question about waxing thread

[ford34tom@comcast.net]

I'm building the Model Shipways Constitution Cross section and am building the lower shrouds using the materials included in the kit.

Do I first; wax the thread, treat the thread with a white glue/water mixture, or leave the thread untreated?

Thank you for any advice you can give me.

Tom

[Knocklouder]

Hello Tom, since you are doing a cross section,  they don't  have a lot of thread, I would buy good rigging thread . It makes the world  of difference . Some very good sponsors for rope right here on MSW. Or you can serve the lines with fuzz free lines. 

Knocklouder 😁 

Edited Sunday at 03:46 PM by Knocklouder
Guessing typos lol

[barkeater]

Wax before using and use white glue to secure knots or stiffen after. Depending on your thread you may or may not need to wax, Cheaper thread tends to be fuzzy in my experience while well-made thread does not.

Rich

[GrandpaPhil]

And use beeswax!  Paraffin wax is kerosene based and does horrible things to your rigging.  I got my chunk of beeswax from the hardware store.

[ccoyle]

Hi, Tom.

 

It is really not a good idea to include your email address as part of your user name, as this will attract the unwanted attention of bots. Contact @James Habout changing it.

 

Cheers!

[druxey]

Wax used to be recommended years ago to lay 'fuzz' on rigging line. Unless you are using really cheap and fuzzy stuff, forget about using wax. Also, beeswax is slightly acidic and will rot the line in time. (A lot of old timers' advice was not the best!) If you absolutely have to use wax, use conservator's pH neutral wax instead.

 

Ideally, use good quality commercial line such as from Ropes of Scale. This has no fuzz and does not require 'treatment'. If you need to use adhesive, pH neutral white glue is best. Avoid CA (superglue) as it will eventually make the line brittle and break.

 

Alternatively , spin your own rope!

[palmerit]

I use Renaissance (conservator's) Wax because a bunch of people recommended it over beeswax. I'm no expert, but the posts say that beeswax is acidic and attracts dust, whereas the conservator's wax dries clear, is neutral pH, and does not attract dust. It's expensive but you use only a tiny bit of it. I have no expertise on this. Just passing along what I've read.

 

 

Edited yesterday at 01:19 AM by palmerit