How often do you replace your climbing line?

[logantree]

I was just wondering how often you replace your climbing line? I probably replace mine too often, but I figure it's a small price to pay for piece of mind.

 

[scott t]

replace mine two to three times a year but you said it right for a piece of mind.You never know who spills something on it either .

 

[Dadatwins]

From Don Blair's book on Arborist Equipment, "the best time to retire your rope is before it breaks" That said, different usage, storage, maintainence, line type and design all different factors in the decision to replace.

 

[Dadatwins]

You never know who spills something on it either .

Keep it in a bag and locked up, this is your lifeline, it should not be in an environment that something CAN be spilled on it.

 

[scott t]

Keep it in a bag and locked up, this is your lifeline, it should not be in an environment that something CAN be spilled on it.

so you never had a gas cap come off and get on your rope while climbing,and they are put in bags you just never know with some groundies

 

[logantree]

Keep it in a bag and locked up, this is your lifeline, it should not be in an environment that something CAN be spilled on it.

I keep mine in a bag, in my climbing box. I don't let anyone use my rope, or any of MY climbing gear. I'm not a big fan of community climbing gear.

I don't have a certain time frame that I replace my climbing line, I just go by the way it looks, how much I've used it, etc. If I start to get a few snags in it that really bother me, I replace it. I figure $130.00 a few times a year isn't too bad for piece of mind.

 

[Dadatwins]

I keep mine in a bag, in my climbing box. I don't let anyone use my rope, or any of MY climbing gear. I'm not a big fan of community climbing gear.

I don't have a certain time frame that I replace my climbing line, I just go by the way it looks, how much I've used it, etc. If I start to get a few snags in it that really bother me, I replace it. I figure $130.00 a few times a year isn't too bad for piece of mind.

Exactly

 

[TreeTopKid]

so you never had a gas cap come off and get on your rope while climbing,and they are put in bags you just never know with some groundies

When ever it is required. More to do with wear than age. I've got a 10 year old Cousin Trestel that is still in mint condition, and I still use. On the other hand last month I decommissioned a 6 week old line that I wrecked.

 

[Nailsbeats]

Nicks, cuts, and snags usually retire mine or shorten it before wear is a factor. Though I do have 2 120' lines that have been climbed on and then rigged on with natural crotches for years that I can't seem to shorten or kill.

 

[treeclimber101]

Nicks, cuts, and snags usually retire mine or shorten it before wear is a factor. Though I do have 2 120' lines that have been climbed on and then rigged on with natural crotches for years that I can't seem to shorten or kill.

i'm a fat :censored: so i glaze mine from ripping to the ground that's fun so mine gets done like twice a year or when i see a few saw nicks that are questionable . i often use a false crotch to keep out dirt the rope shouldn't really touch the tree and pin sap that sucks to get pine sap als i use a green barrel to keep it out of the dirt.theres like a 10 thousands grains of sand in a teaspoon of dirt . sand cut everthing

 

[treeclimber101]

does anyone share lines with anyone , where i worked before climbing lines were company property and were often used by two climbers and i never had a problem with line damage .

 

[scott t]

No we all have our own gear never share you dont know where it has been or what it has been used for.

 

[md_tree_dood]

I replace mine about once a year, but my rope is really expensive, if I was climbing on a cheaper line I'd probably shoot for 9 months or so.

 

[tomtrees58]

From Don Blair's book on Arborist Equipment, "the best time to retire your rope is before it breaks" That said, different usage, storage, maintenance, line type and design all different factors in the decision to replace.

yes about 6 months or sooner and don is a good friend of mine tom trees

 

[Mikecutstrees]

This sorta relates to retiring a line so. I washed a 1/2" lowering line and a climbing line a few months ago. Came out awesome. The water was black. I just washed it without detergent. I'm sure it gets alot of grit and dirt out of the line and helps to extend it's life. I just doubled the entire rope, daisy chained the whole thing and threw it in the machine. I think I actually washed it twice. Just thought I'd pass the tip on..... Mike

 

[Raymond]

As needed :crazy1:

 

[outofmytree]

I am still climbing on my 20 metre line which has somehow shrunk to 12 metres. Perhaps it is the washing that shrank it?? Or perhaps the bonehead who nicks it with the saw occasionally. Use a 40 metre for the decent climbs and have a new 60 metre on order.

All our rope is stored seperately from everything else and the retard who spilled fuel even close to my lifeline would be walking home whilst filling out his/her unemployment form.

I wash mine in warm water and a neutral surfactant. Even 3 monthly washes still produce a nasty black residue. Damn those pine trees!!!! Always a good idea to soak then for an hour or so in clean water to get out any detergent residue before you hang em out to dry in a shady spot.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I usually cut or nick them well before they need wear replacing.

 

[arbor pro]

Two questions from a bucket baby who climbs only a handful of times a year:

First, I keep my climbing gear stowed until needed in a water-proof duffle. Is there a certain age when a climbing line should be replaced even if it still looks like new?

Second, I'm just curious and not trying to criticize anyone but, how do you guys manage to nick your climbing lines so often that they need replacement before they wear out? Do you have the same problem with cutting lanyards? Are they hand saw nicks or chain saw nicks?...one seems much more precarious than the other. Again, I'm just curious, not criticizing. I've just never nicked a climbing line in the 24 some years that I've done tree work but, then again, I've probably done less climbing in that 20 years than most of you do in a single month.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Second, I'm just curious and not trying to criticize anyone but, how do you guys manage to nick your climbing lines so often that they need replacement before they wear out? Do you have the same problem with cutting lanyards?

Yes

Are they hand saw nicks or chain saw nicks?

Yes and yes

...one seems much more precarious than the other.

Not really, most of my chainsaw nicks are from getting caught on the sharp cutters of a hanging saw. Picks tend to cut through and I get a lot of them.

Again, I'm just curious, not criticizing. I've just never nicked a climbing line in the 24 some years that I've done tree work but, then again, I've probably done less climbing in that 20 years than most of you do in a single month.

I also will frequently gaff into the line when moving around a removal.

Even after moving my handsaw to my ankle, I still will nick my ropes when moving it to and from the scabbard. Also the same follow through that can get a knuckle will get my lanyard from time to time.

Re crotching and using a saw, dropping a saw out of the tree, there are so many ways I have botched up a rope. I've even burned a few descending.

If I climb 200 days out of the year, most of it on one rope, and I have a 1% accident rate that will cause degradation of the rope, I go through 2 ropes a year.

Also, I probably am a bit more conservative as to what will cause a downgrade of a $120 rope. What is a $300 budget for something so important?