square baler twine -- knot question

[Angus in NCMO®]

What knot is best to use when joining two balls of twine?

Just started using a 'sheet bend' and so far, no complaints, but still not sure what I 'should' be using.

Before I had a clue, I used a square knot and that was almost always a colossal failure. Also tried the square knot with the ends wetted and twisted back into each other while drawing tight, and had limited success with that (learned that from a former NH dealer).

Just wondering what everyone else does, and if I'm headed in the right direction.

[postoak]

I don't know what its called but i hold both ends together and make a loop and stick both ends though the loop, pull and trim

[mcupps]

"Square knot" will slide through all the balers parts the easyiest and has complete twine strenght and will not slip within itself.

Its just like tying a granny knot but you go under instead of over or vise versa on your second twist.

I never was a boy scout so I might just be talking jiberish.

I do what Postoak says if my pocketknife is too dull to trim the ends, (I also don't know what its called. I just call it a square baler knot because its the same way a square baler makes a knot) Its easy to keep both ends short this way but it doesn't pull through tensioners and other parts as easy.

[mcupps]

I looked up a sheet bend knot and it looks just like a square knot but with a cross in it. I guess it its probably considered stonger, but I would probably try to make it where the "straight loop" side of the knot is leading forward, its looks like this is the direction it would pull easyiest.

[Dave-ECIA]

Been using a square knot for years and can't recall one ever pulling apart or hanging up. You can tie a square knot the wrong way and it may pull apart. You sure you tied it right?

[Angus in NCMO®]

I'm not sure I've ever tied a square knot right.

I recall reading in some rope pamphlet a couple of years ago that the square knot is the easiest to slip or fail, and it seems that I've experienced this many times over in the past. When I would tie the square knot and pull it tight, then trim the ends to make sure it could pass through the tensioner and needle eyes, about as often as not when trimming the ends (most times I keep a very sharp knife, so I'm not 'sawing' in order to cut) -- it would loosen the 'knot' -- and when re-tightening the trimmed knot it would fail. Never had this happen yet with the 'sheet bend' (also referred to as a weaver's knot).

I'm still not certain I've stumbled onto the correct knot for this job, but so far -- so good. Just had to ask here to see if anyone has a 100% guaranteed good working knot that I hadn't heard of.

[joel]

I have always made a square knot & trimmed the ends.

[ses]

I don't know what kind of knot it's called but I always do that twisty wraparound it's self thing then pull the string back through the hole you just made by circling the string then pull it up tight. Never had one fail yet. Hope this helps.

[wctyilfarmer]

square, but we haven't used our square baler in 20 yrs.

[angus1]

Ses, I agree with you. I just loop it over and back. never any trouble, and I never trim it either.

[rowfarmer]

square knot

[mcupps]

Aug 12, 2011 0:10:30 GMT -5 Dave-ECIA said:

Been using a square knot for years and can't recall one ever pulling apart or hanging up. You can tie a square knot the wrong way and it may pull apart. You sure you tied it right?

A square knot the wrong way is a Granny Knot

Ive never had a square knot try to pull apart even with the junkiest overseas/downsouth twine.

Now getting the baler to bale a good knot with some of that slick flat plastic twine is a different story.