VINDICATION AT LAST!

So much for my poor theories! I knew it, dirty rope is the cause!
Puts a smile on my face really. I just knew I wasn't (entirely) full of bunk!

Good to hear you are back in the trees Brad.

Climb Safe!
Icabod

I'm currently making direct contact with the rope manufacturers, surveying for cleaning methods. I hope to post the results. I'm sure the known methods are fine. Sometimes a company optimizes a method, and it takes time for it to be publicly known. I'm just shaking the trees to see what's there. Though it's curious that the XTC is the focus of conversation. Does it have a design feature more prone to slippage?

Having worked on numerous projects where a miniscule change in friction (COF - coefficent of friction) could shut down a manufacturing process, I absolutely believe washing a rope is needed where sudden unanticipated slippage occurs.

Being North of the Ohio River. the cold days of the impending winter are a good opportunity to clean rope, which is why I'm touching _base_ with rope manufacturers.

As I think about this, I think that I'll clean 1/3 of my Fly by hand just to see if I can detect differences.

Anyone have a preferred method or technique of cleaning?

Regards,
JimK

Jim, what I'd like to know most of all is how to get pitch out of a rope, without resorting to rope-eating solvents and the like. Please let us know if any of the manufacturers have any suggestions. I live in the land of big Douglas firs and can't even appreciate it because I HATE pitch!!

Dietley,

The first respondant from the survey was Samson this evening. They even timely addressed your question about pitch.

From Samson on general cleaning:

Our general recommendations are to use soap & warm water and lightly rub the rope (either with hands or rub the rope against itself (lightly!)) - Never use abrasive brushes to scrub.


The other part of the email from Samson on removing pitch:


We generally recommend trying some of the general household tricks for removing sap, such as butter or mayonnaise, before trying any harsh chemicals. However, if these don't work, you can also try WD-40 (but be sure to wash the residual WD-40 off the rope with soapy water since it can leave a slippery film on the rope). If this still doesn't work, let me know and we can try and come up with some other cleaners that would be safe for the rope.



I would be tempted to try a cooking oil before before WD-40. Hint: (partially)/ hydrogenated oils are a main component of mayonaise and butter. Another household product to test would be peanut butter. It has partially hydrogenated oil with the oil loving particulates of peanuts which could provide an absorbing substrate for the pitch. Oil absorbs oil the best. Pitch, though sticky, is a natural oil. Pitch would prefer dissolving in oil over contact with the fairly inert polyester surface of the rope.

Regards,
JimK

I too climb a lot of Doug firs, in addition to pondies, and often get pitch on my hands and hair. In addition to WD-40, mayo and peanut butter, I've heard of using witch hazel, bacon grease, and lard. Wouldn't recommend them, though.

I prefer a little alcohol. I also prefer to use alcohol in removing pitch. If I'm up a tree, I just grab an alcohol wipe out of my first aid kit and it works great. I couldn't comment on whether it would be OK for polyester rope, although literature I've read indicates it's OK for nylon.

I wash my ropes, after daisy chaining them, with Woolite or Ivory Snow and cold water. I'll line dry them after first putting throw rugs, thick towels or mats over the line to prevent abrasion.

This is to share a washing procedure that was successful (no pitch involved)

5-gal Pail
Fill 3 gal cold water
1 cap full of Woolite
150 ft of Fly
Hand plunge 3 minutes
Soak 20 minutes
Hand plunge 6 minutes
Dump water
Add new water as a rinse
Plunge 3 minutes
Repeat Rinse 3 times

If there was a tough spot, I used a coffee filter to rub it. Coffee filters are about the longest lasting paper product when wet and offer mild abraisive action.

Not very entertaining.

I'm not confident about my washer. I'm not sure if Fly and Maytag would enjoy each other.

Regards,
Jimk