Chafe Guards, Great price

[terryj5]

Tubular nylon webbing, rock climbers use it. 7K break strength, meaningless for a chafe guard but gives an indication of toughness. At $0.35/ft, worst case, use it until you find something better. Note that it is 1" wide flat, squeezed into a tube it's about 5/8" I.D. Seems to slide back and forth on the line well enough and does not bunch up or take up much room. I put on 2, 5' sections. Any local rock climbing shop should have it, picked mine up at Sportsman’s Warehouse.

http://www.rei.com/category/4500700

[Gerdo]

You want tubular webbing. The 1" fits over 3/8" synthetic rope great. It's a little tight where you splice an eye in, but it does work.

The best way to keep it from fraying is to cut your length, slide a screwdriver or something inside the tube and melt the end cut with a propane torch.

I've been using it for years and it holds up well.

[terryj5]

Great that you have had some long term success. For the ends I stuck a 3/8" socket extension into the "tube", hit the end with a lighter then quickly slid it against the flared end of the extension. The result is a nice stiff fused ring, kinda looks like the dumb end of a condom.

[NorcalPR]

Great idea! I use webbing all the time but the ends are always melted together. Would have never thought of using it for a chafe guard.

[terryj5]

Great idea! I use webbing all the time but the ends are always melted together. Would have never thought of using it for a chafe guard.

You are actually the one who initiated it. That rock climbing vid you posted in Jamie's recovery equipment thread got me thinking, "I wonder what they use to protect their ropes?” I guess they use the webbing for other stuff and I never did find out how they protect against chafing. Maybe there is something even better?

[NorcalPR]

I don't know, but I can tell you that the nylon straps hold up to a lot of abuse. I use it all the time when I need to run a rope to a anchor. I don't think I have a nylon strap that is cut up and I'm pretty hard on them!

I do have one though that is weather beaten by the sun. But for how much these things cost, it's a item that can be easily replaced. If it were me I would put a pipe in the webbing and melt the ends do they don't unthread. Thhe pipe would hold the end round...

[yukon]

If you go to a proper climbing shop, we use a rope cutter that melts the ends for you, and will be more htan happy to cut whatever lengths you'd want. Comes in all sorts of pretty colors too.

[NorcalPR]

Doesn't the rope cutter melt the ends when it is flat though?

[head]

I just spent a good hour looking on the web for chafe guards. (should have searched the forum first) I never even thought to use the nylon webbing. Thanks guys.