You might say that rope's natural state is tangled. It's tangled when you're not using it, and tangled when you need it. But it doesn't have to be that way. The DIY experts at Stack Exchange offer a few helpful tips on coiling your rope, cables, and cords right so you can easily use them when you need to next.
Illustration by Sean Gallagher.
Question:
When I get stuff for DIY projects, I regularly use rope to tie it all down to my trailer.
When I coil up a rope for storage I wind it around my palm and elbow (on the same arm) then use the last approx 1 metre to bind it together. However, when I come to use the rope again I often manage to get it tangled up. I think the large loops might get inside each other? I'm not sure, but there must be a better way.
How can I coil up my rope so that it doesn't get tangled?
See a photo of how I currently do it at right.
— Originally asked by Highly Irregular
Answer: The Buntline or Gasket Coil
Around the elbow no good, for ropes they get tangled and for cords they get ruined over time.
See my instructions below, but check out this animation for reference.
Keep in mind, I am right-handed and this is how I do it:
Start by placing one end of the rope between your left thumb and forefinger, and grab the rope with your right hand about 2 1/2—3 feet away both palms down. While holding the rope in your right hand, grab it between your thumb and forefinger. Now bring your right hand to your left hand so the tips of your thumbs meet (and the newly created loop should form towards your left wrist). At the same time, roll the cord that is between your thumb and forefinger on your right hand away from you. Now grab it with your left hand and slide your right hand down the cord 2 1/2 - 3 feet and repeat till done. The last 2 or 3 feet will be used to wrap the cord/rope.
If done correctly, you'll be able to take the end you wrapped around the cord like in your pic, unwrap it, hold one end and throw the cord/rope to unroll.
Answer: Tips for the Perfect Coil
To get perfect coils:
Don't twist. When you wrap hand-to-elbow, you're introducing a twist with every loop of the coil. You can make figure-8s (great for small stuff, like this) or you can alternate the twist of each loop (as Gunner directed).
If your rope already has a twist, you should take the twist out by overhauling. Start at one end and pass the rope through your hands. You may need to do this a couple times.
The exception is laid line— rope made of 3 smaller strands—which has its own natural twist that you should follow.
Make the ends longer than the coil. There is a potential problem with alternating twists. If a loose end of the rope passes through the loops, it will create a series of overhand knots. Making the ends long enough helps avoid that problem.
Make the loop sizes even. This is not quite as important, and takes a bit more practice, but if all the loops are the same size, they are less likely to pass through each other.
Great coils take practice. I didn't get it until one day I had to coil 14 ropes in a row. Now it's easy.
Answer: Two Ties
You want to learn to do either the Mountaineer's coil or the Butterfly coil.
I use the butterfly coil (not because it's necessarily better, but because I learned it first and it was good enough) and when I was felling a tree-sized herb I could climb up and just drop the coil while holding onto one end to get it to uncoil - no tangles!
— Answered by Bernd Jendrissek
Answer: An Old Boy Scout Trick
This is really tough to explain, but very simple to do. Coiled rope (and electric cord) should be loose, and a simple toss should be all that's required to unravel entirely—lifeguards and sailors are taught the trick to coiling rope tangle-free, as a tangle can literally be a matter of life or death in their profession.
To coil, consistent loop sizes are essential. Until you get a feel for it, use this old Boy Scout trick: on one knee or sitting down, pull the free rope the distance between your knee and your hand outstretched to your side, letting the line feed through your hand at the knee loosely. Return your hand to your knee, grab the rope from your other hand, and pull the next length in the exact same way, to the exact same position. Return your hand to your knee, grab the rope there, and pull the next loop of your coil in the exact same way, to the exact same position... repeat until the line is coiled completely. Remember, you are moving the coil around, not the uncoiled line! One hand grabs and pulls, the other only guides.
Test your technique by grabbing a loose end with one hand, and heaving the coil across the yard with the other. It should unravel without any tangles or interruptions. Once you "get it," practice. It will be insanely fast compared to coiling it around your arm with even a little bit of practice, and eventually, you won't need the knee trick, you'll make the loops consistent by feel.
If the coil is too large for you to manage, practice making smaller loops (but not too small), or just fold the coil in half once the ends are secured—it will remain tangle free when you unfold it. I use a velcro cable tie to secure the ends to the coil, because I'm lazy.
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