Guide To Choosing Rope - Choosing The Right Rope - Ropes Direct

Help Choosing Rope

If you know what you need, then browse our main menu of products to the left.

But if you want a bit more help, see below for:

Rope Finder - select a picture and we will help you choose the rope you need

Home, Interiors

Rope for home and interior design

Garden, Outdoors

Rope for gardens

Crafts, Hobbies

Rope and cords for crafts and hobbies

Marine, Yachting

Sports, Leisure

Events, Marquees

Pets, Livestock

Picture of rope for pets and livestock

Fish, Farms, Forestry

Natural Products

Construction, Groundworks

Blue polyester rope, often used in construction work

Utilities, Industry

Rope for utilities

TV, Film, Theatre

 

Things to think about

 

  1. Where will the rope be used? (i.e. indoors or outdoors)

  2. What day-to-day conditions will it be exposed to? (i.e. UV rays, water, abrasion)

  3. How strong does the rope actually need to be?

  4. Do you want a natural fibre or synthetic (ie made from a spun plastic). Synthetic ropes can often be just as soft and lovely to handle than natural ropes, sometimes softer!

  5. How you would like it to look (i.e. colour, texture)

  6. How thick do you need it? Our ropes are measured by the diameter (the cross section of the rope) not the circumference. Diameters are measured in millimetres. See picture below.

  7. Decking Rope: We advise you wait for your rope to arrive before cutting or drilling posts - and drill a test hole first - because rope can vary in diameter. You will probably need to drill a much larger hole otherwise the rope might 'bunch' up as you try to feed it through. For example to feed a 32mm decking rope through a post, we might try a 36mm test hole.

        

Another way of measuring for decking rope is simply to suspend some string between each post, allowing for the depth of swag you like best. You will still need to make allowances for knots and metal fittings as per the diagram above.

 

Be Inspired

tying a knotThere’s brilliant real-life knowledge and advice in our section called “Be Inspired”, with articles to help you select an appropriate rope.

You’re also welcome to contact us. Our team have fantastic knowledge of all the products for sale and we’ll gladly advise on the best rope size and style for your requirements.

 

 

Key Properties of Ropes

Rope type

Properties

Sisal, Hemp, Manila, Flax

Melting point: Natural rope - so it smoulders or burns

In Water: Sinks, absorbs water

UV resistance/ abrasion: Fades in sunlight, susceptible to abrasion

 

Other: Natural product (plant fibres)

 

Cotton

Melting point: Natural rope - so it smoulders or burns

In Water: Sinks, absorbs water

UV resistance/ abrasion: Fades in sunlight, susceptible to abrasion

Other: Natural product, soft to handle.

Polypropylene

Melting point: 165°C

In Water: Floats, does not absorb water

UV resistance/ abrasion: Good UV resistance, Moderate abrasion resistance

Other: Lightweight, economical all-rounder

Polyester

Melting point: 260°C

In Water: Sinks, absorbs water

UV resistance/ abrasion: Excellent UV and abrasion resistance

 

Other: Resistant to many chemicals

 

Nylon

Melting point: 215°C

In Water: Sinks, absorbs water

UV resistance/ abrasion: Very good UV and abrasion resistance

Other: Absorbs shock well

Polyethylene

Melting point: 140°C

In Water: Floats, does not absorb water

UV resistance/ abrasion: Good UV and abrasion resistance

Other: Resistant to many chemicals, low-stretch

Polysteel - blend of polypropylene and polyethylene

(Leaded polysteel has small lead filaments in to

help the rope submerge)

Melting point: 165°C

In Water: Floats, does not absorb water

UV resistance/ abrasion: Good UV and abrasion resistance

Other: Stronger than polypropylene

Staplespun (spun polypropylene fibres)

Melting point: 170°C

In Water: Floats, does not absorb water

UV resistance/ abrasion: Excellent UV and abrasion resistance

Other: Soft/hairy finish, excellent grip (ie for knots)

HMPE (High Modulus PolyEthylene)

(Dyneema is one well known brand of HMPE)

Melting point: 135-145°C  (max working temperature 80°C)

Water:  Does not absorb water

UV resistance/ abrasion: Good UV, excellent abrasion resistance

Other: One of the strongest ropes you can buy, enabling you to use thinner diameters than when using other types of rope.

 


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