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mps107
Jul 26, 2007, 9:30 PM
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Is marking the middle of a climbing rope with spray paint a extremely bad idea? The only research that seems to be done on the topic is on felt tip markers and that is a bad idea.
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summerprophet
Jul 26, 2007, 9:50 PM
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Well considering spraypoint contains solvents such as Acetone, Methyl ethyl ketone, Ethylbenzene, Butoxyethanol and Xylene, I would be hesitant to use it on my ropes, but you do what you want with yours.
Seriously, they make rope markers specifically for this purpose, spend the 4 bucks and get one, or use dental floss, or any of the other innumerable safe methods of marking your rope.
Note: Any product that has a warning label that cautions against contact with eyes or skin is because it is corrosive or flammable, and should be kept far away from your climbing gear, let alone be used directly on it.
<And if this is a troll, you would have been better off with "My rope is really, really dirty. Should I soak it in brake cleaner, Gasoline, or paint stripper.">
(This post was edited by summerprophet on Jul 26, 2007, 9:54 PM)
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skinner
Jul 27, 2007, 6:46 AM
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I'm sure you'd find something in here..
Your search for "marking ropes" returned 132 results
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swaghole
Jul 27, 2007, 10:50 AM
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Try this:
http://www.inquiry.net/images/whip.jpg
Use dental floss or something that will not cut in the rope's sheathing. A really thing cotton thread would be the best. If you wrap it tightly, it won't slide up or down the rope and will not interfere with the belay device.
(This post was edited by swaghole on Jul 27, 2007, 10:51 AM)
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LexnBirf
Jul 27, 2007, 1:33 PM
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summerprophet wrote: Well considering spraypoint contains solvents such as Acetone, Methyl ethyl ketone, Ethylbenzene, Butoxyethanol and Xylene
Same stuff in those felt tipped pens
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mr-pink
Jul 27, 2007, 3:00 PM
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swaghole wrote: Try this: [image]http://www.inquiry.net/images/whip.jpg[/image] http://www.inquiry.net/images/whip.jpg Use dental floss or something that will not cut in the rope's sheathing. A really thing cotton thread would be the best. If you wrap it tightly, it won't slide up or down the rope and will not interfere with the belay device.
I've tried this, and it only works for about 1 day of climbing.
And you're in deep shit if it moves anyway
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swaghole
Jul 27, 2007, 3:41 PM
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Well, I have two ropes marked this way and i've been using them for more then 6 months now. The white thread is still in place and has never moved. I climb on average twice a week, so durability is not an issue. Still, it's a good idea to double-check the center before lowering on rappel...
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westbend
Jul 27, 2007, 5:24 PM
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I use the dental floss (dental tape works better and is easier to handle) whipping technique. It is pretty quick and easy but only lasts about 10 to 20 passes through an ATC. Since they are quick to make, I usually do three independent whips about 3 inches apart so when I lose one or two I still have the center marked.
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stymingersfink
Jul 28, 2007, 6:50 PM
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IMHO, The Lab is a poor choice of places to troll.
Try to keep such things in scummunity or general, por favor
I hereby nominate this thread for the recycle bin.
Will a mod second the nomination?
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maimed
Aug 23, 2007, 6:43 AM
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Not that anyone asked, but whipping is for securing the ends of ropes so that they don't fray. Burning nylon rope ends is just as effective, but since hemp and manila don't respond well to that treatment, the old sailors bound their rope ends with thread.
If this thread wasn't on it's way to being locked before...
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fresh
Sep 9, 2007, 1:10 PM
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maimed wrote: Burning nylon rope ends is just as effective, but since hemp and manila don't respond well to that treatment
so are there any *good* methods of marking rope?
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binrat
Sep 9, 2007, 2:04 PM
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stymingersfink wrote: IMHO, The Lab is a poor choice of places to troll. Try to keep such things in scummunity or general, por favor I hereby nominate this thread for the recycle bin. Will a mod second the nomination?
Sty
good point, it should be dumped...........any mods up for it??
Binrat
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sixleggedinsect
Sep 13, 2007, 12:40 AM
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mps107 wrote: Is marking the middle of a climbing rope with spray paint a extremely bad idea? The only research that seems to be done on the topic is on felt tip markers and that is a bad idea.
i have a static rope (samson brand, i believe) that i got a good bit of spray paint on. i called the company and asked them what to do, considering i used it as a life-supporting piece of equipment.
they asked me which brand of spray paint, and what type, and said they'd get back to me. coupla' days later they actually did. said there were no chemicals in that particular brand of paint that would damage my rope. presumably nylon 66.
course who knows. every can of paint has a different concoction, and maybe those samson folks have it out for me. but nylon is well known for being a pretty hardy plastic in terms of chemical exposure. just no bleach, acids, etc.
anyways, moot point. you can do better.
fresh wrote: so are there any *good* methods of marking rope?
i like my method. holds up for a season, or for a few weeks, depending on quality of tape used.
tear off a thin strip, maybe 1/2" wide, of the same sh*t you tape your hands with. have a buddy stretch the rope as hard as she can (or hang on it, or whatever) so the diameter thins out. tape tightly over the middle with a couple wraps. hey presto. slips through devices with an audible 'click' and is obvious in my hands at night. i can see it more easily than the factory marked dark spots on my rope which fade and become invisible after 10 pitches. it does catch a bit when it passes throguh a high-friction device, but i actually like this (so i notice the half).
never heard anything abotu the destructive chemical properties of tape, so you've been warned. it probably causes a 45% loss of strength over the entire rope. or maybe more.
personally, id like to see someone make an aftermarket metolius-style rope marker, or experiment with a homebrew version.
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sixleggedinsect
Sep 13, 2007, 12:49 AM
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summerprophet wrote: Well considering spraypoint contains solvents such as Acetone, Methyl ethyl ketone, Ethylbenzene, Butoxyethanol and Xylene, I would be hesitant to use it on my ropes, but you do what you want with yours.
a good point. if the OP feels that felt tip pens are bad for ropes, he is sure to think that spray paint is bad for ropes because they're generally similar recipes. exciting solvents. that kind of thing.
In reply to: Note: Any product that has a warning label that cautions against contact with eyes or skin is because it is corrosive or flammable, and should be kept far away from your climbing gear, let alone be used directly on it.
i disagree. there are plenty of chemicals that i woudln't rinse my girlfriend's contacts in that are considered safe for ropes. DEET. gas. that kind of thing.
"Testing done by the AlliedSignal Corporation indicates salt water, acetone, benzene, chloroform, freon, gasoline, kerosene, motor oil, mineral oil, paints and pine oil do not appreciably affect nylon and should not damage your rope."
(quoted from http://spelean.com.au/BW/TM/BWtechdyn.html"
im assuming that mirrored bluewater page still holds true.
you know what *does* affect ropes a lot? water.
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roperat
Sep 25, 2007, 9:13 AM
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could i suggest thr lyon equipment site in the uk, since they supply most of the equipment to the rope access industry. and we get some nasty stuff on our ropes in my work environment.Beal produce a water based rope marking pen.
the two incidents i know of where catastrophic rope failure has lead to fatalities involved acid contamination. so watch out for the old batterys in the trunk or a headtorch leaking
(This post was edited by roperat on Sep 25, 2007, 11:05 AM)
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desertwanderer81
Sep 25, 2007, 6:43 PM
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If my memory serves me correctly On Rope has a section on rope where they numerate the chemicals which will cause harm to your rope. Most of which are no longer used in permanent markers, but you should check the marker before you use.
After checking, I found that a typical black sharpie was fine.
That doesn't matter now though, I got myself a beautiful two toned, 10.2 mil, dry rope last week! :D
So sexy.
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curt
Sep 26, 2007, 7:31 AM
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Next time, get a bi-weave rope like the Mammut Duodess and be done with it...
Curt
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gritstoner
Sep 26, 2007, 4:17 PM
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you are all noobs....
to mark the middle of a rope, simply find it at home, cut it out and put in your pocket. then you will always know where the middle is.
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kest2703
Sep 26, 2007, 4:27 PM
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tradmanclimbs
Sep 26, 2007, 10:05 PM
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Just use a sharpie and be done with it. see the other thread for pictures of sharpie marked rope testing. Rope allways breaks at the knott. Not on the sharpie mark
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wivanoff
Mar 19, 2008, 5:06 PM
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mps107 wrote: Is marking the middle of a climbing rope with spray paint a extremely bad idea? The only research that seems to be done on the topic is on felt tip markers and that is a bad idea.
Years ago, I owned several MSR "Red Stripe" climbing ropes. (Actually manufactured by Sampson Cordage, IIRC) They came with the center and ends marked with red spray paint. In their newsletter (May 1972 page 6-14), MSR recommended regularly washing your rope (with hand warm water) and stated "Soap is not needed but does no harm" and "You can even dye it to make it pretty again" and they recommended using RIT dye at 150F for 10 minutes.
They also said the ends and center can be colored with lacquer spray paint. "The vehicles used in lacquer do not affect nylon. Use a very light coating to avoid stiffening the rope. Ref: Handbook of Textile Manufacture, Vol 2, p. 262 and 300"
I actually did this with at least one of those ropes and used it for several years afterwards. As always, YMMV.
(This post was edited by wivanoff on Jul 8, 2009, 12:26 AM)
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. Just don't use RED. That colour is very bad for ropes. 
