How long is your VT?

[KentuckySawyer]

I just received some 3/8ths tenex today that I ordered so I could try the VT. For the past couple years I've been using the Distel.
I'm climbing on a piece of 1/2 Blue Streak and I'm about 190lbs.

How long should I cut the tenex, including the cordage for my double fisherman's knots?

Another question... What do you guys think is a realistic lifespan for a climbing rope? On average of course. I've had this rope for over a year. No telling how long it had been stored prior to my possesion of it. I got it from an ex Asplundh employee. Said he "found" them.

 

[jamie]

found them

if he 'found them' ditch em....i wouldn't trust nowt that i never knew its history unless i trust the person who uses it.

jamie

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

if he 'found them' ditch em....i wouldn't trust nowt that i never knew its history unless i trust the person who uses it.

What he said! The rule of thumb for a working rope with no visible wear is 2 years. The though is that the general wear and tear will have worn the inner fibers enough to degrade it.

I really don't know since mine never survive that long. I usua put a big enough nick or carmelized the cover enough that they get turned into tag lines and burn ropes.

The longest I can remember in the past several years is around 19 months. Many people keep dadt cards on their ropes so they know when they were first put into service and each time they were seriously inspected. They look good if your underwriter ever looks at your operation.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Okay, let me rephrase that.

If I were to order a new piece of Samson Yellow Jacket tomorrow, how much 3/8ths tenex should I try between the double fishermen to tie the VT?

51"?

 

[TreeJunkie]

45"" is what i use but rather than using tenex try bee line from Oklahoma arb supply. I've been a sta-set faithfull for a long time but about a month ago i started on the new bee line and i'ts been really great so far.

 

[NickfromWI]

Bee line....mmmmm, yummmmy.

love
nick

 

[NickfromWI]

Here's a pic of my gear drying after today's rain. Top left corner is some old Bee Line. I got this about a year and half ago.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Okay, let me rephrase that.

If I were to order a new piece of Samson Yellow Jacket tomorrow, how much 3/8ths tenex should I try between the double fishermen to tie the VT?

51"?

Why would you buy Yellow Jacket when you can buy Blaze at the same place, at nearly the same price? Plus, why would you buy tenex for a VT, when you are not splicing the eyes, or are you? In which case, why would you splice eyes, when you are tying a VT? Kinda hard to adjust the length on a spliced eye, isn't it?
Buy the Blaze.
For a friction cord, buy a 30 or 40 foot hank of HRC or Ultra Tech @ 5/16". You'll have enough to make a few extra Prussic cords.
Stay away from 12 strand.
Start with a long piece and tie it up. If it's too loose, shorten it up. If it's too tight, lengthen it. If it's perfect, don't change it.
Do leave long tails. That way, if things change, you have room to adjust. The minimum tail should be at least 4 times the diameter of the rope.

 

[NickfromWI]

I agree with mike about the tenex. It's a soft rope. Only the treespyder likes it for the friction hitch. Though it's good spliced once you get your length dialed.

Double-braids are the way to go for hitch cords. They stay round. (I also use a small vectran single braid, but it's spliced so theres a tail inside that makes and keeps it round)

love
nick

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Why would you buy Yellow Jacket when you can buy Blaze at the same place, at nearly the same price? Plus, why would you buy tenex for a VT, when you are not splicing the eyes, or are you? In which case, why would you splice eyes, when you are tying a VT? Kinda hard to adjust the length on a spliced eye, isn't it?
Buy the Blaze.
For a friction cord, buy a 30 or 40 foot hank of HRC or Ultra Tech @ 5/16".

Why do you prefer the Blaze over Yellow Jacket?

I bought tenex because its relatively cheap, but I do prefer ultra tech for a hitch.

If you know the length you need, why wouldn't you splice the ends? Those double fisherman's knots get so bulky on a carabiner.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Here's a pic of my gear drying after today's rain. Top left corner is some old Bee Line. I got this about a year and half ago.

Have you been climbing with that bee line for a year and a half? Thats pretty impressive. Tenex lasts me maybe a month and ultra tech probably 3-4 months.

 

[Ax-man]

Kentucky, I agree with you that those double fisherman's are bulky and pain in the rear at times, but they improve the action of hitch for grabbing the host line better than spliced ends. The knots spread the braids at the bottom of the hitch more, the spliced eyes streamline the hitch more and it won't grab as good and you have to mind the hitch more.

I was using Tennex with spliced eyes for a VT, darn near fell out of the tree I was working in, first reaction was to forget this set-up. I tried a VT again only with the different cords like Sta- Set, Ultra-Tech, Stable Braid and a few others. Much better using those dbl fish knots. I never tried Tennex with the dbl fisherman's so I can't say if this set-up is better than using those other cords for a VT. I personally am not a big fan of Tennex for a friction hitch.

Larry

 

[mikecross23]

I use new england sta-set 8mm. I buy 100' at a time and 2 or 3 hours later I have a butt load of hitch cords cut tied and ready to burn up. I like my V.T. close and short so the cord gets cut into 47" pieces and then tied. It's almost too short for a larger diameter climbing rope but I'm hooked on the Blaze which is smaller diameter.

I burn through hitches real fast. Last week i was setting the crane straps on a wide spreading oak and just burnin' down as fast as I could before the other climber made the cuts. One fast rappel. . . One trashed hitch. I went through 5 cords that day but it was worth the fun! Hitch cords are a dime a dozen, why waste time splicing them when you can tie'em and waste them.

Usually I get a few days out of a hitch before I retire it, maybe a week.

I re-read this post and maybe I should use that thing on the back of my saddle more often. You know the fig 8.

-Mike-

 

[tophopper]

If you know the length you need, why wouldn't you splice the ends? Those double fisherman's knots get so bulky on a carabiner.

I terminate everthing to the same carabiner and double fishermans are not a problem for me. The problem with using spliced eye tres cord (even if you do dial in the perfect length) the splice area above the eyes are stiffer and depending on what hitch you tie and how close, it will effect the performance to some degree.
Also why, splice such a high wear item?

Heres a pic of my hitch set up- vt variation, tied with HRC.
I can get 2-3 months per tres.

 

[jamie]

terminations

everything ends on the same krab.

my problem is (i use ISC mongooses) is that the fishermans closest to the spine of the krab always ends up sliding down, that and when the pully is there it takes up tones of space, again i have an isc pully.

top hopper im assuming the band is to stop the knots sliding?

jamie

 

[tophopper]

top hopper im assuming the band is to stop the knots sliding?

jamie

Yes!

 

[Ax-man]

Top,

Correct me if I'm wrong on this, but aren't you suppose to have a carabiner for each side in a split tail system. One for the working and another one for the standing side.

Larry

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Top,

Correct me if I'm wrong on this, but aren't you suppose to have a carabiner for each side in a split tail system. One for the working and another one for the standing side.

Larry

This is an interesting point. I tried the single 'biner route and found that I like the weight of the 'biner on the standing end for the occasional rope throw.

 

[Jim1NZ]

This is an interesting point. I tried the single 'biner route and found that I like the weight of the 'biner on the standing end for the occasional rope throw.

Its not the best to be throwing your climbing carabinas around the tree,

For one, constant impacts on the carabina increases wear, is hard on the gate and increases the chance of hair-line fractures that you might not see.

Seciondly its way too easy to get the bina stuck in a tight crotch.

I use 10 mm double braid on my French prussic that is about 60cm long with the knots already tied.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Its not the best to be throwing your climbing carabinas around the tree,

For one, constant impacts on the carabina increases wear, is hard on the gate and increases the chance of hair-line fractures that you might not see.

Seciondly its way too easy to get the bina stuck in a tight crotch.

I use 10 mm double braid on my French prussic that is about 60cm long with the knots already tied.

All good points. I am only talking about a 5 to 10 ft. throw. Is that considered too much?