Rope question

[Alan Evil]

I was helping my brother top a tree today and had him on belay when the oil cap on his chainsaw fell off. Before you bitch at me for using my rope for that let it be known that he left a bunch of cheap static rope in Washington county and didn't have anything but clothes line here. None of the oil spilled directly on the rope but it got on his pants leg and I'm sure the rope then rubbed his pants leg, probably after the oil had soaked in real good. I'm waiting for the rope to dry out to know for sure. Right now it doesn't look or feel like there's any on there. In the event there is some oil on the sheathing should I cut those last few feet off and rewrap the end? If so, what is the best way to lock all the layers together? If that's not an option what kind of new rope should I make him buy for me?

[lordjim_2001]

If there is a gear store near by ask nicely to use that thing that cuts webbing with a heated wire, or maybe even a Lowe's or Home Depot that has it.

And why oh why would you top a tree.

[Alan Evil]

Yeah, it's a shame. Nice elm tree that's about 10 years old. Unfortunately it's begun pushing against a building and I'm sure that by the end of the summer it would've done some real damage. I just held him until he had cut it down low enough to finish the rest from a ladder. I kind of like what my brother told one of his neighbors about it when he asked why: "It's because I hate trees."

To add to the nastiness of the rain and woodchips, elm trees are fucking slimey.

Thanks for the recommendation, captain. I'm sure one of the stores here in Louisville will help me out. Maybe Quest since I've bought all my QDs and some runners there. I think I'll h*ack off the last six feet regardless of how it looks, just to be safe.

[squeezindlemmon]

Dude, your rope should be fine.

[Alan Evil]

Or maybe I won't h*ack off that last six feet then.

[GWG]

I'd bring the rope to the laundromat, daisy chain it, throw it into a front load washer and wash it with the rope wash. If you don't see any discoloration on it from the oil now, there shouldn't be any issue.

If you're ever at RS, ask to use their soldering gun. That's what they use to cut rope.

[Saxman]

Wash it soon and you should be fine. Just use a very small amount of detergent.

[Alan Evil]

Will do! The agitator on my washer is prime for this job, it's got very small fins on it. On gentle with the rope wrapped around it should do very nicely. I'll go get some Woolite. Actually I guess I could just stick the affected few feet in the washer and watch to make sure the rope doesn't get tangled and it doesn't switch to spin cycle. I'm about to go get the rope from my brother's house and I'll know if it appears to have oil on it. If I can see oil I'm just gonna cut the end off. If all it takes is a hot wire and some shrinkwrap I've got that here. But if I can't see oil I'll wash the end of the rope.

I'll check back before I do either of these things, though. I'm of two minds about this because chain oil is meant to penetrate the chain and cling to it so if it hit my brother's pants first it should have soaked right in and then stayed there. He sat for several minutes while I found the cap and then tossed him a clothes line to lower the saw to me. All the same the rope was tight on his pants leg AND it was raining. Come to think of it that might be an advantage. By the time that happened the rope was quite wet and probably had a good bit of tree snot on it. That tree snot is totally neutral I'd say because I had it all over my hands and felt not a thing. Stupid tree.

[batguano]

I wouldn't be worried about a little residue on the sheath. I've got work ropes several years old that have been in contact with paint, creosote, oil and other things. I'm only rapping on them, but they seem to work fine.

If you cut your rope, I think it helps to tape it first. I do about 1.5 - 2 wraps with climbing tape, as tight as possible, then put the rope on a cutting board and cut through the center of the tape. Lastly, I seal it with a camp stove or propane torch by holding it just close enough to melt.

[GWG]

I washed a rope with Woolite and didn't like the results. I got a packet of the rope wash and the results were great. I washed 2 ropes in one load with one packet. They looked brand new. I won't use anything else.