how do you cut your ropes?

[treeman82]

What do you guys use to cut your ropes, when you need to cut them? I have tried using hand shears, box cutters, wire cutters, cable cutters, and all that kind of stuff. What I have found works best for me is a drywall scraper, a hammer, and a wooden board, to make a makeshift guiletine. It makes for a pretty clean cut most of the time, as opposed to the other methods I was talking about. I have used it for my 5/8" line, and just now on my 7/16" Sta-Set. Anybody else using similar methods?

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

If i don't have my Wiss scisors handy, I use some Felcos.

 

[mikecross23]

About 3 or 41 wraps of duct tape, log splitter, and blow torch should do the job. But personally I use whatever is handy at the moment. A wrap or two of electrical tape and snip snip w/ scissors or hack hack w/ a knife, melt then roll to avoid a lump on the end of rope. I leave the tape on it so I can find the tail of my rope easier.

 

[Dave]

like Brian says, but sharpen the knife before and after the cut. When we cut drive belting in the sawmill, it was a machete and a two pound hammer. I never liked that operation, Tommy shortfinger likes it even less. (yes, it really happened)

 

[jblimbwalker]

Ginsu, then a dab 'o shoe goo

 

[Dan Flinn]

Duct tape and a hacksaw.

Dan

 

[treeguy347]

A little tip i bought for my soldering gun for 1.99 at the hardware store made just for cutting rope. It cuts and burns all in one operation.

 

[Stumper]

In the field I use Brian's method.(Except I substitute my sharp pocketknife.) At home I like this cheap but slick method.----I have a cheap kitchen knife which I sharpened up razor sharp. I clamp that in my vise, heat it with a propane torch until that blade is bright red and pull my rope into the edge (rope held taught between my hands). Voila! (Oh yuck, I used French! ) A clean, sealed cut.

 

[treeman82]

Stumper, your idea sounds pretty neat. Do you use any tape before or after you make your cuts? Or do you whip the ends?

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

TreeGuy i've looked for tips like that and couldn't find'em!

Tried something like Stumper, but wasn't smart enough to use vice. Perhaps he has more vices than me!

Presently i have a $6 knock off of the Sears HandyCut Utility Cutters. It is like a long pliers with long razor blade in it. Good for a lot of things. i electrick tape first.

The pressure and sharpness cut clean like you melted thru it. Though it loses a bit of that look after it starts to loosen.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

All of the methods will work. There is a consideration that needs to be made with new rope. The sheath will milk some. If the core and sheath are melted together the excess won't milk off. When I have new rope, I pull the core out about four inches or so and cut it off. No sealing. Then I pull it back inside the sheath. Then I tape the end with electrical tape and cut the end with my hot cutter. This allows the core to float inside the sheath and not bunch up. After climbing on the rope for some time, I'll cut the sheath again but about three inches from the seperated core. Then sometime later I might retape the sheath and core and tape/melt them into one. Most times though I leave the core loose to allow the sheath to continue to milk off.

Tom

 

[YUKON 659]

With a 372 if you don't pick up your bull rope IMMEDIATELY after after you fall a tree

Jeff

 

[NickfromWI]

whip it good

I like to have a good whipping on my rope. Preferably a different color so that it stands out, making it easy to find the end after the while thing's been flaked into a pile.

love
nick

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Nick, how do you prevent the problem Tom discribes with the milking?

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Whilst miking the clock, young Nick will milk his rope.

 

[geofore]

milking

JPS, LMAO, I usually have cookies with my milk.

 

[Stumper]

82, I don't tape before the hot cut.-The rope is melting and sealing as you pull it past the blade slowly so there in not a tendency to unravel. I do whip the ends after cutting in most cases.
Tom's point about sheath milking is valid-a lot bigger consideration with some ropes than others.

Spydy,- I'd bet that you don't need anymore vices. O' course a new bench vise is always useful.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

With the milking issue, I work new ropes for a while before I will do anything to them. then i will tpae, cut to match, and dip.

 

[Froggy]

reply

We use a pocket knife,electrical tape, and a lighter to burn the end. Seems to work well.

 

[NickfromWI]

Milking the clock???? What's that?

I splice one end, MAYBE use the rope for a day, then milk the hell out of it. Using a top secret technique (that I will share with you all now) I take a stout piece of bungee, say 3 feet long, tie on a Distel, a few half hitches, or a sort of french-prusik, then anchor one end of the rope, and pull on the bungee. That technique usually does a great job of milking while saving your hands from chafing. (Girlfriends require un-chafed hands).

love
nick