The treatment of jute ropes for Shibari is similar to politics, everyone has their own opinion and no one has the absolute truth…. However, after contrasting with many knotters and doing experiments with my own ropes, I have drawn some very useful conclusions . With these tips our jute ropes will look nice and healthy for a long time.
We will start by debunking some myths about the treatment of strings.
Myth 1. Like Gremlings, jute ropes cannot get wet.
Although it is not recommended to do it every day, if they get wet, absolutely nothing happens. In fact, to soften one of my first string kits, a good friend recommended me to put them in the dishwasher for half an hour rolled in zig zag. Those strings were spectacular and I still keep them. That if, after wetting them
I have also had the pleasure of practicing water bondage. After tying and soaking the model the ropes remained usable for a long time. (Note: If you practice water bondage you should keep in mind that the ropes get tighter on themselves and then it is much more difficult to untie them. Always have safety scissors handy just in case!)
Myth 2. The ropes must be waxed.
Theoretically it allows to “waterproof them and give them shine”. The reality is that even when using special waxes, the strings remain somewhat pasty, the fluidity is ruined and they also become a perfect magnet for dirt.
Myth 3. Organic oils are best for ropes
Relatively recently, before I started selling strings, I bought some wonderful strings online. In that store they recommended organic oils to treat them because according to them “they are more natural, just like the fibers”. WRONG! It’s not that the strings didn’t look good, they did, but they took on an unbearable musty smell. In fact with time I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t stand the smell anymore and even at the risk of ruining them I washed them with laundry detergent (I had to remove the oil, a greasy element, and it wasn’t enough just to rinse them). So I left them to soak for a while and managed to eliminate the odor almost completely. Lesson learned.
To keep your ropes looking healthy, we recommend some tips that will help your ropes and ties look impeccable.
Tip 1. Use mineral oils.
They’re just as effective, odorless and cheaper, too. A brand you can find everywhere? Jhonson’s Baby, plus the aloevera version smells great (and it’s still not organic).
Tip 2. Tie a lot.
By tying you will reduce the initial stiffness of the ropes. With use, they will gain flexibility and softness.
Tip 3. Do not leave the ropes packed for a long time.
In this way you will avoid deformities. If you are going to spend more than one or two months without tying, it is best to leave them knotted more loosely than usual, otherwise it will be difficult to completely eliminate the shape with which they were packed.
Tip 4. Like good wine, keep them in a suitable place.
When you are not using them, try to leave them in a cool place, without pressing them too firmly and without them suffering the inclemency of the weather. The humidity or dryness of the environment are very influential factors for the conservation of the ropes!
Soften new ropes with the most intensive tasks.
Depending on your level as a rigger you may do semi-suspensions or even suspensions. Use the new ropes for the lifelines (the central ones). In this way they will pick up speed by themselves, and you will be able to use the softer ones on the body of your model, and they are safer because they are newer!
Tip 6. Do not perform the treatment only at the beginning.
If you notice that your strings have a few extra hairs, or after a couple of uses they have regrown some hairs, you can burn those protruding strands again. If you notice that they are especially dry, oil them again. If for whatever reason they pick up dirt, wipe them with a damp cloth to capture the outermost layer. Feel your strings and take care of them every day.
Feed your strings with the sweat, skin and “fluids” of your models.
Okay, maybe you shouldn’t take this point literally, but it’s true that the strings become charged with vital essence as you tie them. Eventually you’ll grow fond of them, they’ll have sentimental value, and you’ll hate to lend them out. “My strings are mine!”.
Tip 8. Experiment.
Question everything I am telling you here. What works for some people may not work for others. Some foolish people (a little kiss for them!) even prefer hemp to jute :).
Check your strings from time to time.
No matter how much we extend their useful life, sometimes we have to retire ropes. If we tie frequently at a normal level, they usually last two years or even more, but with use, some fibers may break, lose consistency and therefore end up being dangerous. Especially if you do suspensions, do not hesitate to
Tip 10. Choose your packaging wisely.
Again, it is a very personal matter. There are many variants, each with its pros and cons. But above all keep in mind what you prefer. If practicality when using and releasing them during your tying or less aggressive packing with less pressure that although they make tying more difficult, they allow you to have more uniform ropes without deformations.