Finishing a Monkey Fist???

[CKE]

I need a lot more practice but I finished a Monkey Fist or ball knot and have one question. When I am done I have two strands coming out at different points on the ball. On the one I did I just burnt the one end close and tied the other end off to my Bob T.
Is there a better way to finish the Monkey Fist off??? Other than marbles what else do you use for the inner core. I am looking for something not too heavy and the ss bearings I can get add a lot of weight. Any suggestions???? Thanks folks, Take Care!!!

[The Deacon]

Hi Craig, I use plastic dice for cores. Cheap, easy to find, come in a few sizes, and make for a nice "squared off" look. Lot lighter than ball bearings too.

As for finishing them off, there are a couple options. You can work one of the two strands around the knot using a large needle or crochet hook until both strands exit in the same place, then work with the double strand. Or, you can work the one end under as desribed then cut it off flush and let it slip underneath the outer layer so that it is completely hidden and you only have one strand to work with. I have also been told that with stranded cord, if you're a real pro at knots and splices, you can follow "plan A" then splice the two strands together into a single, thicker strand.

[CKE]

Thanks Deacon:)

[Mud]

is there anywhere that gives instructions on tying one of thoes i use the old wrap around for my lanyards

thanks

JIM

[CKE]

Welcome to the Forum Mud. I know somebody here has the picture to tie them. I lost it when my comp crashed a year ago. Sorry I can't help but someone will. Take Care!!!

[goldberg]

type monkey fist in GOOGLE. I did pretty clear instr, still dont think i can do it
GOOD LUCK :rolleyes:

[The Deacon]

is there anywhere that gives instructions on tying one of thoes i use the old wrap around for my lanyards

thanks

JIMHi Jim, welcome to the forum. These are the best instructions I found anywhere for tying the Monkey Fist (http://www.realknots.com/knots/faqknot.htm) knot. Very clear set of pictures. I did a screen capture of the page, printed it out, and keep it handy while making one. You can increase the number of loops, you just want to be sure to use the same number in each of the three planes. I tried doing them at first with nothing in the middle, found it very difficult to get the knot looking decent. Then, as I noted in my earlier post, I bought some large plastic dice began using them in the center. Made the knot much easier to "organize". You will need to "work" the loops around some after completing the knot itself to tighten things up, as many will have slack in them. Start at one "end" and work toward the other, tightening each loop in order. Depending on what you use for cord, a tweezer or crochet hook can be a big help with this part of the process.

[Mud]

Thanks guys im gonna try that with some 550 cord later on

that wasnt what i was thinking of tho what do you call the Square braided looking lanyards??

i think the monkey fist would be cool for my longer lanyards tho

thanks again

[The Deacon]

that wasnt what i was thinking of tho what do you call the Square braided looking lanyards??Think that's the one I always call the "YMCA day camp" stitch :o I use to do zipper pulls with it using plastic lacing every summer when I was a kid. Ok, check out THIS PAGE (http://www.boondoggleman.com/the_projects3.htm) and look at the "square knot", am betting that may be the one you want. Some of the others there might interest you as well. Know some folks use the Cobra stitch and/or a variation on it too.

[DAYWALKER]

Aloha ALL!

Damn...I was thinking that Craig kicked some perps @$$ with a "new" SD technique or something! :rolleyes:

Cool links Paul, mahalo for sharing them!!! Now let's see...this goes there, then pull this...here... ;)

God bless :cool:

[Mud]

THanks Deacon that is the one i was looking for.

[CKE]

Chad, I could not even kick my own a$$ in my weakend state :rolleyes:

[i.v]

ok.. i've been trying to do that knot for the past 15 minutes & i give up! :mad: who needs a knot anyway?? :cool:

[CKE]

iv
The first one I did(and only one so far) took me like 45 minutes to figure out. Then I realized I needed something in the center so back to the start again. It was just over an hour by the time I had it nice and tight. Keep on trying :D