Using String Like A Pro

Summary

This video script offers essential tips for using a string line in construction, distinguishing professionals from beginners. It covers attaching strings to nails or stakes using overhand knots for new strings and larks head knots for used ones. The script also explains the importance of string tension, accurate measurements, and various knots like the fiddle string knot and binder for different situations. It emphasizes practice for proficiency and shares tricks for cutting and winding strings, ensuring they remain useful and accurate tools on the job.

Takeaways

• 🔧 String usage can quickly identify a professional from a beginner in construction.
• 📏 Practice is essential for mastering string tricks and ensuring accuracy in construction tasks.
• 🪢 The overhand knot is recommended for new, slippery string lines when attaching to nails.
• 🐦 The lark's head knot is a versatile option for used strings and allows for easy removal without leaving a knot.
• 📍 When using a line stake, ensure the lark's head knot is oriented correctly to avoid the string slipping out.
• 🛠 The lark's head knot is the go-to for starting a pull due to its speed, clean removal, and ability to reuse the string without cutting.
• 🪝 The fiddle string knot (or engineer's knot) is effective for tightening strings to nails, but avoid over-twisting to maintain ease of release.
• 🧷 A binder or friction knot is a simple and effective method for securing strings to various objects, not just nails.
• ⚖️ String lines should be as tight as possible without causing the nail or batter board to move, to ensure accuracy.
• 🪢 The water knot is a compact and reliable method for joining two pieces of string line, suitable for construction use.
• 🗜️ Winding strings in a figure eight pattern prevents kinks and makes the string easy to unwind and use.

Q & A

What is the significance of using a string line in construction?

A string line is a simple yet crucial tool in construction that can quickly label someone as either a professional or a beginner. It affects the accuracy of the work and whether the job needs to be redone or can proceed as planned.

How can practicing with a string line improve construction work?

Practicing with a string line ensures that using it becomes automatic, similar to riding a bike. This proficiency helps in maintaining accuracy and efficiency on the job without having to think about the process.

What are the two ways to attach a string line to a nail on a batter board?

The two ways to attach a string line to a nail are by using an overhand knot with a loop for a new, slippery string, or a lark's head knot for a used string that has lost its slipperiness.

Why is it important to leave a 'bitter end' when using a lark's head knot?

Leaving a 'bitter end' outside of a lark's head knot provides some space before the knot comes undone if it slips or tightens further. This prevents the string from coming loose unexpectedly.

How does the direction of the lark's head knot affect its hold on a line stake?

The direction of the lark's head knot should be chosen based on which side of the stake is the critical dimension. The bite of the line needs to be pulling against the loop to ensure a secure hold.

What is the advantage of using a lark's head knot over an overhand knot for used strings?

A lark's head knot has the advantage of being easily removable without leaving a knot behind, making it ideal for used strings where slipperiness is not an issue.

Why should a nail used with a string line be tipped back slightly?

Tipping a nail back slightly ensures that the string tends to work its way down the nail towards the batter board rather than up, providing extra friction and preventing slipping.

How does the fiddle string knot, also known as an engineer's knot, work for tightening a string line to a nail?

The fiddle string knot is formed by looping the string around an index finger, twisting it several times, and then pulling the slack tight while holding the string. This creates friction that holds the line taut.

What is a binder and how is it used to secure a string line?

A binder is a simple friction knot used to secure a string line by passing the string around the stake, pulling it tight, and letting the working side of the string capture the loose end against the stake.

Why is the water knot an effective way to join two pieces of string line?

The water knot is effective for joining string lines because it is compact, allows the line to pull out of the center of the knot, and does not slip under load, making it reliable for construction use.

How should a string line be wound up to prevent kinks and tangles?

A string line should be wound up in a figure-eight pattern while maintaining tension to prevent kinks and tangles. This keeps the string limp and easy to unwind when needed.

Outlines

00:00

🔨 Mastering String Line Techniques

This paragraph introduces the importance of mastering string line techniques in construction. The speaker emphasizes that proficiency with string lines can quickly distinguish a professional from a novice. It can affect the accuracy of construction tasks and whether the work needs to be redone or can proceed as planned. The speaker shares some basic but essential tricks to improve string line usage, such as setting up a sturdy batter board and practicing string tricks to ensure accuracy and efficiency on the job.

05:02

🪢 Knots for String Line Attachment

The speaker discusses two primary methods for attaching a string line to a nail on a batter board. For new, slippery string, an overhand knot is recommended, while for used string, a lark's head knot is preferred due to its ease of removal. The paragraph explains the process of rendering down the string to ensure a tight connection and the importance of leaving a bitter end for security. The lark's head knot is highlighted as a versatile knot, also known as a cow hitch, which can be used with line stakes and adjusted based on the critical dimension required.

10:05

🧵 String Tension and Friction Knots

This section covers how to tighten a string line to a nail using a fiddle string knot or engineer's knot, which relies on the friction of the string winding around itself to hold tight. The speaker advises not to twist too many times to avoid difficulty in releasing the tension. Another method discussed is using a binder or friction knot for attaching to objects other than nails, which involves leveraging pressure and friction to secure the string. The simplicity and effectiveness of this knot are highlighted, along with its quick application and release.

15:06

🪢 Advanced String Line Knots and Storage

The final paragraph covers the use of water knots for joining two pieces of string line, which is compact and maintains the straight pull of the string. The speaker also discusses the practical use of string lines for establishing straightness, elevation, and distance measurements on construction sites. Additionally, the paragraph provides a tip on winding up string lines in a figure eight pattern to prevent kinks and ensure easy unwinding. The speaker concludes by encouraging practice and exploring innovative uses for string lines in various construction scenarios.

Keywords

💡String

A string in this context refers to a thin cord or wire used in construction to establish straight lines for alignment and measurement. It's a fundamental tool that can quickly identify a professional from a beginner. In the video, the presenter emphasizes the importance of using strings correctly for accuracy in construction work, and demonstrates various techniques to effectively use and manipulate strings.

💡Batter Board

A batter board is a temporary structure used in construction to hold strings in place for marking out straight lines and boundaries. The video discusses setting up batter boards with nails driven into them to provide sturdy anchors for the strings. The accuracy of the construction work heavily depends on the correct setup and usage of batter boards.

💡Lark's Head Knot

The Lark's Head Knot is a type of knot used to secure a rope or string to a post, stake, or similar object. It's highlighted in the video as a versatile and quick method to attach a string to a nail on a batter board. The presenter explains how to properly use this knot depending on whether the string is new and slippery or old and less slippery.

💡Overhand Knot

An overhand knot is a simple knot used to prevent the string from slipping off the nail when it's new and slippery. The video script describes how to tie an overhand knot as a temporary measure until the string gets some friction from use, after which a Lark's Head Knot is preferred.

💡Fiddle String Knot

Also known as an engineer's knot, the fiddle string knot is used to tighten the string to a nail. The video demonstrates how to create this knot by twisting the string around the finger and then pulling it tight, which is crucial for maintaining the string's tension and straightness.

💡Binder

A binder, in the context of the video, refers to a friction knot that is used to secure a string to various objects other than nails. The video explains how to use a binder by wrapping the string around an object and creating pressure and friction to hold it in place, which is an efficient method for quick and secure attachment.

💡Water Knot

A water knot is a method of joining two pieces of string together by tying overhand knots in opposite directions. The video script describes the water knot as a compact and efficient way to connect strings without creating a bulky interruption in the line, which is useful for maintaining the integrity of the string line in construction.

💡Tension

Tension, in this context, refers to the tightness of the string when it's being used for alignment. The video emphasizes the need for the string to be as tight as possible without causing the nail or batter board to move, as this affects the accuracy of the construction work. Proper tension is key to a straight and reliable guide.

💡Accuracy

Accuracy in this video pertains to the precision with which construction lines are marked out using strings. The presenter discusses various techniques and knots to ensure that the strings are used accurately to avoid errors in construction, highlighting that small details in string handling can accumulate to achieve the desired precision.

💡Practice

Practice is emphasized throughout the video as essential for mastering the use of strings in construction. The presenter advises setting up practice scenarios to become proficient in using strings, knots, and other string-related techniques, which will enable one to perform accurately and efficiently on the job.

💡Figure Eight

A figure eight refers to the method of winding up a string in a specific pattern to prevent kinks and tangles. The video describes winding the string in a figure eight pattern to keep it limp and pliable, which makes it easier to use and prevents it from falling off in a mess when stored.

Highlights

Strings are a simple but essential tool in construction.

The way you use strings can quickly label you as a professional or beginner.

String usage affects the accuracy of construction work.

Practicing with strings can lead to better on-site performance.

Two main ways to attach a string to a nail on a batter board.

For new strings, use an overhand knot to prevent slipping.

For used strings, a lark's head knot is recommended.

Lark's head knot allows for easy removal without leaving a knot.

When using a lark's head, ensure the line pulls against the loop.

The lark's head knot is versatile and can be used to start multiple pulls from the same string.

Nails in batter boards should be tipped back to prevent string from slipping upwards.

Accuracy in string usage is crucial for construction precision.

Fiddle string knot or engineer's knot is used for tightening strings to nails.

The fiddle string knot creates a tight string with minimal sag.

Binders or friction knots can be used for attaching strings to non-nail objects.

Binders are quick to apply and release.

String tension is critical to prevent wind and gravity from affecting the line's straightness.

Practice is key to mastering string usage and knots.

Water knot is a compact and effective way to join two string lines.

String lines can be used to mark distances and establish square measurements.

Proper winding of strings prevents kinks and makes them easy to use.

Figure eight winding method keeps strings pliable and prevents them from falling off.

Transcripts

string is one of the simplest tools in

my toolbox and it's also the tool that

will label you as either a pro or a

beginner about as quickly and about as

clearly as any other tool that you might

pick up and try to use not only will the

way that you use string and the tricks

that you know about using strings label

you as someone who's been around or

someone who doesn't know anything it can

also make a real difference in the

accuracy of the job and whether or not

at the end of the day the work you've

done has to be torn out or if you can go

ahead and press forward because you did

it right because you use a string line

correctly let me show you how you can

set yourself apart from a lot of the

guys in construction with a few simple

string tricks nothing about what I'm

going to show you is complicated but

everything about what I'm going to show

you has to be practiced so set up

something like this a little batter

board drive some nails in something that

are that's sturdy you know 15 20 40 the

further apart you can get them the more

accurate it's gonna feel I mean compared

to a construction environment so set

yourself up some way to practice the

things I'm going to show you with this

string line so that when you get on the

job and when it's show time

it's gonna be as automatic as riding a

bike you won't have to think about it

you won't fumble your knots are gonna

hold and you're gonna look like a hero

the first thing I want to show you is

the two ways that I attach to a nail on

a batter board is this complicated no

but there's really only two things you

have to think about if your string line

is brand new if it's just coming out of

the cellophane if it's brand new its

slippery

it's slick and so to attach to the nail

I just tie an overhand knot and make a

loop basic and that works beautifully

because you know it's not gonna slip you

can pull that if your string is used if

it's a little bit if it's spent a little

time out in the Sun and if you've used

it a few times it's not slippery anymore

and you can just put a larks head on the

end say that that holds nicely and the

advantage is that when you take it off

you don't have a knot to remove you just

have a good clean end so I'm going to

cut this overhand knot

but keep in mind that's a very positive

connection I'm gonna cut this off and

we're gonna start with larks head render

it down rendering down means to tighten

swing it back and forth a couple times

and it's good as a general sort of a

rope trick principle you always leave a

little bitter end outside of a larks

head like this so if it does slip if it

does render itself down a little tighter

you've got some space before your knot

comes undone now getting back to the

idea of taking this apart you just grab

the middle of that larks head

that's securing it and pull it open and

you're out and now that'll go right back

on your string line without a problem a

larks head is a very versatile knot I've

learned on the channel that it's also

known as a cow hitch if you're using a

line stake instead of a nail on a batter

board then one side of the stake or the

other is the critical dimension so you

have to know which side of the stake

you're going to be trying to use as your

dimension before you put the larks head

on the stake if this side of the stake

was my critical dimension I would put

the larks head on so it binds like that

if the other stake of side of the stake

was my critical dimension the knot would

turn over so that it binds like that

the bite of the line needs to be pulling

against the loop let me show you what

the problem is if it goes the other way

if I'm trying to memorialize this side

of the stake and I have the loop

oriented like that the string is going

to render around and pull out of the

middle of the stake or just slip see

that it just doesn't work very well

unless you are coming back against the

center of the knot there's a couple

reasons that the larks head or the cow

hitch is my go-to knot for starting a

pull first day as it goes in so fast

second is it falls out completely which

is fast and the third is that I can

originated a pull and then if I want to

start another pull out of the same

string let's just say that this is going

off across the jobsite and I want the

middle of my string to start a whole

nother pull I can take that same string

put a larks head in it and pull twice

off the same string without having to

cut my line or put a knot in it that's

gonna mess up my spool later I'll never

have to take a knot out and I can pull

out of the middle of a bite with a firm

attachment and it comes out and there's

no knot and I come back over to the

stake and it pulls out and there's no

knot so practice using a larks head it's

just really a nice way to originate a

string line let me just recap on these

two knots for starting your pull the

only time I ever use a loop with an

overhand knot is on a brand new slippery

line occasionally a larks head just

wants to slip but once you have

confidence that your lines got a little

friction in it I just never tie a loop

any more I always use the larks head let

me throw one other little little piece

of information at you and that is batter

boards are almost always used in

conjunction with nails and so the nail

should always be tipped back just a

little bit so that when you're pulling

the string has a tendency to work its

way down the nail towards a batter board

rather than having a tendency to work

its way up so you look at slipping there

because it's up but if it's down against

the batter board you've got some extra

friction so the nail should always be

tipped away from the direction of the

pull just a little bit works better most

of the time when you have batter boards

or line stakes and string lines you're

trying for an accuracy that's

essentially the accuracy the width of

the string so what all matters all these

details are going to add up to these

details kind of layer they layer and the

more accurate you can get with something

as mundane as how you tie your knot and

wear off of the nail or off of the line

stake your string comes to rest it all

accumulates to acceptable accuracy once

the work is in place with the end of

your string firmly anchored in the right

spot now it's time to tighten that thing

up and hold it tight

this is magic if you're tightening to a

nail you use a fiddle string knot or

I've learned it's called an engineer's

not very easy you form a loop around

your index finger and then twist it up

five or six times one two three four

five six not too many then with one hand

I use my left hand I tighten the string

and with my right hand I pull the slack

back can you see that the slack is

sliding around all those twists and then

you can pull that as tight as your left

hand will pull it tight enough to break

it if you're not careful and then simply

pull the bitter end back and let it go

see that can you hear that that's a

tight string that's a 40-foot pull it

has not sagged 1/8 of an inch

works great so here's the thing

it's the friction of that loose end

winding around the tight side that holds

the line and that also makes it hard to

take the friction out of it to take the

slack out of it if you tighten it so

don't wind it too many times let's

experiment there's six twists in it

right now

let's go seven eight nine there's nine

twists here's the problem it gets harder

to pull that slack out and in any case

you have to pull parallel you can't pull

sideways the two lines the one

tightening and the one holding has to be

parallel but then with all those twists

can you see that it stretches out too

long it's just kind of awkward five is

the number let's start from scratch one

two three four five get a good hold pull

parallel

BAM it's held you can tell us about

right when it renders up and it's just

about you know 3/8 of an inch long right

there half of the beauty of the knot is

how easily it ties the other half of the

beauty of the knot is how easily it

releases BAM gone see that let's do that

again 1 2 3 4 5 drop it over the nail

render the slack tight time to take the

string down pull it back parallel to the

line BAM you're free how do you beat

that if you're attaching to anything

except a nail you're probably going to

want to use what I call a binder it's

not even a knot it's just using the way

that pressure and friction work together

to resist movement and it works like

this

you run the string by that your line

steak on the side of the line steak that

is the correct measurement you pass

around the steak one time and then as

you pull it tight you let the working

side of the string come up and lay over

the bitter end then you can render the

slack much like we did with the fiddle

string not pulling in both ends and then

the pressure of this side capturing the

loose side against the side of the steak

holds it tight I mean tight now the

beauty of this is it goes on so quickly

it holds so firmly and it unties in a

moment like this and you're free how do

you beat that the other thing is you can

do this on almost anything you need to

tie to you can do it on the end of a

board

I may go around twice on a board you do

this on a steel pipe and it'll hold you

see how much better that is in a series

of half hitches and square knots and

granny knots and who knows what so this

binder not this friction knot is so

simple it's easy to overthink it and

complicate it to where not only does it

not work as well but it doesn't work at

all

one way to think about this is that you

should realize that this does not work

even a little bit on a loose string it

doesn't begin to do its job until the

line begins to get tight let me show you

if I go around there and try to get that

string to hold when there's no tension

on the line it holds nothing but on the

other hand if I stretch that hard enough

that I actually have to squeeze my hand

and then wrap it around there and then

roll that string over a half a turn it's

held you see that I like to combine

those things where while their line is

slack I throw it around and get it over

the top and then as I tighten it it's

already in the position to hold itself

but don't be confused by the simplicity

play with it a few times and you'll

realize that the act of the tight line

laying over the top of the loose line is

what holds or binds or makes this little

hitch work so well with a string so as

you think about this you'll realize that

this will work on almost anything now it

works best on something with nice tight

square corners like a beautiful square

concrete stake it will work on a round

concrete stake if you go around twice

it'll work on beams it'll work on it'll

work on almost anything with slight

adaptations friction and gravity and all

of these sort of elemental forces can

work for us if we think about it and use

use our noggin just a little bit so

these knots our engineered are designed

to hold a string tight how tight should

a string be the answer

that is as tight as you can make it

without pulling your nail loose without

pulling your batter board over they need

to be tight and the reason is because if

you're working in the wind the wind will

push your string out of straight if

you're pulling a long distance

gravity is going to pull that that

string down and a string that's not

straight is worse than no string at all

because you're assuming it's straight

and you're building to an incorrect line

so the limitations on getting a string

tight or to how good a grip you have and

how firmly the end of the string is

anchored so the key to all of this is

practice so you need to practice these

knots sometime somewhere where nobody's

watching and while you're at it you know

maybe practice cutting a string with

your bare hands I've got a video on that

and it goes like this so that's not just

a trick that's also a tool and there

will be times when you'll be really glad

you know how to do it so there's nothing

wrong with cutting string when you need

to cut your string and there's nothing

wrong with tying pieces of string back

together when you have a nice long piece

that you want to put back on your roll

the knot that I like to use for joining

two pieces of string line that I intend

to use in construction in the future is

a water not a water knot is so easy it's

two overhand knots one reversing the

direction of the first one the reason I

like a water knot in a string line is

because it's compact it's not a big

bulky knot and the line continues to

pull out of the center of the knot so

you only have about half the diameter of

the not pushing your string off of a

board or off of a you know

fill-in-the-blank you only have half the

diameter of the not pushing the string

out of straight the last reason I like

it is because it never lets go with the

loads that I put on it when I'm

stretching a string so to tie a water

not the first thing you do is simply put

an overhand knot in the end of your

first line and leave yourself plenty of

bitter end now take the other line the

one are you going to join to it and take

the bitter end of the second line and

stick it into the overhand knot exactly

where the other bitter end

exits like this

pull plenty of material now you're

simply going to retrace the path of the

original line through the original

overhand knot like that

one enters who are the other exits and

exits were the other enters you can trim

these down close they're not going to

slip out and it makes a nice clean small

interruption in your string line my old

strings have lots of knots in them and

lots of pencil marks on them because not

only will a string establish

straightness and it will establish

elevation it will also establish a

distance along the string like this you

can hook a tape bring it down into

contact with a string line that

stretched nice and tight and put a mark

on there for instance that mark is at 22

feet now that marks a little hard to

find but if you pay attention or maybe

put a scrape mark on the ground you'll

know that okay right there is my mark at

22 feet you can use that for

establishing square by pulling an

intersecting line or a tape measure at a

different angle to verify that there's

23 feet from a known distance at a known

line at a known elevation it's a black

board suspended right in midair so just

think of new ways to use a string line

and they will get you out of a bind all

the time

let me show you how I do not wind up my

strings

I don't wind them up like this because

I'm winding a twist or a kink in the

string as I go with every revolution not

only that but if I get a whole bunch on

there and then store it it's easy for it

to just kind of fall off you see that

when you just go around the middle of

the ball it'll fall off what I like to

do is to do it in a figure eight because

a figure eight does not put the kink on

the string it'll remain limp and pliable

and cooperative and not only that if you

hold some tension on the string as

you're doing this it will tend to not

fall off in a mess in your toolbox now

winding it in a figure eight takes a

little practice I mean it's a learned

sort of a coordination thing holding the

tension as a learned coordination thing

and you can't do it on too long a stick

because it's just too awkward but with

the right length stick and they're just

a little practice you can wind it up and

then maybe put a half hitch around there

pull it tight and it'll be useful the

next time you need it it unwinds off a

figure eight just as easily especially

if you put a little distance between

your hands and get it started and then

just if you keep the tension even it

will pull itself off there pretty

handily if you keep your hands apart I

had to use string a lot setting up these

footings like a lot and I think I used

every one of these tricks and processes

and knots several times making this

happen so if you're interested in that

and how they were actually used in a

real life situation check out some of

these episodes on our house building

project there's gonna be a lot of

information there you might have a look

and in any case glad you're here thanks

for watching