Securing things to spars with a wire Cocky's Hitch

Question

I remember about a decade ago, my grandfather taught me a particular wire "knot". He called it a Cocky's Hitch. I remember the first step was to take a length of thick fencing wire and fold it in half. and the last step was to put a screw driver though the bight, and twist -- wrapping it around the other end and drawing it tight.

But not the intervening steps. Or the fine detail of those steps.

I think we were using it to build a wind break, attaching some tin sheets or thick cloth to some star-pickets.

It could also be used to secure 2 spars to each other in the place of a lashing.

It is very strong. my grandfather told me how back in the day they used to build houses out of it. I suspect they actually build farmsheds with it, and he was telling some stories.

Answer 1

This wire knot comes under other names and I found it under a Cobb & Co hitch knot (another Australian name).

It requires wire, what you intend to tie together, a bolt or screw driver, and pliers to cut the wire.

1. Cut yourself a bit more than twice the length of wire to go around the job.
2. Fold the wire in half.
3. Pass the folded part (bight) of the wire around the job.
4. Put your lever (my bolt in this case) through the bight.
5. Use the lever to drag the bite around the other parts of the wire (this isn't easy to describe; hopefully you can see what I mean in the pictures). NB Start the twist as close as possible to the job or you will twist the wire off before it's tight.
6. Keep twisting the bight around the wire. The lever allows you to apply a lot of force and you will probably notice the wire cutting into the timber. If you go too far at this point you will break the wire and will have to start again.
7. When you are happy with the tension and the shape, cut the scratchy excess wire ends off to make it a bit safe.

Source: How-to-Tie-a-Cobb-Co-Hitch