Heat shrink tube for rope end?

Hi, I notice the most climbing ropes in the store do not have the rope end protection. Some brands make this kind of heat shrink tube to protect the rope end

wesspur.com/rope/tools.html…

Have any one used this before?

the site you reference is tree climbing/rigging site - way different from mountain climbing. heat shrink tubing is pretty stiff - might get caught in an anchor or something else when pulling a rap rope. i would not use it for climbing.

Interstingly, on Maxim glider rope, they have some kind of plastic tube cap to cover the rope ends. I am sure that is not heat shrink tube, but not sure what's that for.

If the core is exposed through the end of your rope you can try melting it. Just put some climbing tape around a fresh piece of your rope an inch or so above the fray. Then cut the rope in the middle of the tape. Heat the end of the rope with a lighter til it melts. Let cool then remove the tape. If done correctly it works really well.

I have it on one of my ropes, it's only about an inch on each end.

I've used electrical heat-shrink tubing on the end of my ropes for a while. It matches almost exactly with the factory finishing (on my Maxim ropes). If you put the tubing on the rope FIRST, and then "peen" the end of the rope so it mushrooms a bit, you can slide the tubing down to the end and the mushroom on the end of the rope will keep it in place as you shrink it down. Pic below. As for it getting stuck, this doesn't get any more stuck than a factory end.

What's the benefit? Seems like a solution in search of a problem, to me.

Just a note;
For swift water rescue, I love them.

I have seen factory taped ends hang up on small chain links when they were slightly off level and created the perfect “trap”. Also saw a short factory taped end hang up on a naked A thread in Ice. If you do use heat shrink, keep it short. 

Bang Nhan wrote: Interstingly, on Maxim glider rope, they have some kind of plastic tube cap to cover the rope ends. I am sure that is not heat shrink tube, but not sure what's that for.

Sterling ropes also have heat shrink tubing on the ends.

I don't use heat shrink tubing but recently added light reflective tape (and a drop of superglue to make sure it stays). Too many times looking for the ends when I had to rappel in the dark. Now my headlamp lights them up nicely.

wivanoff wrote: I don't use heat shrink tubing but recently added light reflective tape (and a drop of superglue to make sure it stays). Too many times looking for the ends when I had to rappel in the dark. Now my headlamp lights them up nicely.

I actually like this idea,

I put some of these on the ends of my rope to prevent fraying.  

Was it necessary? Answer: Dodgeball Quote

Super Necessary!

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyOxHRz-iK8​​​

Jeff Luton wrote:

I actually like this idea,

Does anybody know of a reflective heat shrink rap? I’ve been a victim of stuck ropes before and the slimmer the better

No, but yoiu can get clear heatshrink and put something reflective inside.  But that might increase size/stiffness.

wivanoff wrote: I don't use heat shrink tubing but recently added light reflective tape (and a drop of superglue to make sure it stays). Too many times looking for the ends when I had to rappel in the dark. Now my headlamp lights them up nicely.

i do this too.  No superglue though, just replace the tape periodically...

Wow this is an old ass thread...

But DON"T use heat shrink!!!    It'll ball up at the end of the rope and be difficult to untie a knot such as a figure 8.

I've even used the heat shrink with the glue and it still gets caught pulling the rope out of a knot.

The only way other than burning the ends neatly like Mammut is whipping the ends with thread. I specifically use 110lbs Kevlar thread for this.  

Works great and also makes the ends slightly less round in diameter, so it doesn't get caught up in a knot as easily.

Michael S wrote: Wow this is an old ass thread...

But DON"T use heat shrink!!!    It'll ball up at the end of the rope and be difficult to untie a knot such as a figure 8.

I've even used the heat shrink with the glue and it still gets caught pulling the rope out of a knot.

The only way other than burning the ends neatly like Mammut is whipping the ends with thread. I specifically use 110lbs Kevlar thread for this.  

Works great and also makes the ends slightly less round in diameter, so it doesn't get caught up in a knot as easily.

Link to reflective Kevlar thread for the win?

Maurice Chaunders wrote:
Not Kevlar. But does it need to be Kevlar?

Well, since dental floss works just fine, I'd say the answer is "no".

Maurice Chaunders wrote:

Link to reflective Kevlar thread for the win?

https://estore.twinline-usa.com/collections/kevlar/products/braided-kevlar-110-spools