I used 1/2" cotton clothesline for an outdoor project, but even with no
special molds or anything, since it's under stress, I think it will
break in 2 or 3 years.

So I want to get some better rope. What do I need?. 1/8" nylon rope
will break. And I think 1/4" will also.?? Is it hard to tie a good
knot in 1/2" nylon? They have 15 feet for 16$ (at home depot it's
in store only, for some reason) , so what about the knot. Is it a good
idea to keep the knot from coming apart by heating it with a match
until it forms one blob?

They also have Everbiltt 3/8 in. x 50 ft Twisted Nylon and Polyester
Rope. $16 Easier to make a knot? Strong enough?

Other materials?



Details.
I have an arbor vitae tree that got bogged down by snow a couple years
ago. It had several sub-trunks. IIRC one got bent down so bad I had to
cut it off, , one got bent down so much it broke this year, one bent 10
or 20^ from vertical and remains there, and one was about 30^ from
vertical, until a couple months ago. Actually I had tied 3 of the
trunks back together a couple in the spring after this happened, using
green wire covered in vinyl, some of which broke.

2 or 3 weeks ago the one leaning 30^ drooped some more, over the
sidewalk, so that it brushed my head as I walked in. Then a few days
later, it drooped more so that I had to duck. I left a sign on the
front door for the mailman to object if he wanted to.

I've been stalling around about doing something, but yesterday it
drooped so much I couldn't bend down enough to get underneath. Had to
walk around. So today I tied some clothes line, 1/2" cotten clothes line
to the drooping trunk, went around the main trunk and pulled up the
drooping one. I couldn't get it all the way up on my own, and even if I
get my neighbor to push while I pull the rope, since it's been drooping
for a couple years, I'm dubious. The straighter it is, the less strain
is put on the rope. But since I can't get it straight, I think the
cotton rope will break in about 2 years.

On Tue, 29 Nov 2016 23:33:49 -0500, micky
wrote:

I used 1/2" cotton clothesline for an outdoor project, but even with no
special molds or anything, since it's under stress, I think it will
break in 2 or 3 years.

So I want to get some better rope. What do I need?. 1/8" nylon rope
will break. And I think 1/4" will also.?? Is it hard to tie a good
knot in 1/2" nylon? They have 15 feet for 16$ (at home depot it's
in store only, for some reason) , so what about the knot. Is it a good
idea to keep the knot from coming apart by heating it with a match
until it forms one blob?

They also have Everbiltt 3/8 in. x 50 ft Twisted Nylon and Polyester
Rope. $16 Easier to make a knot? Strong enough?

Other materials?



Details.
I have an arbor vitae tree that got bogged down by snow a couple years
ago. It had several sub-trunks. IIRC one got bent down so bad I had to
cut it off, , one got bent down so much it broke this year, one bent 10
or 20^ from vertical and remains there, and one was about 30^ from
vertical, until a couple months ago. Actually I had tied 3 of the
trunks back together a couple in the spring after this happened, using
green wire covered in vinyl, some of which broke.

2 or 3 weeks ago the one leaning 30^ drooped some more, over the
sidewalk, so that it brushed my head as I walked in. Then a few days
later, it drooped more so that I had to duck. I left a sign on the
front door for the mailman to object if he wanted to.

I've been stalling around about doing something, but yesterday it
drooped so much I couldn't bend down enough to get underneath. Had to
walk around. So today I tied some clothes line, 1/2" cotten clothes line
to the drooping trunk, went around the main trunk and pulled up the
drooping one. I couldn't get it all the way up on my own, and even if I
get my neighbor to push while I pull the rope, since it's been drooping
for a couple years, I'm dubious. The straighter it is, the less strain
is put on the rope. But since I can't get it straight, I think the
cotton rope will break in about 2 years.

Nylon will last a real long time, even in the sun.
Learn to tie real knots and they will stay tied. You can tie a bowline
in nylon rope, drag stuff around behind your truck for years and you
can still untie it when you want to.

"micky" wrote in message
...
I used 1/2" cotton clothesline for an outdoor project, but even with no
special molds or anything, since it's under stress, I think it will
break in 2 or 3 years.

So I want to get some better rope. What do I need?. 1/8" nylon rope
will break. And I think 1/4" will also.?? Is it hard to tie a good
knot in 1/2" nylon? They have 15 feet for 16$ (at home depot it's
in store only, for some reason) , so what about the knot. Is it a good
idea to keep the knot from coming apart by heating it with a match
until it forms one blob?

They also have Everbiltt 3/8 in. x 50 ft Twisted Nylon and Polyester
Rope. $16 Easier to make a knot? Strong enough?

Other materials?

Manila hemp. Polypropelene. The only value to the latter is that it floats;
beyond that, it is junk.

Beyond strength, the most useful characteristic of nylon is that it
stretches. Dacron - polyester - doesn't.

1/4" of whatever is plenty strong enough.

Melt or serve nylon/dacron ends but not knots. Knots won't come apart if
you use the right knot.

On 11/29/16 10:33 PM, micky wrote:
I used 1/2" cotton clothesline for an outdoor project, but even with no
special molds or anything, since it's under stress, I think it will
break in 2 or 3 years.

So I want to get some better rope. What do I need?. 1/8" nylon rope
will break. And I think 1/4" will also.?? Is it hard to tie a good
knot in 1/2" nylon? They have 15 feet for 16$ (at home depot it's
in store only, for some reason) , so what about the knot. Is it a good
idea to keep the knot from coming apart by heating it with a match
until it forms one blob?

They also have Everbiltt 3/8 in. x 50 ft Twisted Nylon and Polyester
Rope. $16 Easier to make a knot? Strong enough?

Other materials?

A bunch cut.

You don't have to use just a single line. Some pictures here
of a rope block and tackle. My dad had a rope fence stretcher that
worked like these.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=rope+block+and+tackle&FORM=HDRSC2

On Tue, 29 Nov 2016 23:33:49 -0500, micky
wrote:

I used 1/2" cotton clothesline for an outdoor project, but even with no
special molds or anything, since it's under stress, I think it will
break in 2 or 3 years.

So I want to get some better rope. What do I need?. 1/8" nylon rope
will break. And I think 1/4" will also.?? Is it hard to tie a good
knot in 1/2" nylon? They have 15 feet for 16$ (at home depot it's
in store only, for some reason) , so what about the knot. Is it a good
idea to keep the knot from coming apart by heating it with a match
until it forms one blob?

They also have Everbiltt 3/8 in. x 50 ft Twisted Nylon and Polyester
Rope. $16 Easier to make a knot? Strong enough?

Other materials?



Details.
I have an arbor vitae tree that got bogged down by snow a couple years
ago. It had several sub-trunks. IIRC one got bent down so bad I had to
cut it off, , one got bent down so much it broke this year, one bent 10
or 20^ from vertical and remains there, and one was about 30^ from
vertical, until a couple months ago. Actually I had tied 3 of the
trunks back together a couple in the spring after this happened, using
green wire covered in vinyl, some of which broke.

2 or 3 weeks ago the one leaning 30^ drooped some more, over the
sidewalk, so that it brushed my head as I walked in. Then a few days
later, it drooped more so that I had to duck. I left a sign on the
front door for the mailman to object if he wanted to.

I've been stalling around about doing something, but yesterday it
drooped so much I couldn't bend down enough to get underneath. Had to
walk around. So today I tied some clothes line, 1/2" cotten clothes line
to the drooping trunk, went around the main trunk and pulled up the
drooping one. I couldn't get it all the way up on my own, and even if I
get my neighbor to push while I pull the rope, since it's been drooping
for a couple years, I'm dubious. The straighter it is, the less strain
is put on the rope. But since I can't get it straight, I think the
cotton rope will break in about 2 years.

Can you post some pictures of the actual tree, specifically the
problem area? It sounds as if you might need to bite the bullet and
prune the damaged sub trunk. You might be able to save it by cutting
it much shorter to reduce it's weight and then tie it in position so
it can heal.

Is this the variety of tree you are dealing with?

https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeg...cfm?ItemID=776

On 11/29/2016 10:33 PM, micky wrote:

I have an arbor vitae tree that got bogged down by snow a couple years
ago. It had several sub-trunks. IIRC one got bent down so bad I had to
cut it off, , one got bent down so much it broke this year, one bent 10
or 20^ from vertical and remains there, and one was about 30^ from
vertical, until a couple months ago. Actually I had tied 3 of the
trunks back together a couple in the spring after this happened, using
green wire covered in vinyl, some of which broke.


BTDT. What I learned from experience:

1. If the shrub/tree is in an area where the rope will be seen,
consider using camo-colored rope. If the branch/trunk if very
long/very heavy, consider using steel cable, securing it with bolts
through the trunk (if large enough) or a turnbuckle (which will allow
you to adjust the tension).

2. The branches and trunks will grow faster than you think, so don't
tie the rope to the branch/trunk. To prevent abrasion from when the
tree/shrub moves in the wind, cut a piece of old hose and slip it over
the rope to cushion the rope against the wood.

3. Rope alone of any kind won't hold up for more than a few years,
especially if the branches are under the stress of wind and/or snow.
Brace the longer/heavier sections with wood props, then reinforce them
with rope or cable ties. I use treated 4 x 4s for my props. I cut a
broad but shallow notch at the top end for the branch to rest in.
Depending on the location and soil type, I either dig a shallow hole
in the ground for the base of the prop, or I place it on a
rough-textured paver or cement block. Get another person or two to
help, put a rope around the branch/trunk and haul it into the desired
position, then brace it with a prop or two. Relax the rope and tie it off.

My globe arborvitae were planted when I was six years old, so they are
huge now. Thing is, they're the privacy block between my back neighbor
and myself, and neither of us want to see them go just yet. Eventually
they'll have to be removed, and I'll replace them with a section of
fence, with new upright arborvitae in front of the fence.