This is a response email I got from a guy named Sean who had read my “What Kind Of Rope Is Best For Bondage” post. And you know what? I’m really impressed with the amount of work he put into his response.
I really enjoy interacting with those that comment on the blog. It’s a great opportunity to share knowledge and learn from others experience. There are so many of you out there with a lot to contribute, and I’ve learned from some of you already; which tells me that Rope Connections is doing what I created it to do, sharing and pooling knowledge so we can all develop our skills and enjoy rope and rope bondage together.
The reason why I’m putting this response into a post of its own is that I really feel this guy went the extra mile. He shared his story, his knowledge and experience, and some very practical information about the advantages of the rope he’s talking about, and where to get it.
Sean’s Contribution
“Mr Rigg(er)s:
Thanks for the comprehensive yet concise post. I periodically poke around the Internet looking for this kind of firsthand knowledge and yet you still taught me much.
My own rope history is a pretty simple one. To a fifteen year-old kid, cotton was perfect: cheap and available and inconspicuous (bought my first rolls at the dime store where I worked so I even got an employee discount!). At the time I was buying the stuff to tie myself up so I didn’t care much about aesthetic considerations. And yeah, I cursed myself more than once for tying the knots so tightly they were a bear to get out.
After I discovered bondage porn in college and suddenly got to see how other people did it, I found myself really liking the images in which the rigger used nylon rope: it was shiny and laid so well together, leading to very tidy ropework. I bought some off a 1/4” spool at Home Depot (braided, not twisted–never liked twisted rope for some reason) and started using it. It didn’t give as much as the cotton when under load so cinches stayed tighter. And I still liked the shine so much I started learning a lot about photography so I could shoot my own creations.
That basically decided it for me, and I used nylon in the bedroom for many years but never liked two things about it. Nylon heats up so quickly when pulled against skin (been on the giving and receiving end of those burns unfortunately). And it’s just too slippery; there’s not nearly enough tooth to hold simple knots so it led to some unwieldy finishes.
I tried the natural fibers every now and then, but not really enjoying picking hundreds of prickly fibers from the bed sheets and being told that the ropes were too scratchy for the tight ties I preferred, I haven’t used any in years. I’m thinking to order some premium jute though, based on your glowing review here.
On a lark, I bought the prepackaged stuff Home Depot sells under the sexy name “All-Purpose Clothesline”. It comes in 50 and 100 foot lengths, in both 3/16″ and 1/4″ diameters, for about $6.50 US for the 100 foot package (or about 21 percent of the cost of the jute from your example if I made my spreadsheet correctly). It would be even cheaper if available in rolls but haven’t found it offered yet. Construction is a polyester braid with a mixed synthetic core (polypropylene is the only other listed component).
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-16-in-x-100-ft-All-Purpose-Clothesline-in-White-14097/202048188
I have found the perfect rope! No conditioning was needed except for a few play sessions to loosen the braid slightly. The poly sheath is really soft and feels almost like a high quality cotton on the skin. It is crazy toothy; I get tangles all the time, because the stuff just loves to grip itself. I like to tie my partners quite tightly, to the limits of what they think they can take. The rope cinches so well in double column ties that it allows me to finish simply with a slipknot (of course out of reach of any inquisitive hands). I can tie the girls up exquisitely tight and still be able to free them in moments; in the five years I’ve used this rope, I’ve never once had to cut it off. Looser ties are still quite secure and I’ve had partners endure in this rope for extended bondage sessions. When wet, the rope does swell and ties become significantly tighter (I consider this a bonus as it can be loads of fun but you need to plan for it). To top it off, it dries well without load.
It’s not as shiny as the nylon, but tastes do change and that just isn’t that important to me any longer. It is so much more vital to be able to create simple yet inescapable ties and this has become a reality for me. Funny thing though: I really only like the 3/16″ product. For whatever reason (perhaps a different manufacturer?), the larger diameter rope seems too stiff and synthetic to the touch, it doesn’t lay well on the skin, the diameter is too large (1/4” is bulky to me). Funny how sometimes aesthetics are the only things that matter. ”
Sean, I wanted to say that this has been a thorough, detailed, and valuable contribution to the blog. I’ve never used that kind of rope, but I hope plenty of others read this and get the opportunity to try it out for themselves.
Thank you very much!
