Top (tool)

A top (also called a rope wrench, rope separator or rope tool) is a tool used in the manufacture of laid rope. The top is used to prevent the strands of a rope twisting together prematurely, which would lead to the rope being loose, allowing it to untwist. The amount of pressure applied to the top determines the stiffness of the final product; more pressure forces the strands together more tightly, making a rope that is harder to bend.
Tops come in a variety of forms for use on different types of rope. The simplest is a forked stick, used to create three strand rope, however more elaborate grooved bullet-shaped and cast iron types are available. Depending on the gauge of rope being made, the top can either be handheld or mounted on a trolley that moves along the ropewalk.