How to Make Braiding Rope Stronger

The strength of a rope is determined by the friction between the separate strands. A standard rope is generally made of three separate strands braided together.If you increase the number of strands this will increase the friction between the strands which will then increase the strength of the rope. You can accomplish this by braiding the three strands within themselves to create a six strand braided rope. The process known as back braiding or splicing, is fairly easy once you master the technique.

Things You'll Need

  • Rope
  • Scissors
  • Electrical Tape
  • Splicing Fid
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Instructions

  1. Instructions

    • 1

      Fold the full length of the rope in half and place a piece of electrical tape to mark the spot. The tape marks the spot where what is known as the working end of the rope will begin. From this point you will begin braiding the strands together to create six strands.

    • 2

      Unravel the non-working one end of the rope and separate into three strands. This will create right, center, left tail ends that you will braid into the working end you just created. Apply electrical tape to the all three tail ends to make it easy to pull ends through each loop in this process.

    • 3

      At the top of the working end unravel enough to separate the center strand and make a loop. Pull the center strand apart from the left and the right strands so that the center strand becomes the top of the loop and the right and the left strands become the bottom of the loop.

    • 4

      Take the center tail end and feed through the loop directly underneath the center strand of the working end. This will cause the left and the right strands of the working end to reposition to the sides of the center strand.

      Now take the left tail end and feed directly underneath the left strand of the working end. Then take the right tail end and feed directly underneath the right strand of the working end.

      The rope should now look like a partially peeled banana. So the tail ends should be on three opposite sides with the working end of the rope in the middle.

    • 5

      Continue the process using the over one and under one technique. Lay the center tail end over the next strand directly underneath the current position of the center tail end. Then feed the center tail end underneath the next strand directly underneath the new position of the center tail end. Pull tightly to keep the rope straight and not bunched up.

    • 6

      Now turn the rope counter clockwise to expose the right tail end and repeat the over one and under one technique. Then turn the rope counter clockwise again to expose the left tail end and repeat the over one and under one technique. Pull both tailed ends tightly to keep the rope straight and not bunched up.

    • 7

      Continue this process using this technique, remembering to turn the rope counter clockwise each time until you have reached the end of the working end end of the rope. Secure the strands of the back braided rope by first melting all the back braided ends of the rope with a lighter then wrap with electrical tape. Use scissors to cut off any excess rope strands or tailed ends.