"Dip-it, Whip-it" and/or butane "Hot Seal" knife

Robert Wilson

Robert Wilson

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Any advice/comments on quick 'n' easy sealing of ropes with Starbrite Dip-it, Whip-it?
And for a similar price, a butane powered Hot Knife (Rope Seal)

I shall be whipping all my "rope ends" again this year, but could do with a good "instant" cut/seal.

The above two products seem a useful intermediary step (or hopefully permanent)
 
I just heat the end of the rope in a gas flame (lighter or stove) and then roll it between my fingers (wearing leather work gloves).
 
Heat shrink works well after sealing the end of the rope with a hot knife, it tends to pull off if you heat shrink right at the end of the rope. I used some silicon tape that self amalgamates on a connector and the instructions also advise that it can be wrapped around rope first and then cut through to make a suitable seal on the rope; I have not tried it though.
 
Personally I use a hot air gun whenever possible.
Low setting for polyprop other wise the high setting.
Does not burn like flame can.

If using a flame I reckon a luminous flame from a lighter is less likely to burn than blue flame from a stove.
 
BlowingOldBoots said:
Heat shrink works well after sealing the end of the rope with a hot knife, it tends to pull off if you heat shrink right at the end of the rope...
Click to expand...

This is what I do, although a gun type soldering iron with a rope cutter attachment is easier at home:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001KA1QM/dolcetto-21

I use 3:1 heat-shrink with an adhesive lining, for example:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00AAWEJSM/dolcetto-21

With 3:1, make sure you buy a size that is about 2x the diameter of the rope, to get a thicker sleeve.
 
I have used heat shrink wrap, a naked flame and dip it an whip it.
IMHO dip it works very well.
The naked flame burs the end which can catch your hands
Heat shrink worked well but became brittle.

Gerry www.sadler32forsale.com
 
When almost all ropes were three-strand I used to use a sailmakers whipping, followed by heat-sealing the end if it was synthetic. Whipping always lasted the life of the rope.

Now with most lines braided, I put on a common whipping (takes 30 seconds), heatseal the end, and if the tin is handy paint some Dippit stuff over the sealed end and the whipping. The dippy stuff helps the common whipping stay in place.

I do sometimes just heat-seal, for odd little lines like fender ties, but a whipping really does keep the end together better.
 
Butane hot knife does a good job of cutting all sizes of polyester, etc. Particularly good on small stuff which one might not be whipping. For better durability, where it is needed, a sailmaker's whipping is good [on braid you can use a sailmaker's needle to sew through the rope around the whipping to secure it]. The hot knife is not so ideal for dyneema, it does cut it but there is a big tendency for the end to mushroom unless restrained by tape or heatshrink.
 
Assuming rope is nylon, polyester or polyprop(!)
if you want a hot knife for occasional jobs, just find an old knife and heat the end up in a gas flame. But anything using a hot knife, whether improvised or paid for with actual money, will eventually fray.

If you want a permanent job, you need to put a proper whipping on. Use a needle.
 
For good quality ropes I like to seal the cut ends using heat from whatever source. If you're using the cooker then use a really low flame and just gently heat the rope end. Remember you are trying to melt the fibres together, not set fire to them. Once that is done then a simple whipping and finish the whole thing off with a coat of dip-whip (or whatever it's called). Gives a nice finish and makes sure that nothing jams going through sheaves etc. I still have ropes that I did in this fashion literally 7 or 8 years ago which are still as good as the day they were finished. I know it's a bit belt, braces and whatever but they ain't cheap and it's worth the time and effort to do it right. All IMHO of course.

Chas
 
Thanks all,
Seems that there is no replacement for old-fashioned whipping, and the heat source (if not naturalfibres) can be anything providing it's not a blisteringly hot flame.
The Dip-it,Whip-it stuff gets a few good mentions, but seems to be more for finishing-off rather than tough, structural whipping.

Time for the needle and whipping cord.


Had a lovely three hours on Saturday sailing around Loch Ewe; would have been two reefs yesterday and today/tomorrow she's staying on the mooring. WILD here.
Here's wishing you all a great sailing season, with no accidents and a permanently contented crew!

Cheers,
RW
 
If you don't have the time to put a proper whipping on with twine then you're not doing boating properly. Stay at anchor for a night and you'll soon have them all done :D

The products which are designed to make this quicker were not designed to do this better, they are the result of people wanting to take shortcuts, and others taking advantage of them.
 
lustyd said:
If you don't have the time to put a proper whipping on with twine then you're not doing boating properly. Stay at anchor for a night and you'll soon have them all done :D

The products which are designed to make this quicker were not designed to do this better, they are the result of people wanting to take shortcuts, and others taking advantage of them.
Click to expand...

Ouch! Sorry, Teacher. That's a minus house-point for me for even asking the question........................ :rolleyes:
 
Sew proper whippings on. Lasts forever, takes a few minutes for each. A good bit of marlinspike seamanship is one of the more satisfying things to do with boating. Only take
 
Robert Wilson said:
Ouch! Sorry, Teacher. That's a minus house-point for me for even asking the question........................ :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Hehe sorry didn't mean it that way :) just that yachting is one of those passtimes where there really is time to do it properly, and that doing it properly (or the old fashioned way as many will see it) is a genuinely better way to do it. Unfortunately human nature is to gradually make things worse over time rather than better wherever profit is involved. There are exceptions of course, but generally that's the case.
 
lustyd said:
Hehe sorry didn't mean it that way :) just that yachting is one of those passtimes where there really is time to do it properly, and that doing it properly (or the old fashioned way as many will see it) is a genuinely better way to do it. Unfortunately human nature is to gradually make things worse over time rather than better wherever profit is involved. There are exceptions of course, but generally that's the case.
Click to expand...

It's Monday.
No offence could ever be taken on a Monday!!!

I agree wholeheartedly that everything (well nearly everything) to do with boats is normally a major part of the enjoyment - and satisfaction.
I started my sailing when "ropes" were all natural fibres. Whipping and splicing was an enjoyable pastime in itself.
Sitting in the sun, on the boat on a sheltered mooring. The gulls sqwarking, the smell of the seaweed on the nearby shore where the little waves lapped cheerfully. The smell of old wood, paint, tar. The creak of the rigging and the cabin girl pouring another cup of tea.
Ahhh, those were the days.
Mind you, it was so time consuming we hardly got off the mooring!!
 
I use Dip-it and Whip-it to seal things like knots in shock cord, and wee knots in things. So if I'm tying a light to a lifebelt with a bit of thin stuff I might dab a bowline with a bit of the D&W. It's not without it's uses. But mostly I do like a nice whipping, and go for the sailmakers for three stranded and the stitched variant for braided.
 
Tape the rope, cut through the middle of the tape, then flame-grill both ends. That gets the rope functional for the immediate future.
The tape will eventually start to unwind. This is to remind you to apply whipping twine appropriate to the function of the line - if it's a halliard, there should be a mousing loop, otherwise I like to apply the crown (is that the correct description?) finish even on braidline.
I do have Dip-end-Whip on board but have had little use for it as originally intended. It is, however, a good alternative to Captain Kremin's Creeping Crack Cure 4 Crappy Windows. I am led to believe it is used offshore to coat structure welds - liquid PVC.
 
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