Common Whipping
How to tie the Common Whipping Knot. The Common Whipping is a knot tied at the end of a rope to keep the end from unraveling. The benefit of the Common Whipping knot is that it is quite easy to tie and no tools are required. However, the knot is more appropriate for temporary use or on decorative ropes as it is known to slip off the rope easily. It is best used on a natural fiber rope and tied with natural twine, both of which afford the maximum friction for the knot to hold its position at the end of the rope. When dealing with synthetic ropes, it is best to wrap with tape and then heat the ends to melting point to fuse the strands. Also see: French Whipping.
Scroll to see Animated Common Whipping Knot below the illustration and tying instructions.
Common Whipping Knot Tying Instructions
- Lay the twine along the rope and make a bight back along the rope. Note that the rope should be whipped a short distance (one and a half times the diameter) from its end.
- Begin wrapping the twine around the rope and bight of twine securely. Wrap until the whipping is one and a half times wider than the rope is thick.
- Run the working end of the twine through the bight. Carefully pull on the standing end of the twine until the bight and working end are pulled under the whipping (Note: It is normally necessary to maintain tension on the working end to prevent the bight from being dragged completely through otherwise the whipping will fall apart.) Cut the twine flush with the edges of the whipping to give the rope end a finished look.
