Telling the difference between double braid and 16-strand ropes

[morten]

What is the easiest way of determining the construction of the rope? Occasionally, I am unsure whether a rope is a double braid, 16-strand or other construction.

 

Any step-by-step guide that will ease identification of the construction?

 

The reason for asking is that the splicing methods are quite different between the two above mentioned types

[Pete Mctree]

If you look at the core of the ropes - the double braid will be braided & the 16 strand will not. Hope that helps

[scotspine1]

single braid 16 strand is a single rope that gets all of it's strength from the outer fibres, the filler strands are there to keep the rope round when in use, that's all, they're not load bearing. Ever seen an old single braid 12 strand climbing rope? completely hollow. The 16 strand single braid is the same but with a filler.

 

double braid is softer (goes flat easily when you pinch it) and is basically two ropes, outer and inner both load bearing

[morten]

single braid 16 strand is a single rope that gets all of it's strength from the outer fibres, the filler strands are there to keep the rope round when in use, that's all, they're not load bearing. Ever seen an old single braid 12 strand climbing rope? completely hollow. The 16 strand single braid is the same but with a filler.

 

double braid is softer (goes flat easily when you pinch it) and is basically two ropes, outer and inner both load bearing

 

OK, got it, thanks. And kernmantle is at the other end of the scale, with the inner braided core bearing the majority of the load, and the cover acting mostly as a protective sheath, right?

[scotspine1]

OK, got it, thanks. And kernmantle is at the other end of the scale, with the inner braided core bearing the majority of the load, and the cover acting mostly as a protective sheath, right?

 

kind of, I'm not that clued up on dynamic kernmantle, can't think of a situation where you would want to use it in treework. You'd need to investigate that on a rockclimber's forum.

 

Static kernmantle which we do use in treework has roughly about 70% of it's strength in the inner core, this allows the outer fibres to do their job of acting like a shield, so if the outer sheath gets slightly damaged it wont significantly affect the strength of the rope. Also, generally speaking static kernmantle has a thicker sheath than dynamic kernmantle due to it's uses in caving, rescue, industrial rope access etc, this has it's downsides though - very stiff construction for knotting/hitches etc

[morten]

kind of, I'm not that clued up on dynamic kernmantle, can't think of a situation where you would want to use it in treework. You'd need to investigate that on a rockclimber's forum.

 

Static kernmantle which we do use in treework has roughly about 70% of it's strength in the inner core, this allows the outer fibres to do their job of acting like a shield, so if the outer sheath gets slightly damaged it wont significantly affect the strength of the rope. Also, generally speaking static kernmantle has a thicker sheath than dynamic kernmantle due to it's uses in caving, rescue, industrial rope access etc, this has it's downsides though - very stiff construction for knotting/hitches etc

 

Quite a few static kernmantle arborist ropes available, see http://www.sherrilltree.com/site/pdfs/Climbing_Rope_Chart_Specifications.pdf

 

In general, I believe all grizzly spliced ropes are kernmantle construction.