Would you climb on this nicked line?

[outdoorfan]

I unfortunately nicked this with the saw after making a cut in an awckward position and having the weight of the branch on top of the saw pushing it into my climbing hitch and line while the chain was decelerating. It was a tactical mistake, and one I don't want to repeat. Fortunately, I was also tied in with my lanyard.

I feel uneasy climbing on this even though the damage doesn't seem too bad. One of two strands were severed. I haven't climbed on it since. I just wanted others thoughts, as I haven't been doing this long and don't have the experience to fall back on.

The climbing line is poison hi-vee and the prusik is 8mm beeline.

 

[BCbound]

Are you able to cut it out?

 

[pdqdl]

Yes. I would begin to plan a replacement, though.

That nick on the cover of the beeline prussic is almost inconsequential. 8mm Beeline is a core-dependent rope, and does not depend on the cover for any of it's strength. Now if your core has been nicked, I'd toss it in a heartbeat and go old-school if I had to.

That is why arborist rope is required to be much stronger than necessary to support us. There is quite a bit of reserve strength available even with a few strands damaged, so as to not fail in the case of a partial injury.

Obviously, climbing on even slightly damaged rope is not an approved activity, but I have been known to do quite a few things that are not approved. Look at all the guys that ride the ball on crane jobs; that ain't supposed to happen either.

 

[outdoorfan]

Are you able to cut it out?

Not sure what you mean other than cutting those broken strands off to make it more streamlined. Yes, I will be doing that, but I wanted to leave it as-is for the time being because those loose strands make it easier to identify where the problem is.

 

[outdoorfan]

Yes. I would begin to plan a replacement, though.

That nick on the cover of the beeline prussic is almost inconsequential. 8mm Beeline is a core-dependent rope, and does not depend on the cover for any of it's strength. Now if your core has been nicked, I'd toss it in a heartbeat and go old-school if I had to.

That is why arborist rope is required to be much stronger than necessary to support us. There is quite a bit of reserve strength available even with a few strands damaged, so as to not fail in the case of a partial injury.

Obviously, climbing on even slightly damaged rope is not an approved activity, but I have been known to do quite a few things that are not approved. Look at all the guys that ride the ball on crane jobs; that ain't supposed to happen either.

Okay, thanks much! That info puts me a little more at ease.

 

[pdqdl]

I don't know if it is right or wrong, but I use a soldering gun to cut off tiny frayed parts on normal rope. Cigarette lighter works well for just mowing off the fuzz.

Don't try any kind of heat on the beeline: it won't melt. Trim with a razor knife, then put on a spot of super glue to keep the ends from wandering loose again.


Great fun: take a useless worn out beeline prussic, and load it down with about a thousand pounds. Put a propane torch on it and see how long it takes to burn through. You'll be impressed!

 

[tree MDS]

Thanks for the crazy glue tip!

I found HRC to be flame retardant too.

 

[pdqdl]

I can't remember who put me up to that super-glue trick...somebody else here at AS. As I recall, that was a recommended alternative to whipping or burning the ends to prevent fraying...came from one of our Aussie friends...Oomt! That's who told me about that stuff.

http://www.arboristsite.com/showpost.php?p=1688017&postcount=11




I'm kinda proud of myself for remembering that! I only used the search function to find the reference.

 

[Mikecutstrees]

As usual it depends on who you ask. Rock climbers would NEVER EVER use a rope like that! My wife rock climbs and when she sees my tree ropes she has a fit! But as the guy who taught me how to climb used to say.... you could hang a truck off that!

Mike

 

[trailduster2]

I just got my new poison ivy rope and got to climb with it for the first time today. I was reading on the paper work for it that it is safe unless two or more of the strands are damaged. Wack-em off, burn the ends and keep on keeping on!

 

[flushcut]

I would cut the line there and make two lines. It's called a life line for a reason why risk it IMO.

 

[outdoorfan]

Great tips! Thanks.

 

[heromaker]

Yup, that isnt what I call a nipped line, but Ive propbably climbed to long or something.:chainsawguy: