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Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

Author
rope
Mattmatt
28-Jan-2008
10:29:48 AM
How do we know which rope is the correct rope for us? Being a very personal, and integral piece of every climbers kit, I think its important we carry more than hope and faith. Perhaps some knowledge and understanding of what these life lines are and aren't capable of. I know each rope is different and each is accompanied with its own specs; falls, impact force, static elongation yada yada yada. I'm hoping I'm not alone when i say, "Whaaaaa?"..
I'd hope to learn of peoples rope understanding and comprehension. What rope do you use? Why? Do you keep a rope log of how its used, fallen upon, or whatever else? When should one be retired? Shelf life? Any thoughts are welcome...

Eduardo Slabofvic
28-Jan-2008
12:48:45 PM
I made a rope log for a company I work for because we have about 50 different ropes, of various lengths,
diameters, stretch and load bearing capacity. Also there are a half a dozen other people who also use
these ropes.

As the work involves working with different heights, risks and consequences, I can use the rope log to
select the best rope for the task and be sure that the rope is up to the task.

Each rope is tagged with a number, and the number corresponds to the rope log. Things I record for each
rope is length, diameter, condition, what job it was used on, what it was used for, what conditions it was
subjected to, what devices it was used with, and comments on how it handled and any fluffing/wear/etc.

As time goes on, ropes wear out and their category is lowered, so the tasks they are used for will have
correspondingly lower risk and consequence, until such time that they are only good for tying stuff down
on the trailer or making macramé bath mats.

Ropes get inspected when the rig is being set up, multiple times while the rig is in use (and basically
every time a running line is used, it’s being assessed), and when the rig is being bumped out.

The rope log is updated once the set up of the rig is finished and when the bump out is completed. There
is a separate daily rig check, which includes inspecting the ropes. The only bad thing with this system is
that it is only as good as the people who use it.

I do more or less the same thing with my climbing rope, except as I’m the only one using it, the rope log
is in my head, and every time I belay or rap with it, the rope is being inspected.

Ropes can take a pretty good pounding before they are through, but if you don't trust it, then don't trust it.

Not getting chemicals on your rope is what I consider to be in the “no brainer’ department. Also don’t
leave it lying in the sun, don’t let your dog chew on it, don’t lay into it with an axe, don’t rub metal
shavings/glass fragments/razor blades/etc into your rope. Don’t leave it out on the road for trucks to run
over it. Don’t put it in the toaster, the oven, the blender, or any other household appliance. Don’t use it to
tow someone’s car. Don’t set fire to it. Don't cut it up into 3 inch lengths.
Duncan
28-Jan-2008
1:36:56 PM
You can't make rope out of a log! Given time and the right tools I could probably make a rather snazzy coffee table though.
citationx
28-Jan-2008
9:47:02 PM
On 28/01/2008 Duncan wrote:
>You can't make rope out of a log! Given time and the right tools I could
>probably make a rather snazzy coffee table though.


ahhhhhh... so that's what you do on the long weekend when you're not spending time with your climbing buddies in the mountains... make crap jokes on here. :-P
richardo
28-Jan-2008
11:26:06 PM
>On 28/01/2008 Duncan wrote:
>>You can't make rope out of a log! Given time and the right tools I could
>>probably make a rather snazzy coffee table though.


I have a coffee table made of rope. This is not a joke and for the record I do not keep a table log of my
rope table.
richardo
29-Jan-2008
12:26:22 AM
rope logs are for losers.

Buy the cheapest rope with a diameter you are comfortable with and chop 5m off the end when you feel
your hips jar on a short whip or you begin to see the core of the rope. Other than that nothing to it.

Shez
29-Jan-2008
4:06:07 AM
Rather than keep a log, I use a "rotation" system: newest ropes are always used for leading. Once they show a bit of wear or have a few falls on them, they are used for top-roping,and finally they become fixed ropes at our local crag(used to access anchors via self-belay devices or ascenders). Or rope rugs.

There are 7 messages in this topic.

 

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