Rope Washer

caving_fox

caving_fox

Active member
If you're going to do something you might as well over-engineer it. The Rope Washer Mk1.
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Some leftover kitchen splashback, a couple of lengths of 4x2, 15mm pipe clips (ditto leftover) plus some pulleys and brushes from BnQ and a hose adaptor. The pulleys are quite cheap and I don't have long expectations of them - anybody know any reasonable equivalents? Finding something that takes 12mm rope without being £££safety gear was challenging.

Currently stability is not brilliant - It has 2 'storage' hooks on the back to mount anywhere. Perhaps they need to be wider apart - although then won't fit on my steps. It just about works with enough weight on the steps to counteract the force of pulling the rope through. W
 
Noice!

What's the friction like on a stiff fat rope? and is the rope path alterable, or will you end up with a flat line through your brushes?

How wet do you get using?
 
Ian Ball said:
Noice!

What's the friction like on a stiff fat rope? and is the rope path alterable, or will you end up with a flat line through your brushes?

How wet do you get using?
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Haven't measured the friction! 12mm pulleys so should be ok. But even with not too stiff rope there sideways force is enough to make it unsteady (pull gently and add more bricks!).

Will get a flat line through the brushes. They can be re-drilled to move them and/or replaced at £2 from BnQ. Or maybe even swapped out ofr astroturf which was the original plan, but I didn't have any.
The aim was to be not wet while using (eg winter nights). You can stand a distance away to pull the rope through.
IMG_20230415_103802.jpg
 
Early MK1 Rope Washer inside Electrical Box (Pre Sprayed) has been modified since this :

Mounted on 'settling tank' to save the street turning into a quagmire.

Mounted near-horizontal to allow several 'operators' to pull the rope through at once. Good arm workout.


Initial Feedback :

 
caving_fox said:
Nice!
What pulleys are you using?
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Cheers!! There's a list of goodies in the description of one of the videos. Nylon Pulley here:


Use M22 Stainless Bolt which also becomes structural bolting through to Stainless Angle on rear of Electrical Box which stiffens up the back plate to prevent the pulley axis moving under 'operational strain' plus helps with mounting the unit.
 
Fulk said:
With all due respect to you very inventive guys, I find that you can't beat just bunging your ropes in the washing machine.
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Depends how engrained with mud and grit your ropes get.
Not ideal traipsing a load of caked-up rope through the house after a decent mine explore oh no . . .
Besides, it's a good workout for the arms and an excuse to sing sea shanties.
 
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Fulk said:
With all due respect to you very inventive guys, I find that you can't beat just bunging your ropes in the washing machine.
Click to expand...
Agreed.
But I believe some people are not allowed to do that, and I have never been in a club hut that has a washing machine.
This washer looks to be well thought through and engineered.
 
Thanks for your comments; if my ropes are heavily caked with mud, I do pre-wash them before bunging them in the machine.
 
Fulk said:
With all due respect to you very inventive guys, I find that you can't beat just bunging your ropes in the washing machine.
Click to expand...
I was thinking similar but if the ropes are really filthy and gritty it'd be good to pass through this contraption first as a pre-wash, before using the washing machine?
 
You're right, Cantclimbtom, if I had access to such a contraption I'd use it on very muddy ropes, but on the whole I find that washing ropes with an ordinary hose-pipe gets rid of enough muck to make it reasonable to put them in the washing machine.
 
It sounds like you’ve built an ingenious solution with your Rope Washer Mk1! For the pulleys, upgrading to better quality ones with bearings could significantly improve their performance and lifespan, especially under tension. Look for pulleys designed for sailing or climbing that can accommodate 12mm rope. These often have sealed ball bearings, which ensure smooth rotation and durability without needing constant maintenance.
 
ickkuv said:
It sounds like you’ve built an ingenious solution with your Rope Washer Mk1! For the pulleys, upgrading to better quality ones with bearings could significantly improve their performance and lifespan, especially under tension. Look for pulleys designed for sailing or climbing that can accommodate 12mm rope. These often have sealed ball bearings, which ensure smooth rotation and durability without needing constant maintenance.
Click to expand...
If you find any, please let me know! At present nylon jobbies going strong with nowt to go wrong!
 
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