Decending racks

[sotc]

What are the advantages or disadvantages of having the grooved bar for the top?

 

[Burnham]

I never saw much advantage to the grooved top bar, Willie. It serves to guide the rope down the center of the bars on the rack frame. Not that anything bad would happen if the rope runs a bit off center.

I just as often as not rig a rack on doubled rope, for ease of retrieval...so the groove doesn't help but rather tends to force one leg to the side as the other rides in the groove.

If you never plan to run it on anything but single line, I reckon it might as well be grooved, but otherwise, go with all smooth bars.

 

[Burnham]

Check back at the West Coast Climb thread for my comments re bar material and structure.

 

[Burnham]

Burnham, why not hollow stainless tubes? Instead of half-rounds.

Right-O... to the other thread with this.

I don't know, Erik. You can get tubular bars made of titanium, but I don't believe I've ever seen stainless steel ones...all I can guess is still holds too much heat.

 

[sotc]

heres one
http://www.smcgear.net/smc-products...en_flypage.tpl&product_id=606&category_id=169

 

[Burnham]

Well, there ya go.

Wonder what they mean when they say "Stainless steel ... handles additional heat developed under heavy loads and on longer rappel"?

Handles?

 

[sotc]

Haha, turns red but doesn't melt

 

[Burnham]

Sorta what I was thinking too, Willie.

 

[wiley_p]

Burnham, I always thought that the reason that aluminum dissipates heat rapidly is cause it heats up fast as well. Stainless won't cool off as fast but takes longer to get hot.

 

[Reddog]

You can change the temper of aluminum at a very low temperature. Just a matter of a few hundred degrees depending on the grade and temper. Then making it weaker.
Where as SST and TI would easily handle that temp.
Also the tube could possible dissipate heat as fast or faster than a solid aluminum bar.

 

[sotc]

And a few hundred degrees would change the temper of my rope too

 

[Burnham]

No kidding.

 

[rumination]

It'd probably put you in to quite a temper as well.

 

[Burnham]

Might even throw a hissy fit.


I've never had an issue with excessive heat with solid aluminum bars, nor with a tubular titanium one either...I doubt I would with SS. I like a nice quick rappel speed as much as anyone, but I don't rip it.

 

[OTGBOSTON]

Is a rack like a fig 8 where if you let go of the rope you will continue to fall? or will it auto lock?

 

[NeTree]

No, you'll still descend, just like an 8.

 

[NickfromWI]

The rack is one of the things I've been wanting to purchase for a long time. When Burnham let me use his, it just increased the desire to buy. I haven't found one that is compact and effective yet....

 

[Frans]

depends on how many bars you use....

 

[Reddog]

And a few hundred degrees would change the temper of my rope too

Not always.
Other than aluminum is light, it has a lot of issues once it reaches 200Deg's F.
Your rope should not melt at that temp.

 

[Burnham]

Is a rack like a fig 8 where if you let go of the rope you will continue to fall? or will it auto lock?

Greg, you need to be introduced to the shorty friction hitch backup set below the rack/eight. Ask some of the WCGTG folks how they like that system.

 

[SkwerI]

I found it extremely easy to use. It was cool being able to finally try it out instead of just reading about it.

Burnham, did your package arrive yet?

 

[Burnham]

Sorry, Brian...been so much on the run since I returned to work Monday I haven't been into that office to look at my inbox. Without fail I will do so tomorrow, soon as I get done with a contractor cleaning up a winter's mudslide deposit.

 

[SkwerI]

Glad to hear they are keeping you busy.

 

[Burnham]

Your tax dollars at work.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

The way Burnam had us do the BU hitch on the rack worked great!
Frees one hand up and gives you great control.. Thanks again Burnam.... Now about that rope walker thingy