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Intro to Rope


~Master Varii


Materials

In the bondage world, rope falls into two main categories: synthetic or natural fiber. The most common materials for rope bondage include hemp, jute, or cotton (natural fiber) or nylon (synthetic). I personally have a strong bias toward natural fiber robe for ease of tying, safetym and the technique involved, but your mileage may vary.


 Natural Fiber Rope (less durable, better grip, less likely to cause rope burn)

o Hemp (moderately strong – 400lb*): soft, knots easily, stretches, machine-washable

o Jute (medium – 300lb*): stiffer and lighter than hemp and linen, knots well, unties

well, not easily washable but can be (very limited) if careful and dried under

tension. Most popular with professional riggers.

o Cotton (weaker): soft, knots easily, stretches, may be difficult to untie as knots can

be tighter, not recommended for suspension, but excellent for bedroom bondage and

to learn on.

o Bamboo and Silk (moderately strong): typically the softest of the ropes (so, good for

bedroom bondage), knots easily, but the stretch makes it unsuitable for suspension.

The negative is it is expensive.

o Sisal, Manila, Bamboo (weakest): rough, breakable, good for sadistic play, but not

for any other purpose.


Synthetic Rope (more durable, less grip, more very likely to cause rope burn)

o Nylon (very strong – 1200lb*): soft, stretches, little grip, machine-washable, difficult to

learn on and uses different techniques from natural fiber.

o MFP (very strong – 1100lb*): stiffer, some stretch, less grip, machine-washable

o Polyester (strong): stiffer, less grip, less stretch, some forms feel like plastic and can

easily cut skin.

o Synthetic Hemp (moderately strong – 750lb*): looks like natural fiber, stiffer, lighter,

better grip than other synthetics, machine washable



* These are approximate ratings, given in pounds of force at 6mm.

** Italicized is what I have in my rope kits.


Construction

Most natural-fiber rope is made of three strands twisted together while most synthetic rope is made of braided strands.


Rope ends can be finished with a number of different knots or other options, including:

 Knotted: the easiest and most common; often preferred because it makes joining ropes easier;

common finishing knots include overhand, flat overhand, wall knot, Mathew Walker knot, thistle

knot

 Whipped: twine is used to secure the end; makes it easier to pull rope through, but more difficult

to join; often used for specialty rope, like thin detail rope for hair, etc.

 Taped: similar to whipped, but using tape to secure the ends

 Fused: synthetic rope ends can be melted and fused together; similar advantages and

disadvantages to whipped ends


Diameter and Length

Typical bondage rope is around 6mm in diameter, though it’s worth noting that the diameter of natural fiber rope is usually more of an approximation.


While thinner ropes are more flexible and hold knots better, those knots are harder to untie and the rope bites into the skin more painfully, not to mention the weaker nature of thinner ropes. In contrast, thicker ropes are stronger and can be more comfortable, but the knots they form are bulkier and can come undone easier.


Most bondage rope is between 25 and 30 feet, approximately. Most rope tops prefer using ropes of the same length and simply joining additional ropes as needed. Shorter ropes mean joining more frequently, and longer ropes mean more rope to pull through for every move. However, shorter ropes can be handy for finishing a tie that only needs a little more rope to complete, and longer ropes can be useful for specific purposes.


Rope & Style

One other thing to consider before paying much for rope is the style of rope you want to pursue. We considered these styles in the last lesson, but here’s how three of them relate to rope selection:


Japanese – This type of rope work lends itself well to jute and hemp, and typically avoids

synthetic rope altogether. Usually tied in a double rope style utilizing the “byte”.

o Common Material: jute or hemp

o Common Size: 25-30 feet (typically folded in half for use), 6mm in diameter

o 4mm usually referred to as “hojo” rope for specialized tying such as hair ties


Western – This type of rope work is less structured, sometime single strand ties, and multiple

single ropes used (as opposed to “adding on” to form a continuous tie).

o Common Material: nylon, cotton, or hemp

o Common Size: 6-8 mm in diameter, and length varies

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