Steel vs Aluminum

[Bounce]

Tobe's report of the aluminum ring failure got me thinking about this. I use a lot of aluminum hardware in my own climbing, and have never found it to be a problem. In many cases I actually prefer it because it dissapates heat faster than steel does, so there is less concern about it melting my rope when I stop. When I use a figure 8, munter hitch, friction saver, or anything where friction is applied I've always preferred aluminum after seeing my line get melted one day. But now I'm wondering if my experience with aluminum is common or if I'm all alone in this. Do you all prefer one metal over the other? And if so, how come? Have you had bad experiences with one that steered you towards the other? If so, what were they?

 

[SkwerI]

Aluminum for climbing, steel for rigging.

 

[gf beranek]

Ditto with Brian on this note.

 

[NickfromWI]

I have all aluminum for my climbing gear except the ART block pulley on my ropeguide. That has steel side plates.

My portawrap is aluminum and I think the block i use up top is aluminum, too...

So I guess it's pretty much all aluminum for me...

love
nick

 

[Burnham]

Mostly aluminum, for climbing. Rack has a SS frame, with alum. bars. Can't think of any other steel right now.

Steel for rigging unless it's light weight stuff. Sometimes use a alum. Rescue 8 for light rigging friction control.

So basically I'm with Brian and Jerry, but not completely strict about it.

I'm gonna assume you are polling for climbing use, Sean.

 

[Bounce]

Yes, I intended the poll to be about life support hardware.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I edited the poll to include the "both" option.

 

[Bounce]

I didn't think of that. Thanks Butch.

 

[Stumper]

Aluminium for climbing. mostly stell for rigging. The climbing exception is friction saver rings. I prefer the fat diameter of aluminum but FSs get potential friction WEAR and they get banged about.

 

[Burnham]

Hmmm...I recall now that I have several steel Mallion Rapide oval, delta, and pear screw links scattered throughout my kit, including a big delta as the main attachment point on my New Tribe harness...and I already voted "alumimum" before the "both" option was available. So bear that in mind when looking at the results .

 

[MasterBlaster]

I fixed it, B.

Anyone else?

 

[rumination]

Aluminium for climbing. mostly stell for rigging. The climbing exception is friction saver rings. I prefer the fat diameter of aluminum but FSs get potential friction WEAR and they get banged about.

Pretty much exactly the same here.

 

[klimbinfool]

same here

 

[Fiddler]

here also.

 

[rangerdanger]

Same here. Aluminum for climbing, steel for rigging.

 

[sotc]

Wow, looks like a trend.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Both... Aluminum and Steel like Burnam, Steel for rigging. I also use screw links for both rigging and FS at times. But I do use AL mostly in climbing. Just some variances.

 

[Al Smith]

I'll take everbodies word for the aluminum on climbing gear . What little climbing I do any more is in the steel structures and that stuff is all steel .

 

[Bounce]

So has anybody ever had a bad experience with one or the other?

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Let me qualify my answer Sean... Not when used appropriately with in WLL parameters labeled as such by the mfg.

 

[SkwerI]

When I first started using carabiners, I broke two in the first year. Both were aluminum and both were being used for rigging instead of life support. The weight was within the carabiner limits but not the shock loading. They both snapped like candy canes. It never occurred to me that I might try to return them to the seller since they broke due to my abuse/ misuse.

 

[Fiddler]

The only thing bad I've experienced with any hardware is al snap safety getting bent in so snap didn't close safely. beat w/hammer, threw away, and got out another one.

 

[Gord]

I'm mostly al/climbing steel/riggin but I do use a steel autolock on my climbing line. I like the weight for tossing the end.

 

[Bounce]

Even though it was alum, I burned my fingers quite nicely when I took my fig 8 off the line on the recent West Coast climb. 240+ ft of descent will do that I guess.

 

[Bodean]

Aluminum for climbing, steel for rigging.

Ditto with Brian and Gerry and everyone else.
I'd like to thank the academy.