<p>Focus on the loops not the length of the string. </p>

<p>Make a guide board or jig by putting two pins (or nails depending on the weight of the cord) in a board with their distance apart being the desired length of your looped string. Then tie your loops around the pins. </p>

<p>Once you have your loops then you can trim the cord where it exits the knot. If you then untie the loops you have an idea of how long to make the cuts before the knots are tied.</p>

<p>A good knot for making the loops might be the "bowline knot" since it will not slip once it is tied. Here is a diagram of it from the veritable bible of knot tying <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ashley_Book_of_Knots" rel="nofollow noreferrer">"Ashley's Book of Knots"</a>. </p>

<p>This knot will not spill if tied properly, since you mentioned the load weight, but the cord you use has to be able to support the load and a string does not sound strong enough to support 30lbs.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/EbUz9.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/EbUz9.jpg" alt="tying the Bowline knot"></a></p>

<p>edit: I too missed the variable length part. Still, using pins would be the best way to control the length of your looped segments. Just reset the pins for each length. It is going to be easier than trying to tie each knot using the exact same amount of cord. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-02T01:27:40.697Z
2019-03-02T17:30:47.467Z
2019-03-02T17:30:47.467Z
rebusB
<p>After a brief search using "diy knot tying tool," and mostly coming up with fly-fishing helpers, I think your best option would be to create a jig with pegs in the right locations. What are the right locations? That's a trial and error project.</p>

<p>Picture a board of suitable length for your longest set of loops. Cut it in half and create a means to adjust the length over about a 30 cm distance. I'd use threaded rods and brackets along the side of the board, perhaps with wingnuts for ease of adjustment.</p>

<p>At each end of the board, a series of pegs representing the loops in your selected knot around which you would wrap your lines.</p>

<p>Your drawing does not show it, but for loops that will not collapse, a bowline knot is a good choice.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/oxbQy.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/oxbQy.jpg" alt="bowline knot image"></a></p>

<p>The main portion of your line would wrap around two pegs spaced far enough apart to pass the line through, then continue to loop (1) around the peg at the far end of the board. Add a peg, or extend the far peg as needed to adjust the size of the loop.</p>

<p>Once passed between the pegs (1) and wrapped back on itself, the pegs can be removed to tighten the knot. </p>

<p>This will result in a consistent length of line being used for each knot, based on a reference point in the general area of the first two pegs. Excess line at the end of the knot can be cut, but over time, you'll develop a feeling for how much is needed.</p>

<p>At the other end of the board, duplicate the pegs and the steps.</p>

<p>The threaded rod in the middle allows you to adjust the end-to-end spacing to get the precise distance needed.</p>

<p>If a knot other than a bowline is used, you may need more pegs.</p>

<p>EDIT: In the case of 58 different lengths, you have a different task, but need only one board of pegs. Provide at the base of the board a marker or a clamp to which you will reference your line length. Initially, you will place your line at the marker, tie the knot as above and then remove and untie the knot. This will give you a reference distance to determine the length of line "consumed" by the knot, as well as a known distance from the end of loop to the marker.</p>

<p>For example, you place a marked line at the reference point, tie the knot, remove the knot and measure the loop distance to the reference. It's 4 cm. and consumed 10 cm of line. If you need a total of 180, you know that you have to have 180 - 4 - 4 = 172 between the markers and 172 + 10 + 10 = 192 cm of line.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-02T01:28:06.833Z
you beat me to it by 15 minutes!  I think you over thought the jig though... just two pins the right distance should suffice.
rebusB
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-02T01:37:21.470Z
I overthink just about everything.
fred_dot_u
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-02T01:48:33.383Z
I know the feeling :-)
rebusB
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-02T03:57:50.733Z
i don't really think this is possible,  as I'm going to be cutting 52 different lengths,  so I'd need a lot of board
tuskiomi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-02T10:36:44.190Z
With that clarification, I've edited the answer.
fred_dot_u
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-04T16:52:16.360Z
It will be easy enough to drill a series of holes, to place the pegs in different locations for different lengths. If the lengths are too variable, you can make your board out of three pieces, two at the top making the board out of the answer, the third underneath which can be used to move the top two ones.
Willeke
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-02T01:11:06.113Z
2019-03-02T10:37:06.463Z
2019-03-02T10:37:06.463Z
fred_dot_u
<p>I need to tie together about 58 strings of variable lengths with loops on each end (see pic)</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/dM0sQ.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/dM0sQ.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>The problem that I'm having is cutting the length consistently. I need to cut the lengths accurately to about +/-2.5mm. With tying loops on each end, it's very <em>very</em> difficult to get the length correct.</p>

<p>The loops will be bearing about 30 lbs (13.6kg). I'll be  tying roughly 52 lines with loops.</p>

<p>What techniques are there to tie two loops in a line, such that the ends are an accurate distance apart?</p>

<knots>
How can I precisely and quickly tie loops of line?
tuskiomi
# How can I precisely and quickly tie loops of line?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-03-01)

I need to tie together about 58 strings of variable lengths with loops on each end (see pic)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/dM0sQ.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/dM0sQ.png)

The problem that I'm having is cutting the length consistently. I need to cut the lengths accurately to about +/-2.5mm. With tying loops on each end, it's very *very* difficult to get the length correct.

The loops will be bearing about 30 lbs (13.6kg). I'll be tying roughly 52 lines with loops.

What techniques are there to tie two loops in a line, such that the ends are an accurate distance apart?

**Tags:** knots


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-03-02. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

After a brief search using "diy knot tying tool," and mostly coming up with fly-fishing helpers, I think your best option would be to create a jig with pegs in the right locations. What are the right locations? That's a trial and error project.

Picture a board of suitable length for your longest set of loops. Cut it in half and create a means to adjust the length over about a 30 cm distance. I'd use threaded rods and brackets along the side of the board, perhaps with wingnuts for ease of adjustment.

At each end of the board, a series of pegs representing the loops in your selected knot around which you would wrap your lines.

Your drawing does not show it, but for loops that will not collapse, a bowline knot is a good choice.

[![bowline knot image](https://i.sstatic.net/oxbQy.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/oxbQy.jpg)

The main portion of your line would wrap around two pegs spaced far enough apart to pass the line through, then continue to loop (1) around the peg at the far end of the board. Add a peg, or extend the far peg as needed to adjust the size of the loop.

Once passed between the pegs (1) and wrapped back on itself, the pegs can be removed to tighten the knot.

This will result in a consistent length of line being used for each knot, based on a reference point in the general area of the first two pegs. Excess line at the end of the knot can be cut, but over time, you'll develop a feeling for how much is needed.

At the other end of the board, duplicate the pegs and the steps.

The threaded rod in the middle allows you to adjust the end-to-end spacing to get the precise distance needed.

If a knot other than a bowline is used, you may need more pegs.

EDIT: In the case of 58 different lengths, you have a different task, but need only one board of pegs. Provide at the base of the board a marker or a clamp to which you will reference your line length. Initially, you will place your line at the marker, tie the knot as above and then remove and untie the knot. This will give you a reference distance to determine the length of line "consumed" by the knot, as well as a known distance from the end of loop to the marker.

For example, you place a marked line at the reference point, tie the knot, remove the knot and measure the loop distance to the reference. It's 4 cm. and consumed 10 cm of line. If you need a total of 180, you know that you have to have 180 - 4 - 4 = 172 between the markers and 172 + 10 + 10 = 192 cm of line.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: you beat me to it by 15 minutes!  I think you over thought the jig though... just two pins the right distance should suffice.  
> **username_2**: I overthink just about everything.  
> **username_1**: I know the feeling :-)  
> **username_0**: i don't really think this is possible,  as I'm going to be cutting 52 different lengths,  so I'd need a lot of board  
> **username_2**: With that clarification, I've edited the answer.  
> **username_3**: It will be easy enough to drill a series of holes, to place the pegs in different locations for different lengths. If the lengths are too variable, you can make your board out of three pieces, two at the top making the board out of the answer, the third underneath which can be used to move the top two ones.  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2019-03-02. Score: 1

Focus on the loops not the length of the string.

Make a guide board or jig by putting two pins (or nails depending on the weight of the cord) in a board with their distance apart being the desired length of your looped string. Then tie your loops around the pins.

Once you have your loops then you can trim the cord where it exits the knot. If you then untie the loops you have an idea of how long to make the cuts before the knots are tied.

A good knot for making the loops might be the "bowline knot" since it will not slip once it is tied. Here is a diagram of it from the veritable bible of knot tying ["Ashley's Book of Knots"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ashley_Book_of_Knots).

This knot will not spill if tied properly, since you mentioned the load weight, but the cord you use has to be able to support the load and a string does not sound strong enough to support 30lbs.

[![tying the Bowline knot](https://i.sstatic.net/EbUz9.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/EbUz9.jpg)

edit: I too missed the variable length part. Still, using pins would be the best way to control the length of your looped segments. Just reset the pins for each length. It is going to be easier than trying to tie each knot using the exact same amount of cord.


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