Stopping a rope from fraying

[@denverdanoreno]

Thank you buddy I know I'm 4 years late to the party but better than never! When I was a kid in junior high school, here in the states, I took a macrame class, actually came in handy in my life. Best successes!

[@georgefaulkner7376]

Hi Stu, I work in Aquaculture and the method we use is to hot knife first, then use a butane torch to heat to a molten blob, then use a piece of cardboard (that has been soaked in old engine oil and dried off) to twist the rope in so that you end up with a nice pointed and sealed rope that is narrower on the end than the actual rope diameter. It very rarely unravels (easy enough to do again if it does ) and is useful for putting through pulleys, shackles etc as it won't catch on anything like a splice or heatshrink

[@DangarMarine]

Hey George, that's an interesting idea. Would certainly make it much easier to feed the line through fittings.

[@ΚωσταςΚαραμπετσος-ε9η]

Hello I'm Kostas and I see your channel for several years Thanks for the nice videos You are a great engineer I am from a small village in Greece.I look forward to your videos.

[@DangarMarine]

Thanks Costas, glad you've been enjoying the vids. I really loved Greece when I was there. :)

[@ΚωσταςΚαραμπετσος-ε9η]

When you come back to Greece you are a guest to stay home to go fishing and for fun I look forward to enjoying a lot.

[@ΚωσταςΚαραμπετσος-ε9η]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqiyYn2bftyFeJI

[@slypig24]

We use clear Heat Srink, but include a plastic lable under Heat Srink, with relevant information, such as date or boat name.

[@DangarMarine]

I like that idea. :)

[@ronpowell2373]

I have seen that idea used on a sail training boat. On another boat it was a combination of common whipping and heat shrink for colour coding (blue - main sail, black - jib, yellow - spinnaker- never use green or red as a call out may be taken as a navigation mark call - remember this was a training boat). I have seen cable ties used as well - not nice to handle at any time!

[@slypig24]

See photo of clear Heat Srink with lable. photos.app.goo.gl/7FuCg6585qsTurP1A

[@allangibson8494]

Clear is generally mastic lined so will eventually slip. Trimming the rope after putting heat shrink will be neater too. If you really want to get pedantic heat shrink wire markers are also available.

[@rickcarpenter4518]

@@ronpowell2373 -- If you ever wanted to avoid heat shrink, you could weave colored paracord into the rope.

[@stamrly418]

The practical range including the pros and cons of them all.. it’s all down to what and how you use the boat and rope. Well done once more. Amacf

[@DangarMarine]

Thanks mate. :)

[@paulg9314]

I use a series of narrow whippings to mark off depths every 10m on the anchor rode so I know how much line is paid out. One whipping for 10m, 2 for 20m etc. Change colour at 50m and start at one again.

[@DangarMarine]

It is good to have it marked. I've also seen sets of soft tags you can push through the lay of the rope.

[@gregorythomas333]

My tug captain taught me to use 3" marine tape around a couple times then cut it from the roll in the center. That way it left an inch & a half on each end to keep them both from fraying...worked well for us. But I like your heat shrink one as well...with the glue kind...looks great & seems like it would last a long time.

[@stevebarfield6637]

Thanks for taking the time to pass on your knowledge. Steve

[@bullykuldo6233]

Thanks stuff for the back spice I didn't know how to do the centre knot and also I loved the whipping the finnishng is nearly the same as replacing a guide on a fishing rod .once again Stu thanks for the back splice and I hope you had good trip

[@DangarMarine]

You're welcome mate, glad to hear you liked the vid. :)

[@Bluenoser613]

Whipping is best for a line that has a core. The twine is threaded through the core with the needle which prevents it from slipping inside the sheath.

[@rickcarpenter4518]

If you don't have a hot knife, try wrapping the rope with electrical tape and cut through it. Then apply a cig lighter flame. Then pull the tape off and whip. This is my method and it works great.

[@ottergreen8190]

Another great way for smaller diameter lines is to wrap with tape, cut and then add Crazy Glue or Epoxy to the end. Burning tends to mushroom the termination and on a sailboat where it will impede sheaves, it keeps it streamline.

[@arciefan]

Excellent, I guess I always use the sort of cop out method of just burning the end, which isn't pretty but accomplishes the job. Lot of people have a torch , and wondering if you could just heat up your own blade of your choosing and use it as a hot knife. Excellent video Stu!!! Thanks

[@Fireship1]

arciefan I’ve done that. Heated up the blade on a utility knife and used it as a hot knife. It will work, but you have to be quick, as the blade cools rapidly.

[@DangarMarine]

As Fireship says, a small blade will cool quickly but a thicker blade will hold the heat a little longer.

[@ChrisSchroth]

Another advantage of the heat shrink method is that you can colour code your ropes, e.g. blue for mooring, red for fenders, etc.

[@DangarMarine]

Good point.

[@haider254]

I like to tape around 3cm of the rope before cutting and then cut through the taped bit. Especially if cutting in the middle of a long length, it will stop the end of the other bit of rope fraying aswell. Sealing with the electrical tape on also helps to stop the mushrooming effect.

[@DangarMarine]

Yep, cutting through the tape is a great way to go.

[@damodoesall6240]

Great to see another video from the Stu bat cave !

[@DangarMarine]

Will hopefully be doing more from under the house. Just need to clean it up again!

[@dm9860]

I tape and melt ends... Although seeing ur shrink wrap is good with melted ends...or just a idea, extend shrink wrap over end then heat it to shrink... What I use my ropes for it doesn't matter if end is bigger or not.

[@plmbrbob]

Congrats on your sponsorship

[@DangarMarine]

Thanks Bob.

[@markolav7017]

Great video Stu . Also nice to see you back home under the house where it all began. Keep the Dad jokes coming mate ..it gives me even more material to annoy my four kids :)

[@DangarMarine]

Thanks Mark. I'd like to get back to filming more under the house. It is always nice to work from home. :)

[@markolav7017]

working on my under-house workshop as we speak :)

[@TR4zest]

Maybe heating a decorator's scraper on a gas ring or with a torch is a useful occasional substitute for the hot knife?

[@DangarMarine]

Yep, that is definitely a technique that works.

[@rmhovis]

Brilliant information. Thank you!

[@DangarMarine]

Glad it was helpful!

[@pacman4568]

nice hair cut hope you won the bet LOL there are some very good YT vids on short and long splice I always whip the ends with St Christopher twine never comes undone if done correctly. Nice video dude.

[@stanpatterson5033]

This episode filmed on location at Stu's hide-away. I don't know why, but I was thinking about the Frayed Knot from the cold open, and lo and behold, the entire joke is revealed in the video :) On a somewhat more serious note now, I believe that some of the "instant-on" soldering guns may be adaptable to accommodate a hot knife feature, if they don't come with one in the factory packaging. I've never owned or held a dedicated hot knife, but the one you showed us certainly looks similar to the business end of a Weller-brand soldering gun. Not sure if they sell that brand in the great land of Australia, though.

[@ronpowell2373]

Stan, Weller is known and used here, and yes, the soldering irons often come with a 'hot knife ' blade/tip. A lot of the gas soldering iron kits also have a 'plastic' or 'hot knife' attachment as well and do a good job in my experience.

[@DangarMarine]

Yes, from memory my gas soldering iron does have a blade attachment.

[@officialWWM]

My wife has a rope for whipping. It's a bit different to that though 🤔

[@richardcranium5839]

sticks and stones may break your bones but whips and chains excite me lol

[@Flair4Air]

Nice work if you can get it lol!

[@patcronin1961]

😂😂

[@soundsnvisions]

Is it possible to heat shrink PAST the end of the rope (by 1/8")? This would "round off" the sharp edge a bit. Also, if you need any more Dad Jokes, I've got one we use here in our "Low Voltage" world: Two antennas get married. The wedding was horrible, but the reception was awesome!!

[@DangarMarine]

I can't see they that wouldn't work. Love your joke. ;)

[@BritishBeachcomber]

1:28 In Blighty we call melting the end a "butane splice". Great when you're in a hurry.

[@TheRealMrCods]

So glad I subbed to this channel. Thanks for the info.

[@DangarMarine]

Thanks mate, glad you liked the vid. :)

[@timothykosto9806]

When showing the top knot technique, perhaps naming the strands 1, 2 and 3 would make it easier to follow instead of saying "this one over that one" three times. The video acuity is excellent and your students can learn the top knot if they repeat the video multiple times. Thank you for teaching me a cleaver technique.

[@mrgooba1124]

Loved the dad joke 😆😆😆

[@DarkSaruman]

That dad joke! ♥️ 🤣

[@TimmmehhhPlays]

Wouldn't of thought whipping would be that easy. Cheers

[@DangarMarine]

There are really complicated forms of whipping, but I find this simple one works just fine.

[@evanmiris5765]

Great video again mate but it is easy to get an old knife hot using an lpg torch and then cutting and sealing the edges of synthetic rope . You don't need to buy a fancy electric heat cutting blade for the average joe.

[@Hahehhwgajshah72726..]

Kitchen stove works well too getting that knife hot.

[@DangarMarine]

Yep, I wouldn't recommend buying one unless you are doing a lot of ropes.

[@Tunaslayer1]

I just subscribed, even with that "Dad Joke".

[@Fireship1]

Great video Stu. I really need a lesson on splicing if you ever feel the need to make a video on it! My poor mans way of whipping is to melt end of rope with torch and then dip the end a few times in plasti dip rubber (liquid tool handle rubber in a can). When it drys you have a nice end that holds up quite well. Thanks for sharing your tips!

[@DangarMarine]

Thanks Jack, plasti dip is a great way to go. Here is that video splicing kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYWcgmubbceMZ8k It' quite old though so audio probably isn't great.

[@aidennymes6335]

you can grab a blade with pliers and heat the blade with a torch to use it as a makeshift hot knife

[@anie6273]

I LOVED THE DAD JOKE😂😂😂😂

[@TimsWorkshopTJY]

Welcome back again, love the David Copperfield rope trick. Oh do visitors in your shop talk on the phone horizontally or vertically? The sign is confusing Haha

[@ronpowell2373]

I know the people in the workshop , and visitors, often talk BS, but not sure if that answers your question. :-)

[@DangarMarine]

Occasionally they are standing but most of the time they are on the phone laying down. ;)

[@hamishdobinson3646]

Use a butter knife on a gas stove! The original 'hot knife' !

[@imo8628]

Thanks for the great tips bro, cheers

[@garylack980]

Worst joke ever , I like it !

[@jimh.5286]

A great video, addressing important issues such as whippings, what to do when thrown out of bars, naughty - I mean knotty - behavior...in your next video, please cover S&M, bondage and spankings. Thanks!

[@DangarMarine]

Might need a second channel for that. ;)

[@CSkwirl]

A temporary solution but longer lasting than electrical tape try the self bonding rubber SOS tape available in various brands and from Bunnings/Supercheap, waterproof and heatproof, lasts ages

[@DangarMarine]

Yes, self amalgamating tape is amazing stuff, I really love it.

[@CSkwirl]

that's the stuff, I couldn't remember what it wss actually called and then realised it's silicone not rubber. I keep one in the glove box, I fixed a blown top radiator hose once the stuff lasted several weeks was still sealing perfectly fine when I finally got the replacement hose.

[@richardcranium5839]

just whip it whip it good lol sounds like devo

[@erniefoster4222]

I enjoy your videos. I must have watched most of them by now. I have a question off topic. We have a sailing club in Spain. We use petrol with ethanol in our outboards. There has been a lot of damage caused, to carbs and motors, by water absorbed by the ethanol. What fuel do you use? How do you prevent problems caused by ethanol fuel?

[@DangarMarine]

I certainly don't use fuel with ethanol by boat, but if it is hard to get I believe Stabil do an additive specifically for ethanol fuel.

[@brianemilius9506]

I literally facepalmed at the joke :rofl:

[@jamesfrisco8394]

JOLLY GOOD JOKE MATE!!!

[@IOMFishing]

Electrical tape about an inch and a half then cut through the middle of the tape. I've got mooring lines that have lasted 3-4 years like that no bother.

[@krisanderson997]

I think it was Devo who said it best, you need to whip it, and whip it good! 🧐

[@jeffallen2923]

Belated comment, but I have only just viewed this. Everyone has a way of stopping nylon (etc) ropes from fraying - even me! I melt the end as most do, then while it is still molten I simply crimp the end with a pair of pliers that have the serrated semi-circular 'hole' in each jaw, so they create a serrated hole when the jaws are closed (around the rope). Here's a picture : sydneytools.com.au/product/wiha-41250-220mm-1000v-combination-plier Usually the rope stays pliable long enough to 'crimp' it in a few places to get the crimp circular - and a smaller diameter than the rope. This works. doesn't burn your hands, gets rid of the 'mushroom' and uses tools that every handy-person would already have.

[@DangarMarine]

Nice tip!

[@TimsWorkshopTJY]

Hey Stu, what do you recommend for tilt fluid? Quicksilver, mercury or just ATF like dextron 11 or 111?

[@DangarMarine]

I usually go with the Quicksilver fluid as it is easy to get and more specialised than ATF.

[@patrickboxsell1365]

when I do this I use a cigaret lighter and before it cools down grab the end and twist it(warning can burn your hand)

[@DangarMarine]

Yes, I often do the same. The trick is to find that point when it is still soft but doesn't burn as you say.

[@wikkidme755]

Small zippi ties work too.

[@smbeecrochetcreations4372]

I tried using a lighter and a candle, but the rope turned black. I want to use a piece of rope for a handle on a tote bag that I made, so I don't want to buy expensive equipment. Do you think a camping stove top would work? I don't have a blowtorch or heat knife, but I do have a propane camping stove☺

[@DangarMarine]

You could try heating a regular knife on the camping stove and then cutting through the rope with the knife while it is still hot.

[@smbeecrochetcreations4372]

@@DangarMarine Thanks for the suggestion ☺ I can give it a go

[@fisheater844]

More Dad Jokes

[@officialWWM]

chris williams he's the master, lol.

[@kermets]

Perfect Whipping video on redtube.....i mean youtube ;-)

[@brerrabbit4265]

All t5hese methods either take too long or do not last. Buy a can of liquid rubber and dip the ends in it. Lasts way longer than any of these methods.

[@Bluenoser613]

Gasp! Line.

[@SirNari]

Coming at you from 2020.. what if you do the whipping THEN heat shrink, then plastidip! Or have we upset the purists? :P

[@bwagenberg]

Shave and a haircut, you look a little younger. One day this rope was walking down the sidewalk when suddenly.... awww, skip it. These jokes are just too twisted.

[@DangarMarine]

LOL. ;)

[@randombiker1202]

You lowered your ear's.

[@mitch_the_-itch]

Please never do jokes again. How about using a cheap soldering iron and bend a disposable tip to shape?

[@KEALOHA669]

terrible filming very hard to follow,

[@ourtechwriter]

thank you!

[@vtwinaddicted5852]

STU have you ever been to marine engine.com in Brandon Vermont?

[@_noname617]

yeh on the way to burlington

[@DangarMarine]

No, but planning to go next year.

[@vtwinaddicted5852]

@@DangarMarine some of the best beer in the world brewed right down the street, and all over Vermont, you must go brewery hopping!!!