Rope question

[v8titan]

First let me start out by stating that I am not a tree care specialist or arborist. I recently purchased a length of 1/2 Samson stable braid because I wanted a quality piece of line for general use and felling some trees on my wood lot. The end treatment of the line, as recieved from the vendor, has a piece of tape wrapped around it and what appears to be a melted end to keep the rope from fraying. I may want to cut a small length and was wondering if melting the end with a flame or hot piece of metal was a good way treat the end.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Tom

 

[skwerl]

To cut a rope, I do the following.
-Measure the rope, figure out where I want to cut it.
-Wrap a small piece of masking tape over the spot where I want to cut it. Two wraps around the rope is plenty, make sure it's pulled tight, kinda choking the rope.
-Use a razor knife to cut the rope right through the middle of the tape so both cut ends are held tight with the tape.
-Use a lighter to melt the ends of the rope
-let cool for 10 seconds, then remove tape.
-Use the lighter to remelt any sharp burrs or loose fibers and smoosh them down smooth.

 

[OutOnaLimb]

I use the duckt tape and soldiering iron trick. After I make my cuts I use a heat gun to melt the duct tape around the end of the rope. This keeps the duct tape from unwrapping later on down the road.

Kenn

 

[kf_tree]

i just wrap the area i want to cut it with electrical tape and cut right through the tape then melt it with a lighter. so what if the tape melts a bit, i just leave the tape on.

 

[v8titan]

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds to me like the common thread is melting the end with heat. There's just a personal preference on how you do it I guess.

 

[kf_tree]

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds to me like the common thread is melting the end with heat. There's just a personal preference on how you do it I guess.

this is what most shops use to cut rope, it melts both ends as it cuts. http://store.karstsports.com/elropcut.html

 

[tophopper]

i just wrap the area i want to cut it with electrical tape and cut right through the tape then melt it with a lighter. so what if the tape melts a bit, i just leave the tape on.

ditto

 

[Redbull]

When I worked with TreeJunkie last weekend I noticed that he had used liquid electrical tape on the ends of one of his ropes. Looks like it held up well.

 

[fattyphatcakes]

I use an old meat cleaver and a propane torch. Get the cleaver toasty hot (orange), and it cuts thru rope like butta. Leaves a nice clean, smooth melted finish as well.

 

[rubberducky]

I heat up a piece of wire after bending it in a half circle. glides through it like butter, that simple.

 

[rebelman]

fatty is atough act to follow. There is a liquid of some sort. I like the others. Back to fatty, the motion to chop the tip must be like splitting kindling. Or butchering ribs or something. Maybe like desuckering firewood. Be sure to tape it, that comes in handy for many reasons later.

 

[Stumper]

I have taped cut and melted plenty but my preference is to chuck a cheap but sharp knife in the vise, heat the blade with a propane torch and then pull my ropepast the red hot blade fusing both new ends as they are cut.

 

[Lumberjack]

A hacksaw blade held between a stick welders ground and electrode holder works well assuming you know what your doing.

Cutting then melting with a lighter then pressing the ends togeter with your gloved fingers works well for me also.

 

[NickfromWI]

I'm a dork.

The best combination of speed and long-lasting end treatment would be a firm taping, cutting, and gentle melting much like skwerl described.

I, being a rope dork, whip the ends of the rope. Looks classy, WON'T come undone, and only takes a few minutes.

love
nick

 

[Koa Man]

I have taped cut and melted plenty but my preference is to chuck a cheap but sharp knife in the vise, heat the blade with a propane torch and then pull my ropepast the red hot blade fusing both new ends as they are cut.

Stumper,
That is exactly how I cut mine, except I have found with the blade red hot, the knife does not need to be sharp. I lay the rope on a block of wood and draw the knife through. I do put masking tape over the area I am going to cut.

 

[fattyphatcakes]

Why tape first?

 

[skwerl]

Fatty,
By taping first, it holds the end of the rope nice and tight. Otherwise the end of the rope can spread out as it is cut and the end of the rope will look like a piece of broccoli.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Whip it!

I'm a red hot knife kind of guy. Heat it up with the propane torch till it cherry red.

As for treating the end afterward... Whip it. Does that make me a rope dork too?

 

[v8titan]

Fatty,
By taping first, it holds the end of the rope nice and tight. Otherwise the end of the rope can spread out as it is cut and the end of the rope will look like a piece of broccoli.

If you try to melt the frayed broccoli ends, you can probably make them look like cauliflower.

 

[Tree Machine]

Two wraps with electrical tape, then cut through the middle. I like to use a sharp, 1" wide woodworking chisel over a solid piece of wood whacked solidly with a hammer. Then a propane torch directed on the fresh-cut ends.