Stair ropes, bannister rope, rope handrails and barrier ropes, made to measure in the UK by StairRopes.com

Knots

The integral knot is the key to a safe stair or bannister rope. The security of a stair rope bannister is dependent on the end knot being made from the strands of the same length of rope.

Manrope knots are traditional end knots, tied by hand using the unlaid strands of the rope. On ships, these knots ended the manropes which bordered the gangway. See how this knot is tied HERE.

A stair rope or bannister rope finished with a properly tied knot (or splice - see below), which uses the strands of the same rope, provides a different function from a decorative BARRIER ROPE which will give minimal weight bearing capacity. Substituting this technique by sewing or glueing a decorative end to a stair rope is not good practice.

Leather Star washers can be fitted as an optional extra; they provide an attractive backing to conceal the cut ends of the rope at the back of the knot, and also guard against chafing in heavy use.

An alternative ending

An eye-splice will fit neatly into a tricky place, with the advantage of allowing the rope to be run in any direction from the wall or fitting.

An Eye-splice may be used as a secure alternative rope ending on a handrail in certain situations where it is not possible to use the manrope end knot - for example, where the edge of the wall is too close, or if a stair rope or bannister rope needs to be run between the inside edges of newel posts.

The Eye-splice with Turks Head whipping (shown right) on a stair rope was a solution for a tight space. The purpose made fitting on the hemp stair rope has the eye ring welded directly to the base plate - i.e. with no post.

The Sailor's Eye splice is a loop made in the same length of rope and joined to itself: the strands at the rope end are unlaid and tucked over and under each other back along the length of the rope. At the same time they are pulled through and worked tidily along the lay.

The image on the left shows an eye splice tied into the end of a 24mm natural hemp rope around a wrought iron fitting, with the cut strands left visible. The strength of the splice relies on the skill of the knotter in the working of these strands, which when under tension will lock together and absorb any movement in the rope.
For more information and images on Eye-Splices and knots see our 'Working with Ropes' page.

The Turks Head is a traditional sailor's knot used here as a decorative whipping or sleeve to cover the cut ends of the splice. Formed from a single length of cord, the turks head is woven and gradually worked tight to form a secure binding.

Eye splices for stair ropes are available to order with or without Turks head whippings.

The picture on the right shows a stair rope in 24mm cotton, with gunmetal finished iron fittings - the eyesplice end was finished using a turks head whipping in 4mm cotton cord.

Detail of an Eye-splice below, tied into a 24mm manila stair rope, and attached to a modified brushed steel fitting. The Turks Head whipping was made using 3mm hemp cord.