Marking the middle of a rope
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Any one have a good way to middle mark a new rope with out damaging? TIA |
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every time someone tests a rope that's been remarked with sharpie over and over, it still breaks at the knot. |
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Rope marker available at most climbing shops |
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Greg D wrote: Rope marker available at most climbing shops Should have done more research before I bought my rope and bought one that was marked.... but here I am |
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I just use a Sharpie Rub-a-Dub marker (laundry marker). I've done it a couple times and I haven't died yet. |
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In the past, I have used a Sharpie T.E.C. marker. It doesn't penetrate to the core of the rope and supposedly Sharpie does not weaken nylon anyway. I don't lose any sleep. |
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I just use a sharpie. the mark the rope comes with fades and needs a revamp but still darn nice to have it pre done. . been using a sharpie for 30+ years every rope I have broken broke at the knott or over a sharp edge. never at the sharpie mark. |
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I got a bottle of Beal Rope Marker a while back: |
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I used sharpie Rub a Dub per Blue water. |
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Some good ideas here for highly-visible and tangible markings: https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/116554631/middle-rope-mark |
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Nick Goldsmith wrote: been using a sharpie for 30+ years every rope I have broken broke at the knott or over a sharp edge. never at the sharpie mark. Wtf i gotta ask, how many ropes have you cut dude? |
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Cat piss is a great marker. |
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I use both a "sharpie" type marker (from Blue Water or Sterling, I forget which) for single-color ropes. In addition to the black, which fades quickly, I ALSO put on 2 or 3 pieces of white tape. This is the white "electrical type" tape; but I cut the strip lengthwise so it's only about 1/4 inch wide. Cut it long enough to overlap about 1/3 to 1/2 the way around, then put one small dab of super glue on the "joint". By cutting so its only 1/4 inch "thick" it seems to go through ATC's when rapping and/or lowering a bit longer. If doing full length raps (dbl rope), or a lot of "sport lowering" you need to replace quite often, but if you have a 70m and do a lot of raps where the middle mark is at the anchor, the tape lasts a while; plus it's really easy to replace. |
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I use a regular old sharpie and have been for years. There are many threads on this if you search. |
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The best rope marker, as noted above, is the Beal Rope Marking Ink. And, yes, it will stain anything it touches. Do it outside. Don’t goop it on or you’ll create a stiff spot in your rope. Better to mark it lightly every 6 months than to goop it on leave a stiffie. |
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Broken about a dozen or so ropes |
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Use a sharpie rub a dub its water based and wont harm your rope. a regular sharpie contains solvents that can possibly weaken your rope slightly so dont use it. |
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I've had the same issues with fading as the other posters,. Never tried the Beal stuff, though. I've tried tape and have watched it slip when it passed through belay devices. Now I just grab a small handful of chalk and rub it along the rope near the mid-point. It usually lasts about 1 rappel, so you've got to apply it every rap. Good thing chalk is cheap and pretty much always on-hand. If you keep doing it, it's pretty easy to see the white section of rope coming down. Much easier than spotting the strip of faded black. Someone might chime in and say that the chalk will migrate into the core and weaken the rope, but I'm not dead yet and I've been doing it for 5 years now. |
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Alright nerds, here is some relevant testing if you are worried: |
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Nick Goldsmith wrote: Broken about a dozen or so ropes Do I understand you correctly... you’ve broken a dozen or so ropes climbing? Really? |