Rope marking?

[PierreAckermann]

Hi All,

I feel n little stupid but...I marked both my ropes with BEAL rope marker but now the place where I marked the rope is stiff and the rope does'nt have the flexibility that it use to have,will this weaken the rope(I did put quite a lot of the stuff on there...) I anxiously await your replies.

Thank you.

[M@]

throw them both away and buy new ropes!

i joke. I would assume that the beal stuff is thouroughly scrutinized and guaranteed not to cause damage (chemically, microstructurally or otherwise) to the rope.

BUT i imagine that if you put too much on the rope causing it to become stiff, then the MECHANICAL properties of the section of rope would be affected..?
i.e. not dynamic and therefore weakened?

That is purely speculation i have no experience or wisdom in this matter.

Personally ive wanted some beal marker for my rope for some time, but now id prefer to buy my next rope with a factory middle-mark.

[Russell Warren]

It will soften with use. Don't panic.

[Carl]

I got a rope with a factory middle marker and it worried me the first time it went through my reverso. It crunched a bit and slowed down but it hasn't worried me. I am pretty sure that it's only the sheath that's got a bit stiffer with the marker and the core is still doing its job.

[Alex B-S]

I have a bottle of Beal Rope Marker and ro-do my ropes from time to time as the old marking fades. It is normal for the marked area to be a bit stiff when newly marked but will return to normal after a bit of use.

[andrew p]

I find that the best way to know where the middle is without marking the rope is with a tape measure, I always carry it on my harness. It can be inconvenient but you get used to it.

[emile]

3M or Stanley?

[PierreAckermann]

Thanks guys, I feel quite relieved now,still not particularly fond of the stiffness.

Next time I'll pull out the old Stanley 3m for a half way measure...

[Fool]

Hiatus of 100 Ma ensued

[proze]

What?

Not having a little bottle of Beal stuff, and having a new Beal rope with no middle marker, what can I use to safely mark the middle? Will veggie dye/food colouring be alright?

[nosmo]

not particularly fond of the stiffness.

Did the same thing to my rope, I rubbed it a bit and the stiffness went away.

[PierreAckermann]

ja, thanks nosmo, been climbing and it seems to be much better now. Still not a fan though...

[Chalk]

alternative I have tried and founds works really well with no damage to the rope. I took a 5cm / 3mm strip of ripstop nylon and wove it into the mantle with a blunt nose needle, leaving about 5mm free at either end. Its easy to see and no chemical harm to the rope.

[Gustav]

Thanks Chalk, that sounds like a good solution for a black Beal Joker (9,1mm), seeing that black ink on the joker is not so obvious to spot!