Rope Grommets

[Roach1948]

Tried making up some rope grommets this evening for some blocks I have restored and it was is a TOTAL DISASTER. I was using buff polystester from English Braids. I ended up with a headache after a huge fit of frustartion and this is using the "Rigger's Apprentice" insturctions. Is there an idiot proof way of making these or preferably some place I can buy then off the shelf?

 

[ccscott49]

Surely a grommet is just a loop of rope made with a short splice? or am I totally wrong here, what´s so difficult?
I take it these are for "strop" blocks.

 

[cliffordpope]

I thought the idea was to unwind an appropriate length of rope and then rewind a single strand, so as to make a continuous circle. The ends are tucked under and probably whipped.

 

[Roach1948]

[ QUOTE ]
Surely a grommet is just a loop of rope made with a short splice? or am I totally wrong here, what´s so difficult?
I take it these are for "strop" blocks.

[/ QUOTE ]

Basically it is one continous round splice. I could do it with a short splice but the grommet would not be circular. Good grommets dont have whippings - and yes, they are for a strop blocks.

I will try again using a former, i.e replacing the circle as one goes. It is MUCH harder than normal splicing though as the lays NEED to land in each other whilst maintaining a circular shape - Give it a go!

 

[Dayspring]

You need a piece of rope 3 times the length of the grommet, Unwind one strand and tape the ends so they don't unravel. Then lay the rope in a circle and wind it into the groove left by the other strands. If you start in the middle of the length, it's easier. then tuck the ends under one of the strands. I also have EB buff polyester and they work fine, just need to keep twisting the lay back in to the strands.

 

[johnchampion]

One of the biggest challenges is using modern material, i.e. polyester, to make a grommet which was originally for "traditional" ropes, manilla, hemp etc. The same thing applies to many knots which are just not as efficient in modern rope as they used to be in the stuff they evolved from - not surprising really - so somteimes you need to use knots that are not exactly to the textbook purpose. Even the venerable bowline is not as reliable a knot with modern material as it once was with old ropes.

That said it is possible , for example in a manner as already described, but it does take more practise to get a good result than it used to.

Splicing is the same, if you splice modern three strand you need at least one and preferably two more tucks then the "trad" version and of course all ends need sealing with heat.

Once you've mastered your current needs try it with cotton rope - the stuffs a nightmare and designed to drive anyone daft!

 

[Peterduck]

I made a lot of stropped blocks for my gaff ketch 'Swallow'. For these I used 4mm wire rope for the strop, largely because I have a drum of the stuff. I found the making grommets in this to be ridiculously easy, as the lay stays in the wire, unlike synthetic fibre rope which I found to be a pain. This latter would just unravel so easily, and lie there, a limp collection of strands. The wire grommet was served with tarred marline after construction and siezed together at the neck between the block and the thimble with some 2mm black tarred nylon which I had. An additional benefit was that I was never going to worry about a grommet failing.
Peter.

 

[Seagreen]

Made some years ago, and my big memory is that you have to keep the rope laid hard, so keep twisting the rope back into its lay as you work it, which is tough. Also, lots of beeswax to keep the thread under control. Hope this helps.

 

[cliffordpope]

[ QUOTE ]
I made a lot of stropped blocks for my gaff ketch 'Swallow'. For these I used 4mm wire rope for the strop, largely because I have a drum of the stuff. I found the making grommets in this to be ridiculously easy, as the lay stays in the wire, unlike synthetic fibre rope which I found to be a pain. This latter would just unravel so easily, and lie there, a limp collection of strands. The wire grommet was served with tarred marline after construction and siezed together at the neck between the block and the thimble with some 2mm black tarred nylon which I had. An additional benefit was that I was never going to worry about a grommet failing.
Peter.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've always used wire too. It's much easier, and stronger. If a tackle has say a 4-fold purchase, then the strop surely needs to be at least 4 times as strong as the ropes passing round the sheaves? Rope strops never look relatively thick enough to me.

 

[fluffc]

It is quite hard at first, but you'll get the knack.

Important thing is to keep the twist in the strand when you remove it from the rope, and maintain this 'twist' as you make the grommet.