Stabilizing rope

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Mike of the North

Mike of the North

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Joined
Jan 2, 2009
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Location
Brandon Twp. MI
I have some rope I am stabilizing with Minwax wood hardener what is a good rule of thumb for how long I should leave it under vacuum to make sure it penetrates all the way thru, it is 5/8" twist nylon rope, I am thinking I can stabilize it then cast it in clear PR, anybody try this.
 
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Wood hardner on nylon rope? Why not just cast the rope? Let us know how it works out.
Do a good tgurn daily!
Don

Mike of the North said:
I have some rope I am stabilizing with Minwax wood hardener what is a good rule of thumb for how long I should leave it under vacuum to make sure it penetrates all the way thru, it is 5/8" twist nylon rope, I am thinking I can stabilize it then cast it in clear PR, anybody try this.
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I don't think it is going to penetrate the nylon no matter how long you leave it in there. You would probably have better luck with either cotton or sisal ropes.
 
I have made quite a number of pens using nylon and poly rope. The resins do not penetrate the fibers and the rope stays soft inside the casting. There has been some color change with lighter colors when casting. I've minimized this by coating the rope with thin CA prior to casting. I've used only braided lines not twisted rope. Please let us know how it works for you.
 
LEAP said:
I have made quite a number of pens using nylon and poly rope. The resins do not penetrate the fibers and the rope stays soft inside the casting. There has been some color change with lighter colors when casting. I've minimized this by coating the rope with thin CA prior to casting. I've used only braided lines not twisted rope. Please let us know how it works for you.
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The one you made for me a while back is perfect and still one of my favourites:biggrin:
 
Trying to stabilize nylon in a solvent doesn't sound like a logical approach to me. I wouldn't even try it. As others haver related, results are variable. I would try manila rope though. Might even be better looking and it's cheaper.
 
Mike of the North said:
I have some rope I am stabilizing with Minwax wood hardener what is a good rule of thumb for how long I should leave it under vacuum to make sure it penetrates all the way thru, it is 5/8" twist nylon rope, I am thinking I can stabilize it then cast it in clear PR, anybody try this.
Click to expand...

That ain't going to do anything for nylon.......stabilizing 'plastic'......don't think so!


Barney
 
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It didn't work the robe looked solid when I cut it on the band saw but fell apart when I tried to drill it. What will dissolve nylon but not hurt PR? If I can remove the rope from the pr I cast around it I might be able to pore a different color in its place.
 
I don't think the nylon or polethelene rope will ever harden. You should try either hemp rope (not really hemp anymore:eat: or at least it doesn't smoke the same.) or cotton rope. CA glue will give you a leg up on hardening either of these two types of ropes. A good boating store will have these ropes sold by the foot for very, very cheap (20 cents per foot at my store). Cotton wll drill vey easily after PR casting.
 
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