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| Step 2: Choosing the Construction | |||
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Now that we have decided the best material to use, we need to decide on the type of construction.
There are two general categories of rope construction: twisted rope and braided rope. | |||
| TWISTED ROPE | |||
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Twisted rope has a good strength/weight ratio, is economical but lack in flexibility when compared to braided rope. Twisted rope has the tendency to unravel so cut ends have to be fused and taped. |
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BRAIDED ROPE This type of construction falls into three categories: diamond braid, hollow core and smooth braid. |
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Diamond braid cannot be spliced and tends to flatten under load. This type of rope doesn’t unravel as much as other types of construction. It is easy to handle and holds knots well. |
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Hollow core is a type of braided rope that has a hollow center and is made of polypropylene. This rope is exceptionally light and is very easy to splice. |
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Smooth or solid braid has a hard finish and works extremely well over pulleys and cannot be spliced. |
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| Please consult the quick reference guide for construction selection. | |||
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