Tying wire knots
Where two wires join together, a strong and durable knot is needed to ensure that they don't come apart. There are a variety of knots which can be tied to join a wire. Under laboratory tests on Wiremark wire, carried out at Pacific Wire, the following results came to light.
| Knot Type | Average Breaking Strain |
|---|---|
| Reef Knot | 440kgf |
| Figure 8 Knot | 470kgf |
| Reef Knot | 440kgf |
| Crimp Sleeve | 620kgf |
| Double Loop (Double Loop should not be used) | 290kgf |
Note: Kgf refers to kilograms of force
From these results it's clear that the easy-to-tie figure 8 is one of the better knots. After the wires are strained to the correct tension, the surplus wire ends of the knot are wrapped closely along the line wire and broken off close to it. This gives a smooth finish and when done correctly you should be able to run your hand either way along the wire.
