Dodgy Rope Heads Up

**Graziano** · 14th July 2012, 09:05 AM

Got a phone call on Friday from a cabinet maker that I could have several sheets of 3600 x 1800 x 18mm MDF that they were throwing away and didn't want to cut up and place in the bin. Carting them home involved resting them on two lengths of purlin over the ute, 8 ratchet straps and a slow drive home. I've been flooring the mezzanine of the shed with two sheets of plasterboard (gives some fire resistance) on the Z purlins at a 420mm spacing and then 2 sheets of MDF so these huge sheets would floor a large patch once I hoisted them upstairs.

Anyway I strapped two sheets together and used the one tonne chain hoist to lift the sheets up a few metres in the air....jeez these are heavy, better not get under them at all .......BANG!!!. The rope I used stretched, then snapped and then whipped under one of the two 1000 kg+ ratchet straps holding the sheets together, cutting it off the sheets

.

It turns out the rope, which is available Australia wide from a popular hardware chain that rhymes with "Nubbings" was not really strong rope at all. I'd bought very similar "rope" to this in the past and was very familiar with it's strength and properties. The earlier stuff (2009) was constructed a lot like abseiling rope: it has a protective sheath over hundreds of linear fibre strings that ran the length of the rope. The older rope had been used to lift heavy loads up to 400kg on many occasions and I had no reason to expect the almost identical rope would be any different in performance. I'm attaching pics of the old stronger green rope which has the green sheath alongside the new blue weaker rope which has the metallic tinsel bits of plastic up the core (lolly wrapper plastic) instead of load supporting fibres surrounded by sheath fibres. I've taken to referring to such items as "Movie Props" as they look like the real thing but in no way perform like the real thing.

The moral of the story is that if you are using rope to lift things examine it closely to determine that A: actually IS rope, B: It's identical in construction to the trusted rope not just identical in appearance and C: STILL stay away from the load, I estimate the load was at least 250kg and fell from just over 2 metres in height, which would have probably killed me if it hit on the head.

**Bryan** · 14th July 2012, 09:16 AM

Phew, glad you're ok. That stuff is really crappy and the seller should want to know about it. Thanks for the warning.

**Graziano** · 14th July 2012, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by Bryan

Phew, glad you're ok. That stuff is really crappy and the seller should want to know about it. Thanks for the warning.

Thanks, in hindsight, I bought rope which had absolutely no markings at all with regard to load rating and failed to examine it, then noticed the rope stretching to the point where I had to lower it again and take out the slack before raising it, so I personally failed three times. Fortunately I stayed out from under the load which has saved my bacon twice in life now.....I always avoid overhead loads I am aware of.

**Metmachmad** · 14th July 2012, 10:04 AM

Anyone here willing to guess where the fake "rope" was made. I think I know.

**Woodwould** · 14th July 2012, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by Metmachmad

Anyone here willing to guess where the fake "rope" was made. I think I know.

Camberwell?

**Mr Brush** · 14th July 2012, 02:42 PM

I had a similar experience with Bunnies "rope" (or "lope" as it is known in country of manufacture

) trying to get a jointer/thicknesser off the back of a ute with an engine hoist......the stuff just stretches, and stretches, and stretches

Ended up using heavy duty nylon ratchet straps as the hoist instead.

Lift heavy item just off the ute tray by a couple of inches, let it hover for a few moments in case of catastrophic failure, drive ute out as quickly as possible and lower heavy item to the ground ASAP.

Glad to hear you escaped from your little disaster unscathed - could have been nasty.

Does one have to go to a climbing shop to get real rope these days????

**Stustoys** · 14th July 2012, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Brush

Does one have to go to a climbing shop to get real rope these days????

Or a boat shop............ of course you'd still want to check it.

**Acco** · 14th July 2012, 03:17 PM

See this is what happens when you use the incorrect tools to do a particular job, if I was to try something like this with my crane-truck on a job site, I'd be booted off the site

If you're regularly lifting stuff, it would pay to go and buy some proper lifting slings, the soft endless slings aren't that expensive.

**Grahame Collins** · 14th July 2012, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by Acco

See this is what happens when you use the incorrect tools to do a particular job, if I was to try something like this with my crane-truck on a job site, I'd be booted off the site

If you're regularly lifting stuff, it would pay to go and buy some proper lifting slings, the soft endless slings aren't that expensive.

A 2M 1 tonne rated sling should not be more than $20 or so.

**Jim Carroll** · 14th July 2012, 05:08 PM

Graham & DJ where would you reccomend the guys to buy the correct slings from.

Always worth a recomendation.

**Dingo Dog** · 14th July 2012, 05:17 PM

Blokes

Ask any of the Industrial Crane Sellers in your state where they get their slings from. Over here in the West I get them from SlingRig.

Did a slinging course way back in the early eighties to get my Hiab ticket. Instructor always advised to use either slings, chains or soft slings, never rope. Same goes for shackles, check the gear before you do the lift, anything frayed, kinked or don't look good, don't use it.

DD

**Acco** · 14th July 2012, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Carroll

Graham & DJ where would you reccomend the guys to buy the correct slings from.

Always worth a recomendation.

Most industrial supplies stock them.

Places like Nobles or Kebles.

The Nobles brand slings are quite good but cost a little more, would probably only buy these ones if you're using them constantly as they are easier to feed under packs etc.

**Big Shed** · 14th July 2012, 05:34 PM

Are these any good DJ?

sling | machineryhouse.com.au

**Acco** · 14th July 2012, 05:46 PM

They look okay Fred, think I might even have a pair of that brand.

As long as they have the tag on it, come with the test certificate and comply with Australian Standards you'll be right

**racer123** · 14th July 2012, 05:47 PM

I finally got around to buying some decent lifting gear after mucking around with rope and odd bits of chain for years.
Brought two slings, some eyebolts and rated bow shackels and spent less than $100.
Money very well spend.
Slings where about $25ea. Shackles about $5ea.
Made me a lot happier moving my 2.5 ton lathe.
You can buy lifting gear at most of the industrial bolt suppliers.
In brisbane I brought mine from Bolts and industrial at Salisbury.

Thread: Dodgy Rope Heads Up

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Dodgy Rope Heads Up

Slings

Similar Threads

Brazing wire rope?

Help Help Looking For Rope in all the wrong Places

6 sided rope pen

6 sided rope pen

5 sided rope pen

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions