Swivel with Lock Jack

[Tom Dunlap]

A while ago I used a Petzl swivel on my Butterfly for clipping the Lock
Jack. After using it for a while I found that the swivel made for more
twisting than without. Sure, it was easier to untwist with the swivel but I
rarely spiraled the LJ before.

Now I'm wondering about using a one of the DMM aluminum swivel biners. I
would put the eye through the webbing and clip the LJ. This would eliminate
the biner between the two. One less link in the chain.

Does anyone else use a swivel on their saddle? What are your experiences?

Tom

 

[WillClimb]

I use it with a split tail and a blake's hitch. Just bought it for $60 recently and I've noticed some issues as well. Seems to be more twisting, there's the extra 'biner, and I can't get as long of a pull with my hitch. I thought for $60 I was going to be a bit happier but, oh well.

 

[kf_tree]

just an uneducated guess (since i've never used either one) but i think the petzl swivel would tend to swivel more freely than the dmm biner since the petzl has a sealed bearing unit. the dmm may not swivel as easy under a "load" since the friction will prevent it a bit, but when unweighted it would spin freely.

 

[kf_tree]

"Never had any rope twisting issues until I was introduced to the amazing world of advanced friction hitches."


"I can't see spending the dollars to buy a $60 swivel to address a non existent problem and make the twisting problem worse as well."


RockyJSquirrel

i hear you speak alot about how much you learned at this site and how much better your climbing has improved. just from reading your past posts, how much have you spent on different ropes for friction hitch's, big shots, pulleys, spliced lines etc. you even bought a saddle with small D rings after i said they suck., only for you to realize the same. how much did you spend on those spikes with the short spikes? are the relonger ones available yet?

now i ask you is 60.00 alot to spend on a piece of gear if it helps to quicken the climber? if not i'll put it up for grabs in case some one else wants to try it.

i can't give you a good example but there are plenty of times when in a big tree i find myself stoping to take a twist out of the line.

i'll let you know if it works out. if i said i love it would you run out and buy one?

 

[NickfromWI]

When I'm near the end of a horizontal limb, turn to head back, I put a twist in my line because I turned counter clockwise instead of clock wise to head back. After a few limbs, this can add up. The twist, for me anyways, is inevitable. Every now and then I find myself flip-lining in and unhooking my climbing line to un do the twists. Of if i'm hanging in air, I just spin the other way. I guess in this regard, the swivel might be handy. However, it'd be more bulk. I wouldn't mind giving it a try, though.

Anyone got one I can use for a few days!

love
nick

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

You don't just spin the swivel, you have to take the tail over your head too...
And how easy is it to turn the swivel with the climber's weight on it?

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Nick and MM both have good points. Hmmm, how can there be that much knowledge down wind?

I agree with KF too. The Petzl swivel is very smooth and will spin while loaded.

I'm going to see if a Loonie will get me more than a Buck next week. Always nice to bring home a significant souvenier from a conference. Not everyone can bring back a souvenier like Mark Chisholm did from Halifax

Tom

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

You just have to work harder for those.

 

[WillClimb]

Nick,

That's where I thought it'd be the most help for me, when limb-walking. I've realized though that I've gotten pretty good at spinning clockwise or counter clockwise now, so it's a little bit of a moot point.

My biggest problem is the length that the swivel and extra carabiner add to my bridge, yet it's not length that I can pull. I'm a little behind the times with the split tail and blake's I know, but for some reason I like the modified body-thrust technique....it keeps the guns in shape

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Brian, you don't bag your climbing line, do you?

 

[kf_tree]

tom
is this guy a friend of yours?

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Kevin,

That looks like it could be from a cousin on the other side of the family. I like the looks of that machine. Heck, I could almost live in something like that

Tom

 

[NickfromWI]

Keep in mind that I haven't used the Swivel, but Brian, I don't see how this adds twist to the rope in the same way the friction saver (with pulley) and friction hitches do. The swivel does not contact the rope. I might cause the two lines to be twisted in eachother, but this can be easily undone, thanks to the Swivel, ironically enough.

Am I missing something here?

love
nick

 

[NickfromWI]

Seriously, does anyone have a Swivel I can use for a few days? I'll trade you for something.

love
nick

 

[ramanujan]

i can't see any great advantage to climbing on the swivel, but i can see a disadvantage in having my friction hitch never being in just the same place. i would think it would be frustrating continually having to turn the hitch against the alignment of the double ropes.

 

[Rob Murphy]

The Swivel

Tom
Two is one , one is none! (re the bus pic)
A friend tried the Petzl swivel ( nice swivel) but it just seemed to accentuate the twisting .He spiced ( from memory) it into a sliding bridge as the main attach point to the saddle. He was a sliding an spinning too much for him ...it was worth a try.
Have you got a pic of the dmm biner.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Rob,

Try this:

Tom

 

[WillClimb]

what are you using as a climbing line, brian?

 

[Tom Dunlap]

My ropes rarely twist. I think that's because I'm really particular about how my ropes get flaked into my packs. There are sometimes some snaggles when I descend but they generally are because of the way I pitch the rope over limbs. Either that or the Inderdimensional Creatures pay me a visit.

When I used the swivel with the LJ it was more me twisting than the rope. Also, the swivel would put the rope in a neutral position that was 90 degrees out of phase for me. The release nob was pointing towards my chest in stead of on the left. That got frustrating.

Tom

 

[WillClimb]

So, how about that LockJack? I've been hearing a lot about them lately.