Huh, I never looked at this thread until a few minutes ago! I was missing out on a great discussion!
Here's my comments, FWIW...
Originally posted by RockyJSquirrel
... If the block is hanging on an eye sling, just how could you possibly side load it? ...
It happens. It's not supposed to. If you think about it in your head, it seems like it just can't. But trees aren't always ideal. Things can get in the way and mess things up!
I love the ISC pullies with the spring-lock system. In my mind, there are no others!
Originally posted by Mike Maas
If Tennex is a supperior product, why do you need chafe gaurd? Stable Braid has it built on, it called a sheath.
A question for you, how is Tennex supperior to Vectran, other than cheapness?
In Stable Braid and all double braid polyester lines, the cover is not necessarily for chafe guard, as Mike suggests. The strength of these lines is shared fifty percent by each the cover and the core. Damage to the cover could result in a 50% reduction in rope strength. BUT, it does protect the core from grit and UV rays. Single braids might have higher breaking strengths when new, but I wonder who wins after 6months use?
And careful with a lot of those high-modulus hollow braids like Validator 12, Vectrus, etc. These lines are often braided for strength which results in a softer rope whose strands are just BEGGING to get snagged on bark. Like above, these ropes can have much higher ABS's than Yalex or Tenex, but do they maintain their strength in the long run? Right now, I know of know manufacturer who makes a tight (chafe resistant) line out of high-modulus fibers. These lines don't perform as well in these tight braids, when compared to nylon and polyester.
Originally posted by Lumberjack
Can you make a loopie outa double braid?
Can a locking brumnel work on 16 strand? (From another thread that was never answered)
Yes, you CAN do both. But there's no reason too. More work and the results are not worth it. The locking brummell is a more SECURE splice than the standard bury splice for 16 strand. It is much weaker, however. In break-tests, the rope will fail signifigantly lower than the bury splice because in the bury splice, the strands settle in and work together to share the load. In a locking brummel, (in any kind of rope) the strands cannot adjust to the load. I've had locked brummells break at 92% breaking strength in Yalex. I wouldn't expect to get that high of strength retention in XTC, a much firmer rope.
One could justify the locked version of the Brummell in 16 strand because in what we use it for, security (likelihood of the thing not falling apart in use) is what we are looking for, not necessarily strength. I only know of one instance where a 16strand splice came undone (in braided safety blue split tail, done by New England's splicers, not me!). It can happen, apparently. Though the possibility of failure during normal use exists with the standard bury splice, I still prefer it to the few locked brummell versions I've tried. I insure againsts splice slippage by burying more pics before starting the taper. All manufacturers reccomend 5. I go at least 7 or 8. Depending on the firmness of the rope, I might go more. In some Buccanneer line, I've gone as much as 15. That's loose stuff!
And the double-braid loopie? Yeah, you can do it. It's a pain. See the pic. This one shows a whoopie with a little carabiner eye. It wasn't hard to make, but it is a bit tough to adjust. It's with Yale's Double Esterlon (their superior version of Stable Braid!).
Originally posted by rbtree
Additionally, I'm not sure, and will need to ask my supplier and/or Nick, if the aramid ropes require special splicing care, due to the slippery nature of the rope.
Yes, rb-wan, these ropes DO require special splicing care. In my experience, the supplier is not the one to ask. Ask the manufacturer. (Unless they are one in the same...then you're golden!)
Usually a bury splice with a much longer tail (usually 2-4 times what you'd see in polyester) is what is used. The Amsteel Blue splice doesn't do any of the crossing like you see in the Brummell or the Locking Brummell- they say just a straight bury. But talk to the makers of the rope and they should guide you in the right direction. Email me and I can help you, too.
Okay, I think that's all I have for now. Nice thread!
Oh, and TreeJunkie- I put my lanyard below the block sling, too.
Is it too early for a root-beer float?
love
nick
