UKC

Just wondering what the safest way to re mark the middle of the rope is..?

In reply to samsimpson:

http://www.mytendon.com/rope-marker or one of many others available , I would suggest . hope that helps , stay safe .

In reply to boogie man: cheers

In reply to samsimpson:

i just used some finger tape

i did that but it got jammed on the tape on an abseil.
can a marker pen not be used?

In reply to dan bulman:

http://www.coleparmer.com/Chemical-Resistance

Cross reference Nylon and Xylene (common in marker pens).

In reply to samsimpson:

Best way is to take it to the shop at your local climbing wall and persuading them to do it, saving the price of a marker you'll only use once

In reply to samsimpson: i've used 10mm finger tape a couple of times.

In reply to Owen W-G: Like it!

In reply to samsimpson:

A small nick with a razor blade

In reply to Owen W-G:

Do most climbing walls mark the middle of their ropes?

In reply to samsimpson:

I have some beal rope marker. Is pretty handy for marking anything. Is cheap enough.

If I recall, UIAA paper suggested against marker pen, but also that some rope specific markers can also reduce strength.

Changing sheath pattern halfway is pretty neat.

In reply to needvert:

Yeah I can't find the original article, but it was a bit vague. It didn't actually confirm it was always safe to use the manufacturers marker on their ropes, but did suggest this should be OK. It definitely warned against using ANY marker including specific rope markers on ropes made by other manufacturers as problems were found.

In reply to needvert:

I find that this stuff makes the rope more rigid and I know when the middle has been reached as the rope jams in the belay plate. I'd recommend a wrap of finger tape.

In reply to JoshOvki:


Pretty sure that most don't. Also pretty sure that most of them, whilst happy to mark a rope as an occasional favour, would get pretty hacked off if this became the norm.

In reply to samsimpson:

I don't understand why people don't just use clothes dye.

In reply to jonnie3430:

i also found that it makes the rope stiffer - jams in belay plates- i would not use again

In reply to samsimpson: Beetroot juice?

In reply to John Kelly:
I used the pen made by tendon on my mammut ropes. I did it before reading the UIAA article and it hasn't worried me that much. I'll probably die.

In reply to 3leggeddog:

Ha ha - this was one of the first posts I ever read about climbing, on rec.climbing newsgroup (uk.rec.climbing hadn't been invented at that point, let alone web forums or ukc). I thought it was SO irresponsible! :-0

Those were the days, my friend.

In reply to jonnie3430:

Because finger tape doesn't jam in the belay plate?

In reply to samsimpson:
I'v used the Beal rope marker ink.
It's a weird powdery pigment type stuff. Initially once it's dryed on, it does make the rope very stiff.
But this loosens up considerably with just a couple of uses, and leavs it only slightly stiffer than normal. You notice it, but in my experience nothing that would jam a rope.

In reply to daWalt:
Obviously that might depend on the size of middle mark you've painted on

In reply to daWalt:

In my experience it causes sticking a year and a half after using it! I wouldn't do it again, preferring to use finger tape.

I don't find finger tape jams in the belay plate, it is easier to spot on a rope when the rope is dirty, icy or wet. It does roll off after a while, but is easy to replace. (It depends on how much tape you use too, a thick bit jams more, a thin bit comes off easier. Happy compromise for the win!)