How To: C15a Wire-3 restoration

[David Dunlop]

Its looking really lovely, Jordan.

David

[Bob Carriere]

Hi Jordan

Was the waxing process typical of that time??? I know the Navy used to pin tar the manila ropes to make them last in the wet environment.

How will you do yours....... rubbing or soaking in melted parrafin???

Cheers

[Jordan Baker]

I guess this is my first post of the year. It’s been a very busy fall/winter and early spring doing home renovations. But they are done and some shop time has returned. The shop need a huge cleanup as I created quite the mess from running saws and a plainer from the renos. Taking advantage of the summer like weather (sunny, 20deg) I pulled both vehicles out. Both started up without any issues and the shop looks a lot better for it.

[Jordan Baker]

Bob, I’ve yet to get to finishing my ropes. They are on my list. I’m thinking of setting up some kind of double boiler to melt the wax and then put the ropes through it.

[David Dunlop]

Any chance they were using bees wax back then, Jordan?

David

[Robert Bergeron]

Ever thought of lightly coating your ropes with linseed oil Jordan ? Great preservative .

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Robert Bergeron

Ever thought of lightly coating your ropes with linseed oil Jordan ? Great preservative .

The traditional preservative is Stockholm Tar, as used on rigging in the Age of Sail (and the (British) 34-ft steel vertical aerial stays) but it sticks to your hands and is fairly unpleasant unless you like that sort of thing. The problem with waxes and oils is that they're going to make the rope slippery, which you may not want.

(The other problem with Stockholm Tar is it may attract Ancient Mariners or the traditional wing of the local Yacht Club.)

Some people swear by it, others swear at it.

Chris.