Zigzag and rope ends?

[ATH]

I climb with a unicender. My helper uses a Zigzag...I do like that too, except I'm too attached to mid-line connection to make the switch. But this isn't about comparing the two...this is about the end of my ropes through their zigzag.

I used to whip ropes tightly, then shrink wrap. No way that is making it through. So I started just shrink wrapping...however, that comes off frequently when taking the zigzag off.

What do you do to protect the end of your rope when using a zigzag?

Currently using Yale's Blue Moon, or All Gear's Cherry Bomb, or Teufelberger's Tachyon.

 

[Boomslang]

Electrical tape and a lighter

 

[Chris Schultz]

@ATH I’ve tried this: Wrap end with electrical tape (tight), but leave a little elevation on the tape (leaving almost a dish on end of rope). Pour super glue into dish, and let settle (with gravity) into rope ends fibers…. I like you am not a fan of the zig zag for not being midline attachable.

 

[27RMT0N]

Electrical tape and a lighter

Yep, and if it gets a little bunged up over time, just cut a few inches off and do it again. No harm done.

 

[ghostice]

Maybe try this - I’ve used something like this for tachyon rope in my Zig-Zaggin’.

 

[Shadowscape]

I like masking tape wrap, then burn the end with a good lighter or torch. Then take the masking tape off. Works much better than burning with electrical tape on, which melts. The masking tape will not catch fire in the short time it takes the end of the rope to seal nicely.
I run Bluemoon and the variants mostly in my Z.Z.s I'm also a Z.Z. nerd and have one on each rope I use so I don't have to swap it around.
I loved the Uni for midline attachment, and for going up, and sort of going down. Was not impressed with it limb walking one bit however. Now I am like a gun nut. You will have to pry my Z.Z.s from my cold dead fingers.
And like the video above. Cut the rope on the tape to keep the end nice and tight.

 

[theatertech87]

Hardcore zigzag user here (i'm on my 7th? ish? heavy ass climber they do wear out... anyways) Usually I just use some good electrical tape on the end of the rope... wrap it down past the cut end and and back up so it encases all the fibers. Nothing more fancy than that especially on new ropes. Until you've got a few dozen full roe decents in, I find there is some milking of the core and the cover, and I've seen multiple feet of bunching of the cover happen where the ends have been melted and fused together preventing you from using the last bit of line (in one especially bad instance, the climber couldn't use the last 40 or so feet of his 150 foot line

that being said, after the break in period, it is kind of a nice creature comfort to pull about 6-8 inches of core out of the end of the rope, cut it off, bury it back into the line, then tape the entirity of the now thinner tail tight. Makes threading the rope back into the zigzag a breeze. though it is 100% not necessary.

Also ropes with splices designed to be pulled through the zigzag (like the petzl flow) gernally negate most of the need to feed the rope through the device from the other end of the rope anyways

 

[Winchman]

I'm using 12.7mm Vortex with my ZZ, so there's very little room for anything on the end. I cut off the fused end, pull back the cover to remove an inch of core, and then whip the end of the cover after pulling it tight to reduce the diameter.

 

[Matias]

I too love my zigzag and for larger diameter ropes, I use the hollowed out end technique described by @theatertech87

This issue is part of the reason that I had started almost only using the zigzag on 11mm ropes; the forbidden zone. I like it to run quick and responsive to a feather touch. I have recently started running my first 11.5mm with the Courant pink dragon, and so far it's checking all the boxes. I have gotten really good at making fairly squared off ends with a cheap harbor freight hot knife, and this pink dragon has been continuing to go into the ZZ with ease. I like to dismantle and reassemble the setup each climb to encourage myself to actually inspect my whole system prior to each use.

I have also had good success with the aforementioned super glue technique, and with simple e-tape.

 

[ATH]

Sounds like I'm taking out some core and wrapping with electric tape. Maybe even a few drops of super glue

 

[DSMc]

Remember that not all super glue is the same. You want thin for its wicking ability and industrial grade if possible. Also, make sure the rope end is exactly the shape you want as it will become hard as a rock after adding the glue.

 

[XTREEC]

Athletic tape then burn the end works for me

 

[Brocky]

Another option is to take some core out, pull the cover inside itself, put a piece of stiffened accessory cord inside, and sew.

 

[Analog]

After I cut the end with a new razor knife, I use a small propane torch to really melt the end and then immediately crimp it with lineman's pliers or smash it against the top of my vise with an old putty knife to shape it into a blunt point. This will usually last for a while and seems to work for me.

On a similar topic- Who here uses the Petzl ropes with the splices that they claim will go through the ZZ? I have the smaller dia one and it is very difficult to pull it through the ZZ using throw line. Does anyone have a good method?