Clothesline
A good clothesline must be strong, have low stretch to prevent sagging under the weight of wet clothes and be durable to withstand the elements and the constant travel over pulleys. Polyester offers the perfect combination of strength, low stretch and abrasion resistance. In some cases, where extra weather protection is required, a plastic coating can be placed over the rope.
Rope Selection Guide
| Polypropylene | Nylon | Polyester | Cotton | Manila/Sisal/Jute | Clothesline | |
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| Strength |  |
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| Shock Load Ability | |
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| Floats or Sinks in Water | Floats | Sinks | Sinks | Sinks | Sinks | Sinks |
| Melting Point | 330°F | 480°F | 500°F | Burns | Burns | 500°F |
| Abrasion Resistance | |
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| Resistance to Sunlight | |
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| Resistance to Rot and Mildew | |
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| Resistance to Oil and Gas | |
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| Flexing Endurance | |
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| Store Wet or Dry | Wet or Dry | Wet or Dry | Wet or Dry | Dry Only | Dry Only | Wet or Dry |
| Stretch Resistance | |
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Reference Chart
| Trade Size | Imperial Size |
| #3 | 3/32″ |
| #4 | 1/8″ |
| #4.5 | 9/64″ |
| #5 | 5/32″ |
| #6 | 3/16″ |
| #7 | 7/32″ |
| #8 | 1/4″ |
| #10 | 5/16″ |
| #12 | 3/8″ |
Rope Construction Guide
| Double Diamond Braid | Diamond Braid | Twisted | Smooth Braid | Hollow Core | |
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| Spliceable | |
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| Flexibility | |
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| Flattens Under Load | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Rotates Under Load | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Knot-Holding Ability | |
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Comparisons
| Solid Braid | = | Smooth Braid |
| Sash Cord | = | Cotton or Polypropylene Cord |
| Derby Rope | = | Solid/Smooth Braid Polypropylene |
| Double Braid is NOT the same as Diamond Braid | ||
| Seine Twine | = | Diamond Braid Twine |
| Mason’s Line | = | Twisted Twine |
| Maypole | = | Diamond Braid |