If you look at the steel rope carefully, you will notice that this is a flexible metal product consisting of strands of steel wire twisted together. The number of strands in each individual cable can be different, as well as the number of wires from which each of them is twisted. A zinc or aluminum coating is often applied over the strands to the cable to improve its anti-corrosion properties. A galvanized pipe (or a stainless steel equivalent) coated with such a special compound will last much longer than without it. If you do not know how to braid a steel cable, the diagram with the description below will definitely help you.

Inside steel rope usually there is a core, the main task of which is to prevent the development of transverse deformation in the product and the twisted strands of wire to fail to the center. it required attribute any rope or cable made from organic, metal, natural or synthetic materials. In other words, the core is the inner frame for its strands. Knowing the device or cables will help you understand how to properly braid the cable yourself.

Types of steel cable structures

Steel cables are divided into three types according to the lay:

In single cables, the wire of a single strand with one section is twisted in a spiral in several layers. Usually the number of layers is from one to four. In double cables, several strands are twisted around the core. In the manufacture of three-strand cables or ropes, several cables with different or identical sections are used.

Varieties of cables according to the degree of flexibility

There are steel cables:

1. With increased flexibility. In them, 24 wires are twisted around each core. There are 144 such thin wires in total.

2. With standard flexibility. Twelve wires are located around the core. In total, there are 72 wires in such cables.

3. Low-flex cables. Only 42 wires are used in their production.

Varieties of cables in the direction of lay

1. Cross - strands are twisted into a cable in the direction opposite to the direction of the twist of the wire.
2. Unilateral - the direction is the same.
3. Triple - a lay of the 1st type is used, but at the same time the wires and strands are twisted in different directions.
4. Combined - in such products, left and right lay directions are simultaneously used.

In addition, the cables are divided into rotating and low-torque. The material from which the core is made also divides them into organic, single-strand or steel wire.

Now you can consider in detail how to braid the cable yourself. Tools needed for the job:

screwdriver;
pliers;
wire cutters;
metal scissors;
wire;
gloves.

How to braid a rope?

The scheme and algorithm of the process are not as complicated as it might seem to an inexperienced person.

1. We cut off the ends of the cable as evenly as possible, and if the ends of its cores are bent or uneven, then we unwind each strand a little and cut off the defective sections with scissors or wire cutters. It is convenient to cut off the ends by placing them on a metal rail or on a sledgehammer and striking at the same place with the sharp edge of a hammer. As a rule, after 10-15 such blows, the ends of the cable are chopped off.
2. At least half a meter from the edge, unwind the cable into strands.
3. We determine the diameter of the future loop we need and, having measured this distance from the edge of the unraveled cable, we take 2 strands. 3-5 cm must be added to the diameter of the future loop, since it will certainly decrease in size when weaving. We make a loop from the selected strands, wrapping them.
4. Either end of the thread is untwisted and wound into intertwined strands. The other needs to be wrapped in reverse side. If the length allows, then from the resulting three strands you can weave a pigtail, alternately weaving the threads.
5. The third strand is twisted around the pigtail, then a loop is woven into it, and a turn is made around the braid again. The wires in the weaving process are passed in such a way that the previous one always goes towards the next one.
6. Then all the ends of the wires are hidden inside the pigtail, and the resulting two strands are hidden inside with a screwdriver or pliers.
7. It is desirable to tighten the resulting braid with clamps in two or three places. You can use ordinary wire, which is tightly wrapped around the cable and then tightly pulled together with pliers. The protruding ends of such a collar are also hidden inside the pigtails so that they do not interfere.

At the end of the work, it is desirable to isolate the place of the operation, for example, with an insulating tape. It will help to fasten the ends of the steel wires together and prevent future damage to the hands of the one who will use this cable.

Speaking about how to braid a cable, you should remember: in order to get a strong and reliable connection, during laying, it is necessary to lay the strands symmetrically and evenly press on them. Periodic crimping of twisted strands will become additional guarantee that the whole structure will receive sufficient strength.

Making a loop on a steel cable

Often, in addition to solving the problem of "how to braid a cable", there is a need to form a loop at its end. For example, when repairing a stretch on a towing cable or on an antenna, it becomes necessary to lower something to a depth, such as a submersible pump. Since the steel cable or rope is quite rigid, it will not work just to tie it in a knot at the end. In this case, there is nothing left but to braid the cable into a loop. And there is nothing complicated in this either. Just like in braiding a rope

The process of doing work

1. We cut the ends of the usual seven-strand cable evenly with a grinder or chop off with a hammer (its sharp part).
2. Unwind the cable by 50-70 cm and use a screwdriver to divide it into two parts. In one, three strands are obtained, and in the other, four.
3. We twist the strands of both parts together.
4. We make a loop with a diameter of at least 10 cm.
5. We bend the first four-strand part towards the other, which we place in the bends of the main cable.
6. The ends of the woven threads are alternately wrapped around an impromptu cutting.
7. Then we twist each free strand alternately around the cutting, weaving it into a loop, and repeat the process.
8. After that, laying the next one on the previous one, cover the ends of all strands. As a result of such manipulations, we get two threads that must be placed with a screwdriver between the loops. In this place, it is better to seal the tubes with pieces, flattening them, or use insulating tape. This will help you avoid injury in the future.

Fire on a rope or cable

Speaking about how to braid a cable - steel or from another material, it should be mentioned that fire can be made. It's a little more difficult. At some distance from the end of the cable, a strong temporary mark is made, and the ends of its strands are fixed with the same marks. After that, the end of the rope should be dissolved.

In the form of a loop, the cable is laid on a surface (preferably hard), all its strands break through. There are several punches, but Special attention give the first, as it is the most important of them. The reliability and strength of the fire is ensured mainly by the first punching. This is also an acceptable way to braid a cable. The scheme will not cause difficulties.

How to tie a loop on a rope?

If for some reason you decide to try to tie a loop, and not unwind the cable and twist the strands, as discussed above, then you can use the old sea knot, the simplest - oak. The algorithm for this method of how to braid a steel cable is presented below:

Fold the end of the rope in half and wrap it around to form a ring.
Thread the loop that formed at the end into the ring and tighten tightly. You will get a strong and very reliable knot. Its main drawback is that when pulled, it is very tight and then it is quite difficult to untie it.

Now you can fix the steel cable yourself, because you know how to braid the cable into a loop, and henceforth such a breakdown will not cause you much trouble.

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