How do you do Tom Fool Knot?

[Bidybag]

Please can somebody post me a link with pictures on how to do Tom Fool Knot?

[merickson]

Try:
http://www.scoutxing.com/knots/tom_fool_knot/tom_fool_knot.htm

[KnotNow!]

Hi, unfortunately the link showed you only the finished knot and not the "slight of hand" to get there.  Make an under hand loop and cast an overhand loop on top of it.  These are the same two moves to make a clove hitch "in hand".  Pull the bight of the overmost hitch through the bight of the first hitch (lower most).  Next pull the bight of the first hitch up through the bight of the second hitch and you have the Tom Fool.  Words are worthless.  Isn't there a library where you can see the Ashley Book of Knots and just look at ABOK #412?   Can I fax you a copy of #412?  May I mail you a copy of #412?  I look forward to the day when there is an electronic ABOK.  Now, considering that this knot has no real use and is mostly a trick knot and that all tricks and illusions really need step by step directions.. Would you like me to shoot JPGS of the hand motions for the Tom Fool on a CD and mail it to you.  That is to say that the internet is too slow for slight of hand (at least at dial up speed).  I am not trying to be rude.. it is just my nature.. and I really would be happy to make a series of jpgs of the Tom Fool for you.  I don't know if Grog has it in his animated knots.  I learned from him.  Sit in the dark and at each stage of the knot take a photo.  Then link them together.  It works pretty well.  I am happy to help in any way.. but a trick knot has to be fluid in the exicution and the final product must mystify the beholder.  So a Tom Fool should take.. well my wife can't push the button on the stopwatch fast enough.  Maybe .1 second.  Who can time it?  But of course what do you do with it when done.  You might like the 15 second thump mat.  Something you can work with when it is done and just as much a trick.  But at 15 seconds.  So Sloooowwww.

[Brian_Grimley]

PABPRES,

If the "Tom Fool Knot" posted by merickson is the knot that Bidybag asks about, then ABOK #412 isn't it. ABOK #412 is the "Handcuff Knot".  As you so correctly describe, the "Handcuff Knot" is the bights pulled through a "Clove Hitch". The "Tom Fool Knot" is the bights pulled through a "Round Turn". ABOK #1141 shows a quick method of tying the "Tom Fool Knot". ABOK #1140 shows the "Handcuff Knot".

If we look to Japan, we find an application of the "Tom Fool Knot". Some of the styles of the Japanese kimono have long, wide sleeves. One way to tie the sleeves out of the way uses the "Tom Fool Knot".  The "Tom Fool Knot" (and a second way) is shown here: http://fuuryusi.cool.ne.jp/kituke-men/tasuki.JPG .

Cheers - Brian.

I must admit that seeing the "Tom Fool Knot" as bights pulled through a round turn sometimes confuses the heck out of me!  

[KnotNow!]

Thank You, Brian.  I guess Tom was not the only one fooled.. Roy was too!  I've been tying the wrong knot for 50 years. Still the handcuff knot does make a nice parlor trick, it just isn't the Tom Fool that I thought it was.

[drjbrennan]

So apart from hobbling horses, what can you do with the handcuff and tom fool?

Actually I just remembered the firemans chair rescue knot, but apart from them, what can you do with these two?

[Brian_Grimley]

PABPRES,

I wouldn't   too hard if I was you! I have seen the statement, in print, that "the 'Handcuff Knot' is sometimes called the 'Tom Fool's Knot'".  So there you go . . .

I still wonder which knot Bidybag meant. Bidybag, is the "Tom Fool Knot", shown by merickson, the knot you were looking for?

Brian.

[Willeke]

drjbrennan,
You can handcuff people with both knots.

Very usefull if you are ever asked to assist an escape artist for a bet.

Also good to use on scouts who think they do not like knots.

If you tie them up good, much better than they did you, they are paying more attention to the knot instructions.

Willeke

[Bidybag]

I am looking for the best knot for tieing hands up.

Is this the best knot for tieing peoples hands up?

[merickson]

I've heard that escape artists hate constrictor knots.

I've also heard that tieing people up can cause circulation problems if not done properly.

[Bidybag]

Is this better than the tom fool knot for tieing hands?

[merickson]

The constrictor will tie parralel wrists together. Have a knife handy.

[Bidybag]

Do you have a link to how i can make it?

[merickson]

Ooops. I need to slap my own hand, its the constrictor HITCH.

http://www.realknots.com/knots/constric.htm

is a page from a realy useful knot site.

[knudeNoggin]

I must wonder what Bidybag has in mind?  What's the importance for
tying hands together?
As for needing a knife with a Constrictor knot, why?  Have you tried
to untie this from around parallel wrists?  (It is not a knot I'd expect to do
all so well at holding multiple objects together, as it needs a continuous
surface against which to bind.)  Sounds like knot-book echoes here ... .

*knudeNoggin*