Flame sealing works well. But if you get any molten plastic on
your skin, you'll regret it. Also, if your rope must be threaded
through a correctly sized pulley, the blob at the end can be
troublesome.
If you have the luxury of preparing the rope indoors before using
it outdoors, the following may be useful.
1. Pass the rope through a washer that has the same hole
diameter as the rope rated O.D.
2. Use the flame method or a heat gun (like for heatshrink) to
melt the end of the rope (You are holding the washer in some
pliers aren't you?).
3. Before the end cools to solid, pull the washer over the
melted end. This will nicely size the end so that it will
pass anywhere the rope is supposed to go. And, the excess
won't end up on your fingers.
I have also used tubing to size these ends. But it is harder to
decontaminate the inside of the tubing between uses.
73, Eric N7CL
>From: K7LXC@aol.com
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
>Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 20:39:08 EDT
>
>In a message dated 98-09-15 19:36:10 EDT, terrys@romulus.ncsc.mil writes:
>
>>I recently bought some 3/8 inch braided dacron rope to use with
>>a gin pole. I'd like to receive some suggestions on the best
>>way to seal the rope ends, something better than the black
>>electrical tape the vendor used.
>
>In the absence of a hot-knife that'll melt and fuse the rope at
>the same time, I just make a clean cut with a sharp razor knife
>and then use a lighter or flame of some sort to melt the strand
>ends together. Don't breath the vapors!
>
>Cheers, Steve K7LXC
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