Editing Lashing (ropework)

{{Short description|Way of fastening two or more items together with rope}}
{{mdy|date=June 2017}}
[[File:Temple St. bamboo scaffolding 2.JPG|thumb|[[Bamboo scaffolding]] secured with lashings in [[Kowloon]].]]
A '''lashing''' is an arrangement of [[rope]], wire, or webbing with linking device used to secure and fasten two or more items together in a somewhat rigid manner. Lashings are most commonly applied to timber poles, and are commonly associated with cargo, containerisation, the [[Scouting]] movement, [[sailor]]s, and [[gardener]]s.

It has been imagined that the first lashing made by humans was wrapping a few strips of bark around a stone to hold it to a tree branch to make an ax to hunt and build with.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}} In modern times, the same methods are used, but strips of bark and vines have been replaced with natural and synthetic fiber ropes. [[Scouting|Scout]]s and campers use lashings to build camp gadgets and improve their campsites for comfort and convenience, including the building of [[Raft|rafts]] for transport and [[Kon-Tiki_(Scouting)|competitive events]]. Lashings are also used in [[Pioneering (Scouting)|pioneering]],  the art of creating structures such as bridges and towers, using ropes and wooden spars.

There are still areas in the world where lashing spars (or poles) is the basic means of building.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

==Types==
[[File:Square lashing with piece of wood.JPG|thumb|A square lashing binding a wooden spar to a tree trunk. The rope turns between the tree and spar are the frapping.]]
===Square lashing===

'''Square lashing''' is a type of lashing used to bind spars together, at right angles to one another. There are different types, but all consist of a series of wraps around the spars, and frapping around the line running between the spars.{{cn|date=June 2017}}

===Diagonal lashing===

'''Diagonal lashing''' is a type of lashing used to bind [[spar (sailing)|spar]]s or poles together, to prevent racking. It gets its name from the fact that the wrapping turns cross the poles diagonally and is used to spring poles together where they do not touch as in the X-brace of a trestle.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Larry |date=14 December 2014 |title=Traditional Diagonal Lashing |url=https://scoutpioneering.com/2014/12/14/traditional-diagonal-lashing/ |publisher=scoutpioneering.com}}</ref>

===Shear lashing===

'''Shear lashing''' (two-spar shear lashing) also spelled "sheer lashing" is used for lashing together two parallel spars which will be opened out of the parallel to form sheer legs as in the formation of an A-frame. The clove hitch is tied around one leg only and frapping turns are taken between the poles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Larry |date=14 October 2013 |title=The Somewhat Ambiguous Shear Lashing |url=https://scoutpioneering.com/2013/10/14/the-somewhat-ambiguous-shear-lashing/}}</ref>

===Round lashing ===

The '''round lashing''' is most frequently used to join two poles together to extend their length. Typically, two lashings are used a reasonable distance apart for extra strength. In the simple version, a clove hitch is tied around both poles and there are no frapping turns.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Larry |date=27 January 2014 |title=Four Different Lashings to Extend the Length of a Spar |url=https://scoutpioneering.com/2014/01/27/four-different-lashings-to-extend-the-length-of-a-spar/}}</ref>

The nautical term '''gammon''' means a round lashing of rope or iron hardware to attach a [[Mast (sailing)|mast]] to a boat or ship.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gammon lashing |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095842113 |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=Oxford Reference}}</ref>

===Tripod lashing===

The '''tripod lashing''' (also known as [[gyn]] lashing, figure of eight lashing, and three-spar shear lashing) is used to join several spars together to form a self supporting structure. If the lashing is tied around three spars, then the structure is called a tripod, but quadpods can also be made by using four spars.{{cn|date=June 2017}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Scouting}}
*[[Binding knot]]
*[[D-ring]]
*[[List of knots]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{url|http://www.ropeworks.biz/archive/tripod.html|Tripod}}
* {{url|http://scoutpioneering.com|Scout Pioneering photos, diagrams, illustrations and procedures}}

{{Knots}}

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[[Category:Ropework]]
[[Category:Survival skills]]
[[Category:Lashing knots| ]]