Kinky Geeks front-page.
Rope bondage is not safe, it is considered “edge” play. Whoever is getting tied is in danger of many very real dangers to their health, from falling and breaking their teeth to nerve compression damage that can loose them their mobility and sensation in a limb.
Please do your own due diligence and take all of these resources as ways expand on a solid base of understanding. If possible in person lessons from professionals is highly recommend.
Always have a method to get your bottom out from the rope as fast as possible, note this not always requires cutting the rope but have safety sears or a rope knife at hand. I also recommend a Merlin spike for jammed knots.
I’ve taken to wearing a fanny pack around my waist with all my tools in it when I tie.
A little talked about problem from rope tops is what Andrea from La Cordes call “riggers index” or riggers finger, where a rope tops index finger/s experience pain from the repetitive motion of pulling rope with them.
Apply cold, rest and possibly take a medicine like Aleve or Advil to help with the inflammation. Gentle movement to help blood flow can be done but no hard stretching as that might irritate the condition.
Stretching the hands and warming them up by massaging them with oil before tying can help mitigate the appearance of this condition.
Personally I also try and alternate which fingers I use for pulling to try and help distribute the impact.
Local distributors will most of the time trump or match anything online so buy local if you can.
Regular maintenance of rope will reduce the likelihood of a rope failing or having something go wrong with it as well as extend its life time.
My preferred maintenance routine is:
I have also heard people mix oil and wax to make a paste after which they take a handful and throw it in a dryer for a cycle to save them time oiling/waxing, never have done this though.