Treatment of cotton rope

[captain_hook]

Hello everyone,

 

just another newbie rigging question. It is the first time that I use after-market rope for rigging. Shall I use some treatment on cotton rope (I.e. syren miniature rope) like bee-wax or varnish or leave the rope untreated? If yes, should I use the treatment before installing the rope or after that? Thank you for help.

 

Best regards,

Andreas

Edited October 18, 2019 by captain_hook

[mtaylor]

Lots of ways to do this.  I just pull the line through a block of beewax and burnish in with my fingers.  I have also used a mix of 50/50 white glue and water.   I'm certain there's more ways.

[captain_hook]

Thank you for that information. I will try the different treatments and see if I get good results.

[Bill Tuttle]

Another process I have been using if you use dye stain for coloring is to dissolve some small chips of bees wax in turpentine along with the dye stain then run this through a cotton rag until the desired color is achieved then hang the rope to dry. I have been using this on some running rigging colored with a mix of golden oak and a darker walnut dye to achieve the appropriate color. I am not sure where I found this process but may have been a suggestion by Erik Ronnberg. 

[captain_hook]

Thank you Bill, that is a very useful tip.