Hemp rope is available "Raw" or "Finished"

"Raw" hemp rope is very stiff and rough. It needs to be properly broken in before using it for erotic bondage. Raw rope has coarse fibers that can splinter into your bare hands if you rub them along the rope briskly. Finished rope is worked so it lays better when used in bondage and the risk of any splinters from the fibers is minimized. Finished hemp rope has a feel very much like your favorite wool sweater. The process involves working the rope, removing the "fuzz", and treating the rope with a touch of natural animal oil. The oil mats the surface of the rope and makes working the rope easier on your hands.

The rope is twisted and the ends are finished with whippings to prevent unraveling. Our "Raw" rope does not have finished ends. The finished rope has hemp string whippings. We have hemp string available at a modest cost if you wish to tie your own whippings on the raw rope. All whippings are done in your choice of natural colored hemp or the following colors: black, dark green, grayish blue, dark blue, gray, and maroon. Please specify with your order if you desire natural or colored hemp string whippings.

Hemp Rope Finishing Raw Rope Instruction Sheet

Finishing “Raw” hemp rope is a process that takes a fair amount of time to do correctly. When you complete the process you will have a piece of rope that feels very similar to a sensual, albeit scratchy, Shetland wool sweater when it rubs across the skin.  You will also have a relationship to your rope and your partner that no amount of money can buy.  Having presence of mind in bondage begins with the patience born of "knowing" your rope.

The process to finish rope includes the following steps:

Finishing rope dry method

1. Cut to desired length and whip the ends.
2. Run a canvas cloth along the rope in both directions several times.
3. Larks head the middle bite around a pole and tie a chain knot or a Chain of slipknots the length of the rope.
4. Twist the rope tight clockwise and pull on the chain.
5. Repeat counterclockwise, and untie the chain.
6. Rub the canvas again as in step two.
7. Bunch the rope up in a ball and squeeze repeatedly rubbing the rope against itself.
8. Burn off the fuzzies with an open flame like a gas stove burner or an alcohol lamp.  DO NOT use a kerosene lamp or candles for this process. Move the rope quickly so as not to burn the actual rope. Use adequate cross ventilation.
9. Using a piece of damp canvas wipe the length of the rope to remove any residual soot.
10. Hang the rope loosely and allow it to dry in the open air over night.
11. (optional) Apply a small amount of natural animal oil, like mink oil. Make certain that it is a  pure oil and contains no petrochemicals or synthetic additives. I put a small amount of the oil on my hands and work it into the rope. I also use a oiled canvas cloth to work it in. Care needs to be taken not to saturate any part of the rope with oil.
12. Wipe off any excess oil with a piece of dry canvas cloth.
13. Allow the rope to rest over night in a well ventilated place; two or three days is even better.
14. One last rubbing of the rope with a dry canvas cloth gives it a nice sheen and completes the meditation.

Details

Cutting the rope to length. If you purchased rope in lengths longer than 25 feet you will want to cut your rope into more manageable lengths for use. To do this measure your rope and then wrap it with a short strip of 1 inch masking tape. Approximately 3mm beyond the first piece of tape wrap another short strip and then simply cut between the tape segments. This serves two purposes; the first is to cut the rope. The second is to leave an end on the rope that holds it tight while you work the rope and finish the ends with whippings.

Whippings. Place the whippings just above the taped ends of the rope and when they are complete remove the tape from the ends and gently fray the ends out so they are soft. Some people color-code their whippings so that they can identify a rope's length by color. Others do simple beadwork on their whippings to make the whippings more decorative. The key to whippings is that they remain tight on the rope so that they do not pull off during play.

Make a chain and twist. The second step serves the purpose of exposing all the rough and/or broken pieces of hemp in the rope. To complete this process you will make a chain knot out of your length of rope. You can do this as a free chain, i.e., one that you can twist with another person or one that you can simply place over a doorknob. Additionally you can do this as a fixed chain that you attach to a stationary object to twist (clothesline pole, 2x4 upright on the patio, etc) against. First, double the rope a little off center and then make it into a chain. Once the chain is complete you will hold the lose end(s) and twist the chain until it becomes very tight and then pull it lightly stretching out the tight chain. When this is complete undo the chain and proceed to step 3.

Rubbing the Canvas. Cut a small square (approx. 6 inches) of canvas or other very heavy coarse fabric. Place the canvas on the palm of your hand and beginning at one end of the rope pull the rope through the canvas with a very firm grip. This causes all the hairs on the rope to stand out and in the case of very rough hemp fibers will simply break them off.

Burning off Hemp Fuzzies warning: this procedure can potentially cause injuries to yourself, your rope and could start a fire in your home if not done with extreme care. To do this procedure you will need either a normal kitchen gas stove with the standard circular fire jets or a single burner camp stove that uses propane. To begin have your rope untangled and ready. Turn the burner on medium high. Holding a length (approx. 18 inches) of rope between your hands pass it over the flame at a height of about 6 inches. Move the rope swiftly; this process is to simply singe the single hairs that project out from the rope. Use great caution to avoid burning or otherwise damaging the rope. If you do burn the rope, you will need to cut that section out of the rope as it weakens the rope too much for further use. IF you do burn the rope drop it into some water to make sure you do not leave smoldering embers alive in the hemp fiber.

Second canvas rub. Repeat the same procedure as in step 3, this time use a very slightly damp piece of canvas to remove any little charred hemp hairs from the rope. Rub the rope twice, once in each direction.

Oiling the rope (Optional). Using natural animal oil, such as mink oil, place a very small amount (no more than the size of a quarter) on your hands and rub them together briefly. Then simply work this oil into the length of rope (this should oil a 25 ft length of rope very nicely). Precautions about animal oils - be sure that they do not contain neetsfoot oil with the petrochemical smell that is its trademark. Do not use vegetable oils as they go rancid quite easily and will eventually cause some rotting of the hemp fibers.