Aluminum Ring Failure

[TreeRhino]

Does Anyone remember a post a few months back regarding the failure of aluminum rings? I seem to recall it was a arborist supply store in the Northwest that discovered the failures through their testing. I can't seem to find the thread anymore.

 

[woodworkingboy]

You must mean over at the Buzz:

http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=UBB10&Number=76594&page=0&fpart=1

 

[Bounce]

I saw the same thread at the Buzz. We never had any reports of broken rings at Wesspur. But after I read the Buzz thread I did ask that ours be tested. The test report for our 5000 lb rated rings had no breaks below 6000 lb.

 

[MasterBlaster]

For the most part, I don't like 'luminum.

 

[Bounce]

Has anybody ever found a source for steel rings that have the same dimensions as the aluminum ones? I've looked and looked but they are always a lot thinner, which would not provide as good of a bend radius.

 

[rumination]

Where does Buckingham get their's? Do they manufacture their own?

 

[Bounce]

I've asked, but they're understandably close-mouthed about that sort of thing.

 

[rumination]

Bummer. Their steel rings are the nicest. I wanted to get some for my homemade friction savers, but noone sells them as you know. I ended up getting some nice Italian steel rings from Rich Hoffman but they're not quite as fat.

 

[PCTREE]

If anybody finds a source for a FAT steel or stainless ring PLEASE let me know.... Some folks are still concerned about the rings on the Wraptor being too skinny.....

 

[brendonv]

IIRC, Karl Kummeri..... however you say it, has some steel rings people have liked in the past for FS's.

 

[rumination]

So they do. Good tip Brendon.

http://karlkuemmerling.com/store/product500.html
http://karlkuemmerling.com/store/product501.html

 

[Bounce]

These are the same skinny rings I've seen elsewhere. They are commonly used as rap-rings on bolted rock climbing routes around here. The problem is they just don't have the same fat bar stock diameter of the aluminum rings, so they force the rope around on sharper bend. This isn't as big a deal for rock climbers who are using 10 mm rope, but it is for 1/2" line.

 

[Frans]

When the sequoia saddle came out, I wanted to make my own steel rings with an opening in them similar to the sequoia.
looked and looked on the internet. Even contacted a few industrial companies that make hardware for other trades like horse hardware, rescue, parachute, auto racing, etc etc.

Got a couple of samples but no luck. I just don't think they are made.

 

[Bounce]

SOMEBODY makes them because Buckingham puts them on their steel ring friction savers. But they won't sell them separately or give out the name of the mfgr. But I guess I wouldn't either if I were them.

 

[Frans]

This company I was told make the rings for Buckingham:

http://www.bourdonforge.com/business/productsbusiness/products-orings.htm

 

[TreeRhino]

Thanks, i found it on the buzz. We recently had a failure and are pulling them out of service. No one was hurt, thank God, but could have been really bad. They were Italian made rings and the breaks were identical to the ones reported on the buzz.

 

[rumination]

Whoa! Where did you buy the rings from? Under what circumstances did they fail? We need details!

 

[squisher]

No doubt! Details!!!

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Seriously!

 

[Koa Man]

I have the gold colored aluminum rings that I bought from Sherrill about 3 years ago. I only use them to descent from palms. Them seem OK to me, but they have bounced a few times off of concrete from 70 ft. I carefully check them for cracks before I use them but would much prefer steel.

Thanks for the link Frans. I will check with them on prices and availability. If I can get them I will switch over.

 

[Bounce]

How did it happen? Were they new? Do they say "made in Italy" or just "Italy"? Can you post a picture of them?

 

[TreeRhino]

How did it happen? Were they new? Do they say "made in Italy" or just "Italy"? Can you post a picture of them?

See Tobe's post in the climbing thread.