RE: What kind of ropes do you like to use?

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RE: What kind of ropes do you like to use? - 4/12/2008 1:43:38 PM

TaoInDominance

Posts: 15
Joined: 1/4/2006
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While I am not an expert I use a number of different types of rope.   In considering rope for my bag I look at the characteristics of the rope and the application/s I may be interested in facilitating. In general my favorites are natural fiber ropes such as hemp and jute, though I also enjoy some exotics such as silk, flax, and bamboo depending on the application. In some instances I have also used cotton and nylon rope though this is really not a significant part of my bondage practices pat this time.   My rope comes for various sources. To have a connection with the rope I do both spin and process my own rope. It s a really fun experience, though a lot of work, and some of it is quite nice.   However, I also by a lot from Twisted Monk and recently have come to favor silk and bamboo rope from a good friend, Madame Butterfly at www.butterflyrope.com. Some of my rope is also from Jack Elfrink at Kinky Ropes.com (flax) and I still have some from japanrope.com. I am also looking at some rope from Boss Bondage that looks pretty nice. Lets face it; the rope itself is a fetish for me though I know people who make my affinity look like disinterest.

For most of my floor applications I use hemp or silk rope and really have enjoyed my new bamboo rope. For zuri I prefer hemp or really good jute for primary support lines or harnesses. It is a lot harder to get good jute. (While I never used it for zuri I was terribly disappointed by the jute I bought from Twisted Monk, which has since been discontinued by Monk. A few hanks unwound within the first three uses.). The reason I prefer these materials is with a good quality there is little stretch.

Someone mentioned Bavarian Blonde from Twisted Monk. I am in many ways a fan of this rope. For speed and durability it is the best rope I have used. However the 4-strand twist and consistency of the rope is much denser than other hemp in my experience. In the 4 strands the rope will by nature stay more round. It is my perception though (there may be dissenting opinion) that this density can have a down side in some applications. While it was hyperbole, I had one bondage bunny say it felt like tied electrical cord; others loved it.    The rope does not spread out and get that flattened look of looser weave you see in many classical Kinbaku pictures. This is a matter of preference and mine leans to this look. Perhaps more important than the visual aspect is how the rope distributes weight. I know some will take issue with this, but it seems to bite into the skin more under load, as it stays dense and round...a little hard. In contrast the rope from Japan Rope has a looser weave, which applies beautifully and has a gorgeous look.   However it wears a lot faster and does not retain the weaving as well.

Silk also does this and I suspect this will be true for the bamboo I have which is also a loose weave. My ropes are from Madame Butterfly and are hand woven so this may be an aspect because it is an apples and oranges comparison to the hemp I have, which is machine wound. Most of the exotics I have some into contact with were hand weaves. I would be very interested in hearing others experiences. They have a really nice feel for floor work and some corseting, but if you want to install a lot of decorative knot work I feel you reduce the life of the rope and it is not as aesthetically pleasing. Knots weaken rope and the loose weave can be problematic there.

As to the comments of John Warren and others on the board about "sterility” I can see where both points of view come from. Yes time and exposure to sunlight can do a lot. Basically the idea is that sunlight has UV rays, which can aid in sterilization and sunlight does play a huge role in environmental cleaning of viruses particularly in the ocean. It is not a perfect idea, or a predictable one.   Remember there are nasties that can hang on darned well.   W could be talking about significant time to accomplish minimal protection. For instance I recall that Hep C can live for 14 hours to 4 days in a room temperature environment. One of the things I believe is at the top of the list for a BDSM/bondage practitioner is they are responsible. So I prefer to be a little more proactive in my rope maintenance. While I prefer not to over wash rope it should be washed and if it is contaminated I use products like Sporicidin® Disinfectant to wipe and surface clean and/or add a Quaternary Ammonium Disinfectant to the wash water. It is a little tough on ropes if used over concentrated.   I condition rope either way by running it through my hands though I sometimes will use baby oil then. Even when using rope exclusively on one person I believe it important to air it out and wash periodically or when you get slimy stuff on it. Or for that matter just micro debris found on the floor etc or the basic staff found on your hands and all surfaces. Note: IMO it is important to dry most natural fiber ropes under load.

As far as rope length I used to use many lengths of rope when my focus was almost exclusively Western Bondage. My focus has swung the other way to Japanese influenced rope and I first got used to 7-meter lengths though I am migrating to 8 meter now. I use 6mm and 8 mm ropes most. One thing I did not hear mentioned is the finish other than a mention to Monks whipping. It is nice but not well suited to many Japanese influenced styles. I prefer a small button to finish my ends. Well I seem to have rattled on…hope this contributes positively to the discussion.

(in reply to AlphaJ)