Single or composite fibers for ropes.

[rfwoodvt]

Am looking at replacing bull ropes and, as usual, have come back to the basic double braids.

However, the question is now what material should I go with.

Right now I am seeing no significant strength difference between polyester cover & core versus a composite rope with a polyester cover and nylon core.

I am not a huge fan of straight nylon for a whole host of reasons but mostly environmental degradation.

I am enough of a non-fan that I generally do not even consider any nylon to be an option.

However, with a covered nylon core maybe those other concerns are not as significant.

One of the features of the composite ropes I find most attractive are their lower cost. But is that enough of a reason to go with the composites?

Anyone care to weigh in on the pros and cons of the two?

 

[Norm_Hall]

[ QUOTE ]
Am looking at replacing bull ropes and, as usual, have come back to the basic double braids.
However, the question is now what material should I go with.
Right now I am seeing no significant strength difference between polyester cover & core versus a composite rope with a polyester cover and nylon core.
I am not a huge fan of straight nylon for a whole host of reasons but mostly environmental degradation.
I am enough of a non-fan that I generally do not even consider any nylon to be an option.
However, with a covered nylon core maybe those other concerns are not as significant.
One of the features of the composite ropes I find most attractive are their lower cost. But is that enough of a reason to go with the composites?
Anyone care to weigh in on the pros and cons of the two?

[/ QUOTE ]

It really depends on the riggers style of rigging.

I am a fan of the poly/nylon rigging ropes. I have em in 9/16's, 5/8's, 3/4' and 7/8's". I also like them as spliced eye slings. Better shock absorbing capabilities.

Nothing wrong with poly/poly lowering lines. Extremely durable, but not as shock absorbing.

Do you do some lifting with a GRCS? Poly/nylon DB's aren't the best for that application.

 

[Tree Access]

[ QUOTE ]
...
I am not a huge fan of straight nylon for a whole host of reasons but mostly environmental degradation.
...


[/ QUOTE ]
I didnt know about that, could you tell some more about it please?

I use Poly/Nylon generally, and some really static Poly Lines (think HTP) as well for different applications.

 

[rfwoodvt]

Most of my experience with nylon ropes has been in the marine environment so it may not be fairly indicative of it's use in tree work.

However, in the marine environment they just don't seem to take as much as the polyester ropes can. Sunlight, abrasion and fresh water (rain or otherwise) just seem to eat the ropes up.

Dunno, hard to quantify or describe, just that nylon ropes have always left me wanting while polyester have always outperformed for me.

 

[Tree Access]

Ah, thanks for explaining, I was misunderstanding. Thought its about enviromental reasons...