Tie 3 lashings

Lashings join poles and spars together using only rope. Every lashing relies on two distinct actions:

• Wrapping turns: Loop around both spars to hold them in position.
• Frapping turns: Wrap between the spars around the wrapping turns, pulling the rope incredibly tight to lock the joint into a rigid structure.

Square Lashing — Touching Poles Crossing at 45° to 90°

Use the square lashing to join two poles that touch and cross at a right or near-right angle (such as table legs, gateway rails, or crossbars).

1. Start: Tie a clove hitch around the bottom (vertical) pole directly beneath the cross pole. Wrap the short running tail around the standing line to lock it.
2. Wraps (3 turns): Bring the rope over the top pole, around the back of the bottom pole, over the top pole, and behind the bottom pole. Make three complete wrapping turns. Lay each turn neatly alongside the previous turn (outside the previous wrap on the top pole, and inside on the bottom pole).
3. Fraps (2 turns): Take two tight frapping turns between the two poles, wrapping directly around the rope wraps. Pull each frapping turn as tight as possible.
4. Finish: Tie off with a clove hitch around the top (horizontal) pole, snug against the frapping.

Shear Lashing — Parallel Poles & A-Frames

Use a shear lashing to join two spars running side by side, either to form the legs of an A-frame (shear legs) or to splice two poles together.

1. Start: Lay the two spars side by side. Tie a clove hitch around one of the spars and wrap the short tail around the standing rope.
2. Wraps (5 to 10 turns): Make 5 to 10 neat wrapping turns around both poles together. Keep the wraps snug but not overly tight (space is needed for frapping).
3. Fraps (2 turns): Make two tight frapping turns between the spars, cinching the wraps firmly.
4. Finish: Finish with a clove hitch on the opposite spar from where you started.
5. Spread the Legs: For an A-frame or tripod legs, spread the lower ends of the poles apart. Spreading the legs further tightens the frapping turns, locking the structure solid.

Diagonal Lashing — Crossing Poles with a Gap

Use a diagonal lashing when two poles cross at an angle but do not touch (such as diagonal cross-braces on an X-trestle). The lashing pulls the separated poles together into contact.

1. Start: Tie a timber hitch around both poles at the crossing point. Pull the standing line firmly to cinch the poles together into contact.
2. First Diagonal Wraps (3 turns): Take three wraps around the poles along one diagonal axis of the fork. Pull each wrap tight.
3. Second Diagonal Wraps (3 turns): Cross over and make three wraps around the opposite diagonal axis.
4. Fraps (2 turns): Take two tight frapping turns between the poles, around all the wrapping turns.
5. Finish: Tie off with a clove hitch around either pole, adding a half-hitch for extra security.

[!TIP] Keep constant tension on the rope with every wrap. If you let slack enter during the wrapping stage, frapping turns won’t be able to recover full rigidity.