A very quick, temporary measure to stop a rope’s end fraying further is to bind it with adhesive tape. It is surprisingly effective but must be regarded solely as a stop gap measure.
A very tidy modern method of finishing an end is to fit a heat shrink plastic sleeve. These sleeves fit loosely over the rope’s end until they are heated in a flame. The heat shrinks the plastic so that the sleeve grips tightly onto the rope.
Perhaps the commonest way to deal with a synthetic rope’s end these days is to melt it in a flame so that the fibres seal together. A neat end is not all that easy to achieve as it must be moulded into shape without allowing it to stick to and burn your fingers. Try binding the end with paper, cutting through to neaten it and then putting it in a flame with the paper holding the strands together. Alternatively, melt the end, well wet your fingers and pinch it into shape. A hot knife blade may also be used.
There is also a liquid sealer called Dip-It Whip-It. Simply dip the rope’s end in the liquid, let it dry and the end is sealed against fraying.
Alternatives to whipping the end of a rope include the use of electrician’s tape, heat sealing, and heat shrink sleeves
