Cutting Cordelette

Does anyone have a preferred tool/method to cutting cordelette? I have 30 ft rn which I’m gonna cut down to 20

I run cordelette (or rope, for that matter) over the blade of a serrated knife and then fuse the cut ends with a lighter or stove. I keep a small Gerber serrated knife on me in the alpine to do precisely that sort of thing if bailing on tat becomes necessary.

hot knife

When I can I use a hot knife works like a charm, especially when cutting a rope. Cut and seal in one go. Rope, cord, sling .....

Out in the field use a knife & lighter.

Butter knife over the stove for a few minutes. Then cut. Cuts the rope/cord like.........butter

David S wrote:

I run cordelette (or rope, for that matter) over the blade of a serrated knife and then fuse the cut ends with a lighter or stove.

For this method I wrap the area to cut with masking tape first. Cut through the tape, burn with a lighter. The tape prevents fraying before melting.

I always just used the sharpest implement that was closest to me. Then I used said implement to cut through cordage, webbing, rope etc... sometimes several draws with said implement, or sawing action is needed to complete the cut. Then I take a lighter, match or coal from the fire pit and burn the end until it doesn’t look like it’s gonna fray. Occasionally it eventually does. At which point you repeat the process. Works every time. Shit ain’t rocket surgery..!!

Cheap (goodwill) butter knife held over. Stove or propane torch until hot

Actually last time I just sharpened a random piece of shelf bracket on a bench grinder and heated it up lol. Melts right through 

It depends on the material. Perlon and the like can be dealt easily with any of the methods mentioned above. If it’s 5.5mm Dyneema or similar, just keep in mind that the core won’t melt. So cut it with the sharpest instrument you have, pull the sheath over that core and just melt the sheath.

R K wrote:

How many climbers does it take to same the thing over and over again? 

Yes.

Most cord will cut easier if you hold it in tension while cutting.  I'm not sure why you'd prefer a serrated blade.

I found that an old cheap soldering iron I have laying around works well enough as a hot knife. Maybe not as hot as ideal, but it works if I am patient and cut through the cord or rope slowly.

JaredG wrote:

 I'm not sure why you'd prefer a serrated blade.

because most people couldn't sharpen a knife to save their life.

Do the hot knife. Cutting it cold and then trying to melt the ends nice is a mess.

t.farrell wrote:

Wrap in tape first then (i) cut with regular serrated knife and hold end to a lighter then remove tape or (ii) cut with knife held to flame then remove tape

If you don’t tape it, sometimes there are little errant threads that show up even with hot knife or the melted end mushrooms

Second the wrapping in tape before cutting. 

After struggling to get 5.5mm tech cord through 6mm holes to string my Big Bros, here’s the method I wound up with:

1. Wrap location to cut tightly with non-stock foil.
2. Wrap tightly with climbing tape.
3. Use razor blade to cut down the middle of the foil/tape section.
4. Use flame to melt end.
5. Douse in cold water or let cool.
6. Unwrap tape and foil.

Enjoy perfectly sealed ends that feed easily though holes and won’t get caught in your knots!

Here’s what it looks like on a climbing rope.

Brilliant!

I'm part of the silent majority that uses office scissors and then a bic lighter.  We're talking cordalette; it's not necessarily mission-critical to have a perfectly melted/tapered end.

Sam Skovgaard wrote:

I'm part of the silent majority that uses office scissors and then a bic lighter.  We're talking cordalette; it's not necessarily mission-critical to have a perfectly melted/tapered end.

Except when you're trying to get 5.5mm tech cord through a 6mm hole to sling your Big Bros! ;)

We need a few more threads on this topic.

Gunkiemike wrote:

We need a few more threads on this topic.

we also need more wildly time consuming and outlandish ways to cut nylon....