Replies

1. 
   Tim | Oct 13, 2010 02:33pm | #1

   The only thing

   I can think of is glycerin. Not real familiar with this myself, by a mixture of glycerine and water, I believe, is used to make caning material more softer and pliable during the working/weaving phase of making a chair seat.

2. 
   JTC1 | Oct 13, 2010 05:24pm | #2

   I assume the rope is manila or hemp.

   Don't charge in on this advice, but natural fiber ropes are treated with some oil (linseed?) at manufacture.  However a check online at e-how says to saturate a rag with jojoba oil and rub the rag the length of the rope several times.

   Not exactly sure where to look for jojoba oil, it is actually a liquid wax used in cosmetics as a whale oil replacement

   I would check with a museum conservator -- probably any local museum could provide a reliable answer or at least tell you where to look on the web.

   Jim

3. 
   DanH | Oct 13, 2010 09:15pm | #3

   Of course, any treatment you use, particularly an oil, will tend to change the color of the rope (probably make it darker).

   (If I had a small piece to do I'd use butt butter on it, but that stuff's too expensive for a large piece.)

4. 
   Scott | Oct 14, 2010 01:10pm | #4

   Whatever you do, be aware of the possibility of spontaneous combustion, especially with linseed oil, when fibrous materials are piled up in a closed environment.

1. 
   DanH | Oct 14, 2010 06:49pm | #5

   Yeah, it might be safer just to go ahead and smoke it now, rather than risk spontaneous combustion.

5. 
   MarkH | Oct 14, 2010 09:33pm | #6

   I'd consider hemp oil, plus you can eat the leftover oil. It sells on Amazon.com and at your local health food stores.

6. 
   BilljustBill | Oct 19, 2010 11:20pm | #7

   Thanks for your ideas

   I'll look for some type of oil treatment.  Those old wooden dual pulley housings on the top and bottom of the loops of rope sure appear to have had a history behind them. 

   Thanks again,

   Bill