Manilla Ropes

[MacTavish]

After Friendship, I was making repairs and doing some maintainece to the tents when I noticed some wear on the ropes that I have used for several years. Is there any thing that can be put on the ropes that will help to make them last longer? They seem to 'dry out' and become less pliable. I remember that new ropes have some sort of oil on them. Anyone know the name of the oil?
Thanks
MacTavish

 

[gbsclohn]

Don't recall the exact name of the oil but years ago in Scouts we soaked them in a mineral oil to keep them from drying out.

 

[ohio ramrod]

Raw lineseed oil is what we used long ago in boyscouts. The raw oil will not dry out as fast as boiled lineseed oil.

 

[necchi]

The "oil" is a flame retardent added too appease Fed regulations. The rope is manila,,it only last so long. The wear usually happens at knot points and where the rope is repetedly pinched or at a sharp bend. The best fix is to make the rope longer than needed the first few years then cut it back so different areas "wear" the next few years.

 

[MacTavish]

Thanks
I'll check out the oils - both mineral & linseed.
I have eye-spliced and whipped the ends along with a crown knot at the opposite end -- I really don't want to do all that again.

 

[hack]

Why would you want to put an oily rope anywhere near your canvas :youcrazy:
I would recommend useing sisal rope that has no oil in it.
Rope has a short life span so get use to replacing it every so often :thumbsup:

 

[Poor Private]

Or pick up some hemp rope and use it to replace as you go along. So I am told by more knowledgeable people it's more period correct than manila.

 

[Coot]

Hemp rope is stronger and much softer to the hand than either manila or sisal. It is still commercially made in Romania (perhaps other places as well?). Costs more but worth it.

 

[mazo kid]

Years ago I bought a 250' long hank of manilla rope and threw it into the washing machine a couple of times to get rid of the oil as I had seen new manilla rope stain canvas. Those ropes I made from that hank have lasted well over 14 years. I still have quite a bit of the rope left for making replacements. I make sure my ropes are dry before storage.

 

[pichou]

Just upgraded to hemp. Got it from Turkey Foot Trading.

 

[mazo kid]

Lucas, that would be my ultimate goal. When I bought my manila rope, I didn't even know the hemp stuff existed; it was also a few years before my first computer!

 

[Coot]

Hemp rope is easier to like :thumbsup: but it will shrink when wet - I loosen my guy ropes when it starts raining - if the rope is long and left tight, it can pull a tent peg loose! (I use wood tent pegs unless I know that it will be a soggy camp).