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Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)

Nix · 40 · 1783

us Offline Nix

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In these hallowed halls, the Hook tool has long been recognized for it's remarkable utility. Rightly so.   :SAKnight:

It is not time, to recognize the brilliance that is the Toothpick. Not as durable as the Hook, more easily lost than the awl, it may seem a lesser tool. But awl true Swiss Army Knights know the value of the handy little Toothpick. This little tool has multiple uses and must, like a Special Forces unit, operate away from the protection of the host unit, working on it's own to achieve its mission, often unnoticed.

Here is an example of how the Toothpick may be employed in the shrive of a Swiss Army Knight, alone, cold, and with wet hands, trying to catch fish and feed his or her family.......

The Blood Knot (aka Barrel Knot):




This knot is commonly used in fishing to join sections of leader together or to attach a length of tippet to a leader. It is a strong knot and symmetrical around the line. Because of this symmetry, it glides through rod guides well. Some fishermen prefer hand-tied leaders, using the Blood knot, to create a custom leader that has a bit of resistance.

While it is a fantastic knot to have in one's repertoire......it can be the devil to tie, especially with cold, wet hands.

Enter the toothpick!

Here I am trying to join the green line to the orange line:




First the two lines are crossed, forming an 'X' with the mighty Toothpick tool between them:




Now, holding both ends of both lines, the Toothpick tool is rotated around 5-7 times, twisting the lines around each other. 




Note that the Toothpick tool is holding the two lines apart, creating a small gap. This is crucial for the Blood Knot (and one of the trickier parts of tying the Blood knot. Thank you, Toothpick tool!)

The next step is to pass the tag ends of the two lines through the gap created by the Toothpick tool, each end passing through the gap from the opposite side of the other.




The Toothpick tool makes this remarkable easy. Well done, Toothpick tool!

The knot is awl but finished now. Holding the two tag ends, the knot is cinched tight. The tag ends will need to be tightened a bit as well.

Here it is done*, note that the tag ends are perpendicular to the connected lines and extending in opposite directions. That is the proper way for a Blood knot to be formed.




The tag ends can now be clipped flush, and fish can be caught. The Toothpick saves the day!


* Ok, this isn't the best Blood knot ever tied. The orange mono was very stiff and didn't want to wrap up smoothly. I wouldn't normally want to tie a blood knot with this stuff, but it was more visible in photographs. For normal use with more flexible monofilament or fluorocarbon materials, this technique works like a charm.




us Offline Nix

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #1 on: March 03, 2019, 12:40:03 AM
Yes, we need a Toothpick badge!  I need the Swiss Army to rally here and support the cause. Sound off!

(The Badge rules might stipulate that the person requesting the Toothpick badge post a photo(s) of the Toothpick being used in a manner other than for dental hygiene. I don't think we want a host of gummy photos of teeth, cleaned or otherwise.)


us Offline Nix

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #2 on: March 03, 2019, 12:41:01 AM
Next......

The Toothpick knot (aka the 'Nail knot').    :ahhh


us Offline Aloha

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #3 on: March 03, 2019, 12:44:07 AM
 :tu: I was just reading up on this knot.  I watched a few videos and attempted a few of these knots.  Really good use of the toothpick  :like:.  This is one heck of a knot.  Highly recommended for its strength and IMO clean finish.   
Esse Quam Videri


gb Offline Wspeed

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #4 on: March 03, 2019, 12:45:32 AM
Nicely done Nix :like:
Definitely need a toothpick badge  :cheers:
fail to prepare prepare to fail


us Offline Nix

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #5 on: March 03, 2019, 12:48:21 AM
For sure. A great knot to be able to tie.

It can be done freehand, but is quite tricky. This toothpick trick makes it much easier & quicker.   

The downside to this technique is that the Blood knot will have the same number of turns for both lines. Some people prefer to add an extra turn to the small diameter line. This hasn't seemed like a big deal to me, and I don't worry about it. But, perfectionists, being perfectionists, might object.   :dunno:


us Offline Nix

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #6 on: March 03, 2019, 01:02:05 AM
Nicely done Nix :like:
Definitely need a toothpick badge  :cheers:

 :iagree:    :viking:


us Offline Barry Rowland

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #7 on: March 03, 2019, 01:59:40 AM
I'm with you Jack...may the powers that be grant our request :D
Barry


ca Offline Greg Jones

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #8 on: March 03, 2019, 02:04:00 AM
 :like: I'm a big fan of tooth pick nail knots  :cheers:


us Offline Nix

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #9 on: March 03, 2019, 02:36:49 AM
Cheers, guys,    :cheers:


us Offline Rapidray

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #10 on: March 03, 2019, 03:31:47 AM
Oh boy, thanks for sharing that with us! And that is a hard knot to tie. Wish I’d know about that years ago!  :cheers: :hatsoff:


us Offline Nix

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #11 on: March 03, 2019, 03:34:12 AM
Even with the Toothpick, you'll still need two (2) hands and at least four (4) teeth.   ;)


us Offline VICMAN

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #12 on: March 03, 2019, 09:35:25 PM


Here is an example of how the Toothpick may be employed in the shrive of a Swiss Army Knight, alone, cold, and with wet hands, trying to catch fish and feed his or her family.......

The Blood Knot (aka Barrel Knot):


Nice job and great pics Nix! :like: :tu: :tu:


us Offline Obi1shinobee

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #13 on: March 03, 2019, 09:42:58 PM
 :o


ie Offline McStitchy

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #14 on: March 03, 2019, 10:48:50 PM
Great example of an alternative toothpick use Jack  :tu:

I've never been fishing, but that knot makes a lot of sense. Especially because the surface of fishing line is mostly very smooth and slippery.

 :like:

Oh, and +1 for the Toothpick Badge  :iagree:


us Offline Nix

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #15 on: March 03, 2019, 11:11:48 PM
Exactly, Matt.   :tu:


us Offline Obi1shinobee

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #16 on: March 04, 2019, 12:31:11 AM
 :like:


us Offline Nix

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #17 on: March 04, 2019, 08:54:46 PM
I had to splice some line onto my reel for an ice fishing trip tomorrow.  I used the Toothpick to tie a Blood knot to attach the new line to the old line.




It's a bit hard to see the knot with this light mono (the toothpick here has been used to illustrate this feature in this photograph--another handy use of the toothpick). However, the shadow gives a good impression of the knot. Note, again, that the tag ends are pointing out perpendicular to the line and in opposite directions.  :tu:

The toothpick worked brilliantly for this.  :tu:
« Last Edit: March 04, 2019, 08:59:37 PM by Nix »


us Offline Nix

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #18 on: March 04, 2019, 08:58:16 PM
BTW, I have requested that the Powers That Be create a toothpick badge to honor and encourage unusual uses of the toothpick.

I guess time will tell if this small but handy tool, an iconic part of the Swiss Army Knife, will get the recognition it deserves.   :dunno:  Please voice your support for this worthy cause!  :tu: 


us Offline Butch

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #19 on: March 04, 2019, 09:09:53 PM
Toothpick badge ........ :viking:

Toothpick badge......... :viking:

Toothpick badge....... :viking:



 :viking: :viking: :viking: :viking:
Shoot low sheriff, they're riddin' shetlands
SAKMC unit number BR549
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I would like to apologise to anyone I have not offended. Please be patient, I will get to you shortly.
Just a small personal observation.  ...........I would not be at all surprised that when God created the Earth & the heavens, that the SwissChamp was the tool he used. .............. :hatsoff:


us Offline Butch

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #20 on: March 04, 2019, 09:10:30 PM
Good show, Nix.   :like:
Shoot low sheriff, they're riddin' shetlands
SAKMC unit number BR549
137% Redneck
I would like to apologise to anyone I have not offended. Please be patient, I will get to you shortly.
Just a small personal observation.  ...........I would not be at all surprised that when God created the Earth & the heavens, that the SwissChamp was the tool he used. .............. :hatsoff:


us Offline Nix

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #21 on: March 04, 2019, 09:11:01 PM
Thanks, Butch!   :cheers:


gb Offline Wspeed

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #22 on: March 04, 2019, 09:12:56 PM
What you still haven’t got your toothpick badge yet!!!! :facepalm:
fail to prepare prepare to fail


us Offline Nix

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #23 on: March 04, 2019, 09:52:10 PM
Speedy, it's not clear that a Toothpick badge will be created yet.  The idea of a Toothpick badge may be rejected......  :dunno:

Regardless, the Toothpick tool remains an under appreciated device, in my opinion.   :cry:


no Offline Steinar

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #24 on: March 04, 2019, 10:18:41 PM
The best thing about tying the blood knot this way is you don't need to remember how the lines are to be twisted (i.e. the same or opposite direction at each end of the center), since the toothpick does it for you. I love knot tying methods which aid in shaping the knot correctly.

Edit: I'm so used to working with rope and braided line where stuff like the above really matters, but thinking about it, I suspect the orientation of the twists matters very little for this knot and material?  :think:

Edit 2: Everywhere the knot is described, it is specifically noted to twist in opposite directions, so I guess it does matter, then.  :cheers:
« Last Edit: March 04, 2019, 10:30:42 PM by Steinar »


us Offline Nix

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #25 on: March 04, 2019, 10:28:40 PM
I have heard that it does make a bit of a difference in terms of ultimate knot strength.

......now I'm wondering if the toothpick helps this or creates the less strong version.......I'll have to do a bit of research......


nz Online zoidberg

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #26 on: March 04, 2019, 10:32:20 PM
Speedy, it's not clear that a Toothpick badge will be created yet.  The idea of a Toothpick badge may be rejected......  :dunno:

Regardless, the Toothpick tool remains an under appreciated device, in my opinion.   :cry:

I think it's trending towards being approved.   ;)   :)


gb Offline Wspeed

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #27 on: March 04, 2019, 10:42:21 PM
That would be excellent  :cheers: :tu:
fail to prepare prepare to fail


us Offline Nix

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #28 on: March 04, 2019, 10:45:03 PM
Indeed, so!


nz Online zoidberg

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Re: Toothpick Blood Knot (and we need a Toothpick badge!)
Reply #29 on: March 04, 2019, 10:45:46 PM
When I learnt the knot I was told the twist direction (blood vs alternate blood) didn't impact knot strength.
And the improved blood (doubling the leader) is also useful for lines of differing diameters.


 

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