Please note, this is My basic rope conditioning technique, it’s not the ONLY technique. Use it at your own risk. Any questions, please contact Me. 

Conditioning involves:

1) Breaking Down

• Pass one end of the rope through a carabiner, bring it back towards yourself and twist it around itself twice. Then with the short end in one hand and the long end in the other hand, use a back and forth motion (like rowing but hands going at opposite times) rub the rope against itself 3 times. It should be a reasonably easy motion, if you are finding it hard then relax the rope off a bit.
• Finish with the long end at the “top”, then slide the short end had up to the top, this is the new start point. Relax long end had, and pull back on short end hand until it is back at about hip level, then start the back and forth motion again.
• Repeat until all the way through the rope.

2) Waxing

• Now put some wax blend in your palm (about a finger scoop full) and pull the rope through your palm all the way to the end. Turn rope around, put another finger scoop in your palm and pull rope all the way back. Without adding more wax, then start in the middle and work out to each end.

3) Singing the rope to defluff it (it will suddenly look much thinner)

• Over a gas flame, pass the rope (twirling it as you go through) the top edge of the flame so that the fluff sparkles off, about three times (until it stops sparkling). Move on to next section of the rope, all the way through to the end. Be careful of the actual ends, they will catch fire easily. Wipe lightly through a (just) damp cloth afterwards to remove the soot (don’t wet the rope, just wipe off the soot)

4) Conditioning with a wax blend or pure oil

• Now put some Camellia oil in your palm (as you did with the wax) and pull the rope through your palm all the way to the end. Turn rope around, put some more oil in your palm and pull rope all the way back. Add a little more oil, then start in the middle and work out to each end.
• Wax again lightly if you feel it needs it. Or maybe only use wax and no oil? Or just oil? It’s a “feel” thing. If you wish a Vegan version, just use oil, no wax!
• I usually do the whole conditioning process once, then hang the rope (doubled over) for 24 hours. I then do just the wax treatment again, hang it for another 24 hours and it’s complete. I might rewax it a few months later, but in between I will treat it (basically doing the same thing) using some Camellia Oil every couple of weeks, but it all depends on usage, if you don’t use it a lot you might only need to do it every 6 months. Same if you use your rope a LOT…body oil helps! However, be aware I do like quite a “wet” rope, as is more common in Japan than Australia.

We sell both rope wax blend and oil which are based on what I have been taught by My Japanese friends, or you can use a good oil that doesn’t go rancid…Camellia Oil is best, Jojoba would be another recommendation if you have some already, and I have heard good reports about coconut oil). Don’t use cooking oils.