Rope treatments, coatings

[Bart_]

I ran across this statement today researching miniature polyester/dacron braided line:

"The spliceable construction and specially formulated wax eliminate knot strength loss "

In the past I've come across info about use of non-concentrated fabric softener on ropes - can't remember the exact +/- of doing so. I also vaguely recall info about lubes etc used during manufacture of ropes. Then there's Samthane coating for the outside. And waxing whipping twine.


Anyone knowledgeable about this topic?

 

[Jonny]

Not sure about the rest, but Samathane is what Samson calls their polyurethane mixture. Probably water base polyurethane, and it might have different pigments in it. I think it’s trademarked, so I guess that means it’s not just polyurethane.

I’ve noticed that when I pull apart some Tenex for buries or whatever, that the pigmentation isn’t very even on the inner parts of the strands. Yalex is like that too, the 3/8” rope looks black, but the inner half of the strands are gray. Makes me think they coat the finished rope, not the strands.

 

[Dan Cobb]

That's quite a claim about eliminating knot strength loss. Almost seems to violate the laws of physics, but I suppose/hope break tests bear it out. Stands to reason that if the fibers can slide against each other more easily, they will better share the load through bends.

For years, I heard and read that a little fabric softener was good for ropes. However On Rope says:
"All indications point to the fact that fabric softeners are not a good idea. Fabric softeners have from time to time been recommended as a way of softening well used stiff ropes. Instead, recent tests on aging rope indicate fabric softeners substantially weaken rope. It is proposed that this weakening is due to bonding of free hydrogen molecules from the softener to the nylon polymer, actually changing the molecular structure of the rope's nylon."

I don't know about polyester. Tuefelberger has some info on washing polyester ropes, but it doesn't mention fabric softener.

SCRUBBA

SCRUBBA is a rope detergent specifically adapted to the requirements of fiber ropes. It helps you wash your ropes gently and easily.

www.teufelberger.com

Personally, I just machine wash in hot on the Super cycle with some detergent powder and OxyClean and put a dryer sheet in the dryer with them. Sometimes, they come out a little puckered, but it's nothing a hot iron won't take care of. (This last paragraph is a joke. Don't do it. You will die.)

 

[Tom Dunlap]

(Apologies for being a hopeless jokester.)

YOu had me going...whew...clad you came clean.

Adding in a skull and crossbones or slashed/circle may help get the joke across too.

Tom the Wet Blanket even thinks that an edit might be a good idea.