Which knot do you start with when tying wires together?

• A. Square knot
• B. Clove hitch
• C. Reef knot
• D. Overhand knot

Answer: (B)

When tying wires together, you want a knot that grips a bundle or around a cylindrical object and can be tied quickly and adjusted as you position the wires. The clove hitch does this well: it wraps around the bundle or a post and the two ends cross over each other to hold the grip under tension along the length of the bundle. It’s easy to start and tighten, and you can undo it more readily if you need to rework the bundle.

The other knots aren’t as suitable here. A square knot (reef knot) is meant for joining two ends of rope and can slip or come undone under uneven tension, which isn’t reliable for wires. An overhand knot is a simple stopper that doesn’t provide the secure grip needed for bundling wires and can be hard to untie after tightening. So the clove hitch is the best starting choice for tying wires together because of its grip and adjustability on a round bundle.