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Ok, the West Marine in Michigan City has closed it's doors.

Used to get all my ropes "burned" there so they wouldn't fray/unravel.

I know about liquid rope end thingys.

Is there a cigarette lighter something that I can use?

Do you have a soldering iron? The large, gun type? You can just use one of the shanks, or make a 'knife' from a length of 8 or 10 gauge copper wire (solid), and hammer it thin for a cutting edge.

For the bigger ropes I use my alcohol stove

Yep stove in the boat does a good job, just be careful of the fumes, burn with the hatch open or in a well ventilated area, I use a slightly damp microfiber cloth for extinguishing and moulding the end of the rope to a nice rounded shape while its still hot

Bic lighter works wonders.

Be a real sailor, whip it

Or if you are lazy like me, my butane soldering iron has a hot knife attachment

Bic lighter works wonders

That is what I use. You can clean off/shape the end of the rope with the end of the Bic lighter when the rope end is still hot, and it makes a nice round end.

Sailors have skills that separate them from ordinary "boaters"

Learn how to whip your line ends

I love my splicing fids and try to use those for everything (that is double braid anyway) rope end butt splices included. Sure makes a nicer more hand friendly finish. Looks good too!

cptron wrote:Bic lighter works wonders.

or one of those long nose bic BBQ lighter,s

J

kadet wrote:my butane soldering iron has a hot knife attachment

This is what I use also...Works great

Yeah, that might be what West marine used....guess I'll go the lighter route.

extreem wrote:

kadet wrote:my butane soldering iron has a hot knife attachment

This is what I use also...Works great

Found this - looks promising

https://smile.amazon.com/Novelty-WaresT ... hter&psc=1

dlandersson wrote:Yeah, that might be what West marine used....guess I'll go the lighter route.

extreem wrote:

kadet wrote:my butane soldering iron has a hot knife attachment

This is what I use also...Works great

I usually use my little butane heat gun. It uses a refillable lighter cartridge (a lighter without the flint). Small and controllable melting without actually burning.
Same thing i use for heat shrink tubing and electrical conns.

Ancient sailors proverb:

He who burns rope at both ends must be careful not to make ash of self.