Zen Monkey
Member
Anyone used or is familiar with Black Marlow rope? Particularly the handling of new rope before use. Does it need soaking and what % shrinkage would be expected?
Black Marlow rope
- Thread starter Zen Monkey
- Start date
Pete K
Well-known member
Only soak/shrink the rope it if the instructions require it. Most ropes don't these days. No idea about Marlow. Can't find any instructions on the Marlow website, something that I find really annoying for PPE manufacturers and almost always costs them a sale from me. https://www.marlowropes.com/sectors/working-at-height/static-ropes/
It is supple for the first few uses, but will stiffen up over time like many ropes. Expect 10% shrink initially, and probably another 5-10% over its life.
It is supple for the first few uses, but will stiffen up over time like many ropes. Expect 10% shrink initially, and probably another 5-10% over its life.
psychocrawler
Member
We used to use heavy duty 12mm black Marlow in the 80s. Indestructible on poor hangs and didn’t shrink much at all. First saw it at the Iranian embassy siege.
Pitlamp
Well-known member
Pete - you said: "Only soak/shrink the rope it if the instructions require it." I'd have thought that it would be reasonable to soak any rope before use. Given it'll get frequently soaked whilst caving (and then whilst going through the rope washer) I'd have thought there is nothing to lose but plenty to gain (i.e. most of the shrinking can be done before decisions are made re what lengths to cut the rope). But my knowledge of rope technology isn't especially extensive so I'll happily accept your wisdom.
Pete K
Well-known member
Sorry, I should have worded it "You only need to soak/shrink the rope it if the instructions require it." It'll do no harm like you say, but doesn't seem to be as required as it used to be. I can't recall the last time I bought rope that said it needed soaking before use in the instructions. I did actually soak my last reel of Petzl, but got almost no colour change to the water.
JoshW
Well-known member
By contrast my last reel of Petzl club made the water turn into an opaque milk after a day of soaking
Everyone I know who has this rope has had this. Multiple soakings do not seem to get rid of it all. Lovely to handle, very slippery and creaky to descend in my experience.
JoshW
Well-known member
I love using it.. you think the club is creaky, try using the 9mm push on a long drop, enough to make you need a change of underwear.
Both lovely to handle though
Oh maybe that's what I'm thinking of! Yes it's very disconcerting.
Zen Monkey
Member
Many thanks to everyone for the replies. Much appreciated ! Currently awaiting a reply from Marlow technical department on this issue and some technical spec, stretch under load for example for comparison with the ropes I'm currently using.
Best regards
Zen Monkey
Best regards
Zen Monkey
Mark Wright
Well-known member
You might find what you're looking for in the attached data sheet.
Zen Monkey
Member
Mark
Many thanks for the data sheet, much appreciated. Unfortunately it refers to Static LSK which is polyamide.
What I think I have is Black Marlow which is polyester. The labelling is not definitive to posively identify whether I have LSK or Black Marlow although I suspect it's the latter. Still awaiting a response to my email to technical at Marlow but thankyou for posting the sheet. The figure for elongation percentage under load is very interesting. Very low stretch indeed.
Best regards
Zen Monkey
Many thanks for the data sheet, much appreciated. Unfortunately it refers to Static LSK which is polyamide.
What I think I have is Black Marlow which is polyester. The labelling is not definitive to posively identify whether I have LSK or Black Marlow although I suspect it's the latter. Still awaiting a response to my email to technical at Marlow but thankyou for posting the sheet. The figure for elongation percentage under load is very interesting. Very low stretch indeed.
Best regards
Zen Monkey
Zen Monkey
Member
Right, I think I have a positive identification. My rope is a 220m length. LSK maximum.length supplied is 200m.
So mine is likely to be Black Marlow.
So mine is likely to be Black Marlow.
Mark Wright
Well-known member
Below is the data sheet for the Black Marlow, but it doesn't give you any information regarding the 50kg - 150kg elongation, which you would usually expect to see in a data sheet for the more common EN1891A/B rope standard. I wouldn't usually choose a rope that didn't conform to the EN1891 standard.
Also below is the data sheet for their Blue Ocean Static, which does give all the information you could ever need. This is not the same as the Black Marlow and is tested to the NFPA standards.
Like psychocrawler, I was brought up on this type of rope, which was designed primarily for yachting. We used to call Marlow rope, 'Talking Rope', as it would make strange noises as you climbed it, particularly in the Rowter Hole entrance shaft which amplified the sound. Very disconcerting.
Also below is the data sheet for their Blue Ocean Static, which does give all the information you could ever need. This is not the same as the Black Marlow and is tested to the NFPA standards.
Like psychocrawler, I was brought up on this type of rope, which was designed primarily for yachting. We used to call Marlow rope, 'Talking Rope', as it would make strange noises as you climbed it, particularly in the Rowter Hole entrance shaft which amplified the sound. Very disconcerting.
Zen Monkey
Member
Mark
Many thanks for the data sheet. You.would expect a figure for elongation but perhaps it's not relevant on a static rope fundamentally for military use and meeting purely military standards.
Best regards
Zen Monkey
Many thanks for the data sheet. You.would expect a figure for elongation but perhaps it's not relevant on a static rope fundamentally for military use and meeting purely military standards.
Best regards
Zen Monkey
I understood that Black Marlow was considered unsuitable (unsafe?) for SRT as, being static not semi-static, it has minimal shock absorbance. Is that correct? It sounds as if some knowledgeable people use it without concern? I can't remember where I read it, I'll see if I can find it.
The logic as I saw it is that the purpose of PPE (in general) is protection; in caving SRT the rope is both transport and protection, but Black Marlow is just transport. In a military situation the risk of shock load from a failed anchor is outweighed by the benefits of static rope in minimising other risks.
The logic as I saw it is that the purpose of PPE (in general) is protection; in caving SRT the rope is both transport and protection, but Black Marlow is just transport. In a military situation the risk of shock load from a failed anchor is outweighed by the benefits of static rope in minimising other risks.
pwhole
Well-known member
I had a go on some of this low-stretch Sterling rope a few years ago, and don't remember it being especially rough on the abseil, but it was in Water Icicle shaft, so only about 30m. But climbing back up it with a Pantin was a joy, and probably the fastest ascent I've ever done. A bit pricey though. I can imagine the black Marlow being the same - in fact I'm sure I've climbed on some somewhere once.
https://sterlingrope.com/3-8-htp-static-rope/
https://sterlingrope.com/3-8-htp-static-rope/
