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The Amazing Icicle Hitch

For years we struggled to finding a reliable way for getting sufficient tension on small diameter smooth shroud wires, whilst fitting swageless terminals to the lower ends.

Every hitch we tried slipped down the wire as we applied the tension with a block and tackle. This included the normally reliable rolling hitch.

Then, by chance, after reading 'The Rigger's Handbook', we stumbled across the 'Icicle Hitch', so called because it will hold even on a tapered vertical icicle, spar, spike etc. We found it worked perfectly on small diameter smooth wire. The smaller the diameter of the wire - the small the diameter of strop you should use, to get a better grip.

The 'Bowline' Is known as the King of knots, the 'Constrictor knot' is known as the Queen. We personally think that this 'Icicle Hitch' has earned the title of Prince.

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Get yourself a one to one and a half metre length of MATT braided rope (matt grips better) of the appropriate diameter to the wire you are going to apply it to.

An example would be an 8mm diameter braided matt rope to be used on an 8mm wire shroud.

Strip out the core so the cover will grip the wire better, and heat seal both ends of the cover to prevent fraying.

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For clarity we are demonstrating this hitch around a piece of pipe.

Tie a small bowline in one end.

Wrap the Braided Matt cover around the item to be tensioned as many times as you can, leaving about a foot at each end.

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Bring the top end down and form an inverted loop. Cross it over at the bottom of the turns.		3
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Pass both ends under or around the back (which ever applys in your situation) of the item to be tensioned.

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Pass the two ends up through the loop.		5
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Tighten everything down working any loose turns out.

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View from the front		7
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View from the back

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Tied to a tapered marline spike prior to testing 		9
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Close up

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Set up prior to testing		11

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Test - 'who ate all the pies'.		12


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