it appears i desperately need help. see, i made so many of "these things" (tm) during the r&d process, that now i must give "these things"(tm) a name (you see what i mean by now, i'm sure). i was considering "multi shackle", but i'm afraid my advertising budget doesn't stretch to cover whatever mila jovovich might be charging these days.
the basic idea to start with was to have some small, soft piece of not-hardware to make it easy to suspend objects (like a backpack); with a normal soft shackle it's extremely annoying to work under even light load, as it tends to come out of one object or the other, until it is closed. this was the start, but it turned into something more universal. the other main intended use was to have a quick connecter for the tarp to the friction hitches (prusiks) that go on the ridgeline, but again not have to juggle, but connect in two steps, "this thing"(tm) (please help) allows this, and also using it as the friction hitch and the connector at the same time, as desired. i also wanted a nice way to connect the ridgeline itself to the tree straps (through the progress capture/tensioning system i showed in the other little video).
below the gory details (skip if you're easily bored), a short video showing how it looks and works, and a few pics showing some of the configurations described below in some detail. if anybody finds it useful and would like step by step instructions to build some and play with them, please ask. i would really like to put together some setup to be able to break test "these things" (ugggh), i hope next week. if i'm right, the yellow one pictured in some of the photos i might not be able to break at all, as i suspect it is actually stronger than a classic soft shackle (near "line strength", and that would mean 3.8tons, which i certainly won't have the equipment to pull), but we shall see. in the meantime, please keep in mind all these are experimental, until i can provide results of comparative load tests at least, so should not be used for supporting live primates. hopefully that will change once tested (although closing by larks head/pile hitched to itself should be bomb proof safe)
short video (50s):
https://youtu.be/wQ86D5eBYl8
a few pics:
IMG_20200718_164701.jpg
IMG_20200718_164423.jpg
this is the basic mode #1
IMG_20200718_164152.jpg
this is "summer mode" (no gloves expected)
IMG_20200718_164217.jpg
"winter mode" (big tactile helpers, easily removable)
IMG_20200718_164252.jpg
this is a traditional soft shackle equivalent, closed with a pile hitch (i prefer it to the girth hitch for this purpose)
IMG_20200718_164335.jpg
but the girth hitch also works (the pull tab makes it very easy and fast to undo, too)
IMG_20200718_164526.jpg
IMG_20200718_164549.jpg
IMG_20200718_164604.jpg
this is "mode 4" below, maybe better demonstrated in another short video. it should be used with care, for non critical loads only, but seems it might prove very useful
IMG_20200718_165111.jpg
IMG_20200718_165235.jpg
IMG_20200718_165311.jpg
IMG_20200718_165350.jpg
this is mode 7, might prove useful for attaching to the hammock cl (once load testing is positive)
IMG_20200718_170939.jpg
friction hitch (tarp on ridgeline) mode. this is the VT, which i tend to prefer to the prusik most of the time.
IMG_20200718_170323.jpg
prusik can work too
basic design:
- button knot (brion toss or similar)
- midpoint capture with "fake brummel" for easy release and secure capture
- !no ring loading allowed when captured at midpoint (will fail by design)!
- 5 stacked brummels under the midpoint capture, for stability
- loop opposite button, with pull tab
- optional "winter mode" pull tab on the variable leg of the capture loop (easy release/connect with gloves on)
- alternate "knots only" design (for non spliceable rope, paracord etc): button knot, 4way cylindrical braid with the tails (instead of burry), seized with a few constrictor knots made of small stuff (paracord core); two overhand or figure eights made on both strands together, reasonably spaced to create a capture loop. nowhere near as nice to work with, but does the trick. especially useful if one can't find spliceable nylon/polyester single braid to use, as dyneema is unsuitable for "accessory gear loops" and "hitch cord shackles" (as dyneema sucks for friction hitches)
uses
-1 basic: larks head to object or closed shackle/line etc (end of hammock), close button knot on midpoint capture
main intended use #1 (s-binner replacement sort of); don't expect more than line strength it's made of (theorethical max would be 2xline strength). the point is to be able to attach a payload independent of the connection to the "supporting object", ideally one handed too, and allowing quick release (this design achieves all three things)
-2 basic tarp mode: friction hitch (vt, prusik, etc) to continuous ridge line, button knot connected to midpoint capture after going through tarp tieout.
main use #2
-3 soft shackle replacement: button captured by larks head or pile hitch of opposite loop
-4 soft shackle hitch: button knot captured inside larks head hitched to "something small" (line, carabinner, etc).
- very nice/easy to work with under moderate load
- quite insecure in "temporary connection" state
- generaly not wise for any life support etc use (only gear, no hammock hang)
- probably very strong
- friction enabled "two step" connect/disconnect even under load: make eye big, connect, close eye (now secure, hands off possible); reverse to disconnect.
-5 two step s-binner style: girth hitch to object, first payload on, close on middle capture loop, prepare girth hitch for capture, add second payload, close on girth hitch capture; now there's two payloads retained independently, but they can only be released in the reversed order in which they were added (probably not very useful)
-6 organizer mode: one of these (or any softshackle) hanging girth hitched to a supporting object, several of them girth hitched on it hanging against its button knot, payloads hanging on each, captured at midpoints.
-7 square-hitched to a non-ring-loaded loop (like hammock CL, or other closed, unloaded soft shackle); the square bend of the two loops becomes the capture point for the button knot
-8 tree strap connector: prusik or pile hitch on tree strap, button knot closes on ridge lines progress capture (vt with tending loop)
-9 girth hitch to "payload", attach to supporting objects as needed using the middle capture loop (e.g. one of these lives on the backpack handle, on on camera pack, etc)
###
not recommended for any life support (so no hammock hanging, tarp hanging okay) until i can do break tests
- strength
by design, strength in "basic mode" should be half of a soft shackle made with the same line (as in this mode the shackle is not doubled up half of the way, so only 2 strands instead of 4)
in the "soft shackle" modes it should be as strong as a soft shackle, but only break tests will tell
- security
in modes 1,2,3,8 it should be bomb proof (but break test required first)
in all other modss should be considered insecure and only used for non life, non critical stuff, "keychain/accessory carabinner mode" (even if with 4, once the girth hitch capture is closed, looks "safe", it is to easy for it to come loose under load-unload cycles; it is solid if constantly loaded, like hanging a backpack or such, but in any other application it's asking for trouble)
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