Setup

• Model weight; 58-60kg
• My weight; 85-90kg
• Tie; 2 rope TK + single column tie around the legs, model being on the side. Legs being slightly suspended over ground to quickly put all weight on the main line.
• Rope-Under-Test (RUT) attachment; Y-connector at top and bottom TK wrap, up to the ring, down through the bite, up to the ring again and into my hands.
• Ring; 4cm wooden ring, 1.5m above ground.
• Test; Me drop lifting with all my weight into RUT making it the main line and putting the model into full side suspension.

Rope-Under-Test (RUT)

• 6mm Asanawa Tossa Lite from Esinem; well used but in good shape, oiled and waxed, roughly one year old. Personal reflection; light rope with hard twist. My own.
• 6mm Jute from Osada Steve; well used but in good shape, oiled and waxed, roughly 2 years old. Personal reflection; light rope with light twist. Contributed by enix.
• 6mm Jute with raycon from MoonlightShadow; well used but in good shape, oiled and waxed(?), roughly 2 years old. Personal reflection; heavier rope with medium twist. Contributed by MoonlightShadow.

All three ropes felt very similar in condition and use but was built in different ways. All ropes was folded once in the middle to create the bite and the traditional shibari way of tying.

Test 1; 6mm Asanawa Tossa Lite from Esinem

• Broke on the third lift
• Each lift added heavy wear and tear
• Broke on the part that runs in the bite; not at the bite as I expected
• Broke with the model only a few centimetres above ground

Test 2; 6mm Jute from Osada Steve

• Broke on the sixth lift
• Each lift added heavy wear and tear
• Broke at the part that runs in the bite; not at the bite as I expected
• Broke with the model only a few centimetres above ground

Test 3; 6mm Jute with raycon from MoonlightShadow

• Broke on the tenth lift
• Each lift added heavy wear and tear
• Broke at the bite
• Broke with the model only a few centimeters above ground
• After last successful lift the suspension was held only by three cords of rayon

Test 4; 6mm Jute from Osada Steve with carabiner

• Used a carabiner in the bite; instead of rope against rope
• Not the same rope as in Test 2
• Didn’t break on ten lifts
• Slight wear and tear each time
• Added burn marks to the ring

My Conclusions

• Rope-on-rope friction played a bigger part the pure rope strength
• Wear and tear is very visible for these kind of breaks
• Don’t drop lift without a carabiner and if you do check the rope before and after