Lost and Confused Posted March 22 Share #1 Posted March 22 Im gettin ready to commence the standing rigging on my Cutty. I have waxed my rigging lines on all of my other builds. See here and there that many dont use wax. Which way is best?? Keith Black and mtaylor 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allanyed Posted March 22 Share #2 Posted March 22 What kind of wax? There is some discussion on wax here at MSW. One thread can be found at https://modelshipworld.com/topic/34942-black-rigging-wax/#comment-1027227 According to the American Bee Journal, bees wax has a pH of 7 so is neutral thus a safe choice. Others have stated that it is below 7 thus acidic. https://americanbeejournal.com/beeswax/ Paraffin is on the alkaline side of neutral with a pH of 9 to 10 so maybe not a great choice. There are proponents and detractors of using wax. It will waterproof the rope but if you use poly rope I am not sure there is any benefit. Allan Chuck Seiler, Keith Black and mtaylor 3 Quote PLEASE take 30 SECONDS and sign up for the epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series. Click on http://trafalgar.tv There is no cost other than the 30 seconds of your time. THANK YOU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaager Posted March 22 Share #3 Posted March 22 The choices Linen seems to be lost into the past. Cotton - limited lifespan - smaller fibers -smaller fuzz Poly - seems to be winning the race. As long as the model itself is plastic, any resistance to using man-made materials is moot. Poly already is what a wax would provide. Wax seems to me to be pointless. If it is beeswax on it - I would question it ever case hardening to become NOT a dust magnet. Paraffin would change its phase with changes in room temp. The semi liquid phase would also hold dust. Renaissance wax will case harden as its organic solvent evaporates. It is probably more positive than negative for linen and cotton. It would offer no advantage with poly. Chuck Seiler, allanyed, dvm27 and 3 others 6 Quote NRG member 45 years Current: HMS Centurion 1732 - 60-gun 4th rate - Navall Timber framing HMS Beagle 1831 refiit 10-gun brig with a small mizzen - Navall (ish) Timber framing The U.S. Ex. Ex. 1838-1842 Flying Fish 1838 pilot schooner - framed - ready for stern timbers Porpose II 1836 brigantine/brig - framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers Vincennes 1825 Sloop-of-War - timbers assembled, need shaping Peacock 1828 Sloop-of -War - timbers ready for assembly Sea Gull 1838 pilot schooner - timbers ready for assembly Relief 1835 ship - timbers ready for assembly Other Portsmouth 1843 Sloop-of-War - timbers ready for assembly Le Commerce de Marseilles 1788 118 cannons - framed La Renommee 1744 Frigate - framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost and Confused Posted March 22 Author Share #4 Posted March 22 Im using Amati rigging line from HIS model. Is that cotton, polyester, or what? mtaylor and Keith Black 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul ron Posted March 22 Share #5 Posted March 22 (edited) seems the new way is polyester according to the experts in here. but the real question is what is your oldest ship rigged with? i have 6 ships from the past 45-50 years on shelves, no case, all rigged with bees wax on cotton or linen that are still holding up very nicely. they may be a bit brittle but what can you expect from the materials over all those years? so are there any poly rigged ship about 50 years old to attest to poly longevity?... if not, ill stick to natural fiber n wax. proof is in the puddin. Edited March 22 by paul ron mtaylor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Black Posted March 22 Share #6 Posted March 22 Poly line is now being accepted by some museums. I've had poly line strung for over five years with no issue including stretch. If you're adverse to using poly line, I don't wanna see a drop of CA on your model. allanyed, mtaylor and Bob Cleek 3 Quote Current Builds: Wood Hull Screw Frigate USS Tennessee Decorative Carrack Warship Restoration, the Amelia Completed: Early Swift 1805 Model Restoration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted March 23 Share #7 Posted March 23 4 hours ago, Lost and Confused said: Im using Amati rigging line from HIS model. Is that cotton, polyester, or what? Take a match to it ( not too close ). If it's poly it will melt, if it's natural fiber it will burn. Keith Black and mtaylor 2 Quote Luck is just another word for good preparation. —MICHAEL ROSE Current builds: Rattlesnake (Scratch From MS Plans On Hold: HMS Resolution ( AKA Ferrett ) In the Gallery: Yacht Mary, Gretel, French Cannon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solution GrandpaPhil Posted March 23 Solution Share #8 Posted March 23 I like to use beeswax. It makes the rigging line less frizzy and less prone to tangling. Keith Black, paul ron and mtaylor 3 Quote Building: 1:64 HMS Revenge (Victory Models plans) 1:64 Cat Esther (17th Century Dutch Merchant Ships) On the building slip: 1:72 French Ironclad Magenta (original shipyard plans) On hold: 1:98 Mantua HMS Victory (kit bash), 1:96 Shipyard HMS Mercury Favorite finished builds: 1:60 Sampang Good Fortune (Amati plans), 1:200 Orel Ironclad Solferino, 1:72 Schooner Hannah (Hahn plans), 1:72 Privateer Prince de Neufchatel (Chapelle plans), Model Shipways Sultana, Heller La Reale, Encore USS Olympia Goal: Become better than I was yesterday "The hardest part is deciding to try." - me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost and Confused Posted March 23 Author Share #9 Posted March 23 Thank you all for your helpful replies. I have decided to wax my rigging lines. I have a block of beeswax that I've used on several models...I don't know about my model lasting 100 years, but the wax can't hurt. Thanks again. Onward GrandpaPhil, mtaylor, paul ron and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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