Pine Sap on Ropes

[Jman]

I looked and searched for the topic but can't seem to find it. What do people use to clean their ropes? I have a bunch of stuff that is gunked up and needs to be cleaned off.

 

[Rookieclimber]

if possible i use a different rope and hitch for all pines and spruce climbs for this reason. I suggest you try the same.

I know a few companies like On Rope 1 and Sherrill and i believe wesspur sells rope cleaning supplies. I just use a small amount of mild detergent and throw the rope in a mesh rope wash bag and send it through a few times.

 

[Tr33Climb3r]

[ QUOTE ]
if possible i use a different rope and hitch for all pines and spruce climbs for this reason. I suggest you try the same.



[/ QUOTE ]

I agree but that doesn't answer your question.

 

[Rookieclimber]

the second part does...

 

[Tr33Climb3r]

Sorry rookie i meant it as I agree with you...and I have no other way that i really deal with it...and by me agreeing with your first part and not having a second idea personally "does not answer his question"

 

[highclimber30]

peanut butter works great for getting the sap off of skin. leaves you smelling like peanut butter. havent tried it on my rope. dont think it would be corrosive to fibers but cant say for sure.

 

[highclimber30]

if this ends up being ok and i am not censored by someone who has more information on this than i do...just applying the pb won't do anything until you wash it off. it is something about the oil in the pb that helps slip the sap right off when water is applied.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Any veggie oil will soften the sap...I learned about PB a long time ago. Since it's thicker than oil it stays on my hands better and doesn't drip off. Besides, I like licking my fingers when I'm done...kidding!

There are some old threads on rope cleaning. I know...the TB search feature STINKS!

http://tinyurl.com/yyoegv8

 

[TANNER]

I have a seperate 2 in 1 lanyard for pines. Between trees, if need be I will loosen my preswick and rub a small amount of fine dirt onto my line. Usually break some down with a spike. Not your most tactical method but does make it to where you can keep on adjusting. Like to just go with an ascender, here some time.

 

[TLHamel]

Vegetable oil. I find that sunflower oil works best. Olive oil works really well but it's heavier and generally more expensive.

For the real heavy stuff, rub sunflower oil into your rope and let it sit for a half day. Then take it out into the rain and scrape the rope lengthwise with the flat side of a butter knife... magic!

 

[speelyei]

acetone works fine.

 

[Treespotter]

Canola oil works best.

 

[altissimus]

..... I usually wear it off with use ....

 

[Jman]

I knew it was some type of oil but couldn't for the life of me remember what type. I'll give that a try. Its not my actual rope because I ran it though a FC. Now my FC, lanyard, and everything else is a bit gunked up. Thanks for the responses.

 

[banjo]

I use a little bit of veggies oil with a little bit of dish soap and a semi-soft bristle scrub brush. I like to use the bath tub. Super easy.

 

[moray]

speelyei is right: acetone. You can rub out the pitchy spots with a dampened square of cloth. Pitch is 100% soluble in acetone. When you are done, the rope is immediately ready for use because the excess acetone evaporates away. It won't harm plastic arborist ropes, but you can check for yourself by soaking a few fibers in a sealed test tube for a week or two. I soaked some fibers for 10 days with absolutely no sign of any effect.

 

[dylanclimbs]

Margerine and hot water...everytime...

Mostly I use a dedicated rope and mechanical grabs...if this rope is a lanyard setup. If you're talking about your top rope, use a friction/cambium saver.

 

[Jman]

canola oil + oyxclean + warm water = clean ropes I also used a scrubby sponge and a butter knife to help the process along. Thanks guys.

 

[scubadude1188]

Dr. Bronners

 

[bstewert]

Peanut butter, mayonaise or lighter fluid.