Washer ???

[rahtreelimbs]

I had a thought. Ever since I switch to 8mm tress cord, I have had a concern about rope burn due to the smallness of the rope. Has anyone tried using a fender washer above the hitch? I thought if you could secure it to the top wrap of your hitch and let it float on the host rope this would give you a nice way to keep your fingers off of the rope. I dunno.......just a thought.

 

[Stumper]

Or how about a plastic rope thimble for a hitch bumper? It is a non issue for me-I wear gloves and don't make fast descents.

 

[hillbilly]

I for one like to feel the heat of my hitch.
It serves as a warning, if it gets too hot to hold with
your bare hands or gloves, you're going down too fast
and risking rope melting.
Climbing hitches are not primarily progress captures,
not descenders. Consider using a descending device
if you for some reason have to make a long drop fast.
Also consider the chock loading at the anchor point if
you make a fast descent and stop abruptly, hitch getting too
hot, reflexes make your hand let go of the rope.

Best regards / hillbilly

 

[TREETX]

I get your point there but I also think you need to feel the heat.

For me the jury is out on 8mm cord distel. Lots o friction with a 3-1 distel. That top wrap can be melted/flattened with one rapid decent.

I have been using a 4-3 vt (thanks tim) and it seem to spread out the friction pts, = less scortching heat. I haven't been using it long enough though....

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

My 5/16 dbl braid lasts for a long time. A little carmeling, but strudy. May be changing it soon, but not a big deal.

As soon as I find the high temp stuf, I'll go to it.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Fast decents are on my list of things not to do. The 8mm is small for my big meathooks!

 

[NickfromWI]

how about 7/16

This is what I'm liking for my distel right now. 7/16 UULS by Yale Cordage. I find that I have to fight hard to get the 5/16ths to descend for me (thanks, JPS for the rope....I'm making some nice slings out of the rest of it!)

The 7/16 just takes a little pressure to lower me, but yet still grabs on tight when I want. I think I'm in love!

love
nick

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Hmm, I have no problem, might be the weight difference betwixt us.

Let me know if you find some of that high temp stuff people talk about, or amybe you could talk your rope making aquaintance into spinning up a batch.

 

[Stumper]

JPS, I also have no problem descending on 5/16ths. One would think that we heavyweights would have more problem with small cord due to "bite" and the concentration of friction in the small 'footprint' area. FWIW , the cords that I gooped up with resin both quit running freely but the 3/8ths straightened up more quickly than the 5/16ths.

 

[TREETX]

The metric system people please!! Yer hurting my head!!!!

At least the same denominator?

I have used 4 different cord this week with a few variations of hitches.

9mm pumkin w/4-3vt!! 8mm w/3-3vt is good too (t-900)

Mammut cord (REI 3000+) melts like butter. I have melted it through the core w/one descent.

So many combinations. In the words of M Maas -

The next step is to go to hitches like the VT that work like a chinese finger trap. Their are as many variations of them out there as there are bored climbers to invent them.

www.metricsucks.com

 

[Stumper]

Treetx, This hyar is America, whar we use an antiquated and arbitrary system based upon the body parts of dead Englishmen! AND LIKE IT!! Would you prefer that I said the 9mm cleaned up and came unstuck quicker than the 8mm?

 

[mikecross23]

I love a fast descent!!! I use sta-set w/ a 4 over 1 distel. It does tend to bind up on occation but I don't like the 3 over 1 b/c it burns my hands on rapid descents. 4 over 1 gives me enough surface space to carefully place my fingers so I don't get burned but can feel the heat.

I've been using a petzl stop on a choked srt line for blocking down spars and it works pretty well for that. When I get to the point that I can drop the rest, the stop is a fun descending device. It can be locked off easily to avoid rope creep/failure. It does get hot pretty easily though. Guess that's my fault.

I want to try some other hitches but will wait until the expo in Nov. where I can hopefully take in some new creative climbing ideas.

-Mike-