i appreciate the TautLine but don't use it; it looked after me well fo a while. i've started many a man on it; i see it as part of the family of clove hitches; thereby a stepping stone to other things (Distel); whlie always instilling the same pattern of lacing; hopefully reducing error witht he familiarity. Beyond that, my appreciation is mostly historical, or maybe prepping someone to be around folks that have never seen anything but a TL; so that it seems s/he is beyond the TL, and not 1 less trick here, 1 more there; so just an oddball (<-though that works foer me too!). i would only use a non-splittail in pinch/quick dble/temp. crotch; or to teach it, to have ready for someone elses arsenal (perhaps history/mechanichs/appreciation of knots used/emergency) should contingency arise. Beyond that, don't really see much utility for a non-split tail or TL.
i think that a 2down, 1 up clove type lacing makes a rolling hitch, more ususal in adjustable/lockable (even after overnight stretching of materials, adjusted to retighten) hitch for tent stakes. Not that there is anything wrong with adding a ring and making a tautline; but i have always used that division of knots to specific tasks to illustrate a theory that, 1 turn is temporary stay, 2-3 trustable for loads, but 4 +turns(delegated 1 more ring, placing life higher priority than utility loads constantly in form, philosophy and practice!) on something is the positive lock/overkill for trusting lives to, other conditions permitting. As an observation, learning, double checking of all things involved that people present as knots and such!
Brian was making an open prusik, a different knot as Tom said; because of simple mechanichs in the ways the 2 different paths of lacing the line works(no matter how many coils). In all TL, clove, rolling hitch (also called Magnus) etc. all are laced similar, and destined to walk without stopper (or standing on own tail, as in constrictors do as part of clove knot family that have 1 end free, but don't walk option given!).
If you pull the working end of a clove, it tracks against the standing end (pressed against working end as working end is pulled); so Working end tries to pull the standing end tail in the 'out'/free walked off the end direction! Also, it compounds this action by the working end (as it is pulled) pushing the Zbar towards the free end of the standing end, as the working end is still pulling too, like a cons-piracy(ooooops...) formed for the gripping coli troops that perform the work of gripping to walk right off the job. Except if there is a big bad moderator in the way asking if they are gonna "stop'er not?". Also these coils for clove types continue in same direction continuously, rather than self trapping, by reversing 1 turn (at very start of upper 'story' of 'sandwhich' stack) the 'girth'/prusik family employs. Giving Prusiks a locking half hitch that changes direction, that cloves don't have.
The 'girth'/larks, prusik etc. have a twist, so as the working end is pulled, it tracks against the standing end as before, but the turns are reversed, so the 'tractoring'/grabbing action will tend to draw the standing end tighter, not looser. Also, the now straight bar (as opposed to clove family Z bar signature), is pushed further down away from free end of the standing end. Then the prusiks, cross that top turn
So as the pull on the working end walks 'clove' type lacings to freedom off the end of the line 2 ways, a girth, prusik type lacing tightens 2 ways by the same pull; though i think a 'girth'/lark's needs a stopper, as well as any open LifeLine Link.
Might i suggest a Distel in 1/2" to disbeleivers in the loading of friction hitch from both ends or one, as the most familiar form to the TL? Using friction rope devices in that basket position rather than the choke position work easier for up and down IMLHO.
Orrrr something like that!
:alien:
