Rope preparation

Ideas and instructions how you can make your own bondage toys.
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Tigger3
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Rope preparation

Post by Tigger3 »

Hey

I have a question on how to prepare newly bought ropes.
I just bought several different ropes from a ropemakers store.
What do I need to do to prepare the ropes so I can use them and they don't leave lasting marks?

The rope material is:
Hemp
Sisal
Cotton (braided)

Thank you for your help.
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Gregovic
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Re: Rope preparation

Post by Gregovic »

- Cotton I think is pretty much good to go right off the bat. You could just give it a normal wash in the washing machine at 60C/hot and hang it to dry (for longevity I don't think you should put it in the dryer. That's how I treat my rope, just a run through the washing machine at the "mixed load 60C" program or 95 degrees C if they are particularly dirty)
- Hemp requires more work. It needs to be boiled, dried under tension, polished and (optionally) oiled. (https://blog.thehempshop.co.uk/how-to-s ... hemp-rope/)
- Sisal I've only ever encountered as rough rope for use as things like packing twine and I wouldn't really choose it for bondage. Some googling seems to indicate it's sometimes used for those with a more sadist/masochist streak as it's rough and scratchy. No matter how you treat it it's probably going to leave marks. For preparation I can't really find much reference, best I can find is boiling, then drying under tension with added twisting to prevent unravelling. It doesn't get oiled as far as I can find. Polishing would also probably be counter productive as sisal fibers are more likely to break, so polishing the rope might weaken or destroy it.
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cdinbonds
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Re: Rope preparation

Post by cdinbonds »

The hemp ropes I have were ready to go when I got them. Check with the seller to see if they need prep, and for care instructions.
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Sergio
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Re: Rope preparation

Post by Sergio »

If the cotton ends are unfinished, cut them square, then dip the last centimetre into glue (PVA or rubber solution or polystyrene cement for example) put a heat-shrink sleeve over to cover the glue and protrude slightly, shrink and cut clean. They they won't fray and if you're sufficiently OCD, you could colour code them for length.
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Gregovic
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Re: Rope preparation

Post by Gregovic »

Hadn't considered finishing the ends but yeah, if the ends of the rope aren't finished then you'll have to do that too. Personally I prefer a sailmakers whipping on my rope. Leaves a much softer end that you're less likely to accidentally whip yourself with.
Last edited by Gregovic on 19 May 2022, 00:43, edited 1 time in total.
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Shannon SteelSlave
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Re: Rope preparation

Post by Shannon SteelSlave »

Sergio wrote: if you're sufficiently OCD, you could colour code them for length.
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Blacky
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Re: Rope preparation

Post by Blacky »

Gregovic wrote:Hadn't considered finishing the ends but yeah, if the ends of the rope aren't finished then you'll have to do that too. Personally I prefer a sailmakers whipping on my rope. Leaves a much softer end that you're less likely to accidentally whip yourself with.
And that is despite the technique being known as “rope-whipping“! :mrgreen:
Personally, I prefer this kind of finish over any other I've ever tried (quite a few). If you use different colours of yarn you can colour-code the lengths with this technique as well, which I think is a really good idea.
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hogfan-sub
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Re: Rope preparation

Post by hogfan-sub »

This is a fascinating question. On very rare occasions, I can afford to be tied by a very good shibari practitioner. They have used treated hemp on me and that was of course fantastic. However, they then made the move to good quality, purpose-made bondage hemp and used it untreated, the idea being that over time, the rope would naturally "wear in". As the bottom, the difference was incredible. I guess this is where personal preference comes in, but I found the tactile, scratchy bite of the rope added so much to the overall sensation of being bound. Subsequently, along with the cotton braid I had used solo for so long, I have now invested in untreated "bondage-ready" 6mm hemp, and, over some months, the fibre-shedding has died down, the rope is becoming a little more pliable, but that more "up-front" natural feel remains. I almost exclusively use this rope in my solo play these days. Mind you, the cotton braid is still very useful, especially if I want to be tied wearing pantyhose....untreated hemp tends to turn tights and stockings into small, shredded "tumbleweeds"! :rofl:
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