Hi All
I have a few questions relating to the care and use of plasma rope.
1 - What is the best way to wind the rope on to the drum, i have heard that it is better to wrap it onto the drum a bit like fishing line is wound onto a stick, (stops the rope getting wedged down into the lower layers)
or is it better to spool it on like with wire.
2 - Care and cleaning, dont bother or put it in the washer or something in between. I was thinking a swirl round a buket of water should wash the grit out .?
3 - What else is there to watch out for when using plasma ??
Thanks in advance
Brett
Plasma (synthetic) Winch Rope
I passed the question on to mate who sells and uses the product. His reply was:
I wind my rope on just like you would wire, but make sure it is done under
some load.
I just throw it in the washing machine and wash it.
DON'T use any laundry detergent though !!!!!!!!!
I then hang it out of the sun to dry and then store it somewhere dry, again,
out of the sun. The sun came damage it like it does fishing line
Make sure there are no sharp edges on your roller fairleads. In fact, roller
fairleads I would stay away from. My fairlead I made up is probably the best
way to go. There's no sharp edges on my fairlead.
Hope that helps.
And how much would you like and what size vehicle are you pulling.
G
I wind my rope on just like you would wire, but make sure it is done under
some load.
I just throw it in the washing machine and wash it.
DON'T use any laundry detergent though !!!!!!!!!
I then hang it out of the sun to dry and then store it somewhere dry, again,
out of the sun. The sun came damage it like it does fishing line
Make sure there are no sharp edges on your roller fairleads. In fact, roller
fairleads I would stay away from. My fairlead I made up is probably the best
way to go. There's no sharp edges on my fairlead.
Hope that helps.
And how much would you like and what size vehicle are you pulling.
G
Ive got 40m of 8mm plasma on a superwinch Xp9.0 . The vehicle is a swb paj weighs about 1980kg now.
The winch itself is tucked in behind the front bumper just in front of the radiator well out of the way and out of sight. Will get a canvas cover made to help hide it and keep sun off. Havent taken any photos of the setup yet, will have a go at posting some pics soon.
I thought it a good idea to see what people reckoned before giving the plasma a whirl, better to ask first than bugger.
Are you using a hawser fairlead, I looked at that option but went for a roller fairlead instead, the winch has only had the factory wire rope on it and has never been used with wire (have only just got it going now, took a long time to get the mounting sorted out and all wired up).
thanks
Brett
The winch itself is tucked in behind the front bumper just in front of the radiator well out of the way and out of sight. Will get a canvas cover made to help hide it and keep sun off. Havent taken any photos of the setup yet, will have a go at posting some pics soon.
I thought it a good idea to see what people reckoned before giving the plasma a whirl, better to ask first than bugger.
Are you using a hawser fairlead, I looked at that option but went for a roller fairlead instead, the winch has only had the factory wire rope on it and has never been used with wire (have only just got it going now, took a long time to get the mounting sorted out and all wired up).
thanks
Brett
Heres a couple of tips that might make your rope last a bit longer,
Don't wash it in the washing machine!
Plasma rope is build the same as static (no stretch) climbing rope, it has a sheath over a core, with the core being the load bearing part (the bit you don't want damaged) and the sheath is there to protect it, to keep the sharp grit and stuff out .... when you wash it in the washing machine it moves the rope back and forth opening up the weave on the sheath and lets the grit wash inside
What you want to do is wash it in the bath and brush it in one direction, or another option is to take your rope down the park with you and drag it round on wet grass this just wipe's the mud off, I've made a rope brush, just two short stiff bristle brushes moounted facing each other and a rope guide at one end (hole in the steel plate the holds the brushes) this is on a stake I hammer into the ground, drop the rope in a bucket of water and I pull it through the brushes a couple of time through this and its as good as new
I know this must sound a bit pedantic, but as a climber you see the differance that little bit extra makes to the life of your rope, and I'd never consider loading my climbing rope like I've done on the winch rope!
and for the books I'm still a wire rope fan
The other tip is I noticed a new product in at "Steelmaster" (a nationwide bolt shop) they had some citrus based cleaner that stated "safe for use on climbing rope and harness" with that comment it should be all good for use on plasma rope
Cheers Reece
Don't wash it in the washing machine!
Plasma rope is build the same as static (no stretch) climbing rope, it has a sheath over a core, with the core being the load bearing part (the bit you don't want damaged) and the sheath is there to protect it, to keep the sharp grit and stuff out .... when you wash it in the washing machine it moves the rope back and forth opening up the weave on the sheath and lets the grit wash inside
What you want to do is wash it in the bath and brush it in one direction, or another option is to take your rope down the park with you and drag it round on wet grass this just wipe's the mud off, I've made a rope brush, just two short stiff bristle brushes moounted facing each other and a rope guide at one end (hole in the steel plate the holds the brushes) this is on a stake I hammer into the ground, drop the rope in a bucket of water and I pull it through the brushes a couple of time through this and its as good as new
I know this must sound a bit pedantic, but as a climber you see the differance that little bit extra makes to the life of your rope, and I'd never consider loading my climbing rope like I've done on the winch rope!
and for the books I'm still a wire rope fan
The other tip is I noticed a new product in at "Steelmaster" (a nationwide bolt shop) they had some citrus based cleaner that stated "safe for use on climbing rope and harness" with that comment it should be all good for use on plasma rope
Cheers Reece
Cheers Reece
De Ranged Engineering
027 541 8794
De Ranged Engineering
027 541 8794
The price on the rope was $9/metre incl gst.
This is Dyneema. This rope does not have a core like Reece was talking about. The Dyneema allows you to open the weave of the rope to splice ends in it yourself. The rope that Reece talks of doesn't allow for splicing if broken. Infact I think you throw it away once it breaks.
Hope that helps.
Hey Reece, whats this new rope called and where can you buy it. I haven't seen anyone using it yet.
G
This is Dyneema. This rope does not have a core like Reece was talking about. The Dyneema allows you to open the weave of the rope to splice ends in it yourself. The rope that Reece talks of doesn't allow for splicing if broken. Infact I think you throw it away once it breaks.
Hope that helps.
Hey Reece, whats this new rope called and where can you buy it. I haven't seen anyone using it yet.
G
The Rope Ive got is a cookes snatchmaster 8mm that sounds very much like the Dynema, its grey with lots of small strands that can be opened up.
It is nice to use, lite and easy to move about and doesnt have the tendency to coil back on itself.(had a paly on the weekend, minus a few shrubs now).
Have got 40 m on the drum (replacing the 30 m of wire) and there is room for another layer so could probably fit 45-50m on the drum at a guess.
Have seen on a US website sleeves that can be put over the synthetic rope to protect from abrasion, about a meter or so that can be slid to where it is needed and is wound up on the drum with the rope, sounds like a good idea.
I guess with the synthetic rope its a bit more high care that the wire.
cheers
Brett
It is nice to use, lite and easy to move about and doesnt have the tendency to coil back on itself.(had a paly on the weekend, minus a few shrubs now).
Have got 40 m on the drum (replacing the 30 m of wire) and there is room for another layer so could probably fit 45-50m on the drum at a guess.
Have seen on a US website sleeves that can be put over the synthetic rope to protect from abrasion, about a meter or so that can be slid to where it is needed and is wound up on the drum with the rope, sounds like a good idea.
I guess with the synthetic rope its a bit more high care that the wire.
cheers
Brett
Sorry Jungle I can't help you on the name of the rope (was someone elses ) if it helps it was a grey colour, VERY similar look to spectra cord
And yes you are right it was a throw away if it broke, He did mention it was a compition rope that he had gotten off the net, if that helps
I wouldn't use it! It had a smaller diameter than my climbing rope
This has been the only "plasma" rope I've bothered to look at I thought they were all based on this 
opps 
Hey Jungle if your selling could you email me some data on your rope, if its repairable on site, I'd be interested
Cheers Reece
And yes you are right it was a throw away if it broke, He did mention it was a compition rope that he had gotten off the net, if that helps
I wouldn't use it! It had a smaller diameter than my climbing rope
This has been the only "plasma" rope I've bothered to look at I thought they were all based on this opps
Hey Jungle if your selling could you email me some data on your rope, if its repairable on site, I'd be interested
Cheers Reece
Cheers Reece
De Ranged Engineering
027 541 8794
De Ranged Engineering
027 541 8794
Here goes......
Dyneema (the one we use)
8 m/m diameter
rated to 6.7 ton
$10.00 meter
Dynex Dux (9 m/m the one were going to use)
7 m/m diameter
rated to 7.5 ton
$ ????
9 m/m diameter
rated to 12 ton
$12.50 meter
Dynex Dux with Coverbraid
Can buy in made up 30 m length
S/S thimble spliced in end
$330.00
Hope some of that helps.
Sorry it took so long.
G
Dyneema (the one we use)
8 m/m diameter
rated to 6.7 ton
$10.00 meter
Dynex Dux (9 m/m the one were going to use)
7 m/m diameter
rated to 7.5 ton
$ ????
9 m/m diameter
rated to 12 ton
$12.50 meter
Dynex Dux with Coverbraid
Can buy in made up 30 m length
S/S thimble spliced in end
$330.00
Hope some of that helps.
Sorry it took so long.
G