Rope Wrench feedback

[Cary Gibson]

I've tried vt and distel on op and Ap, both hitches grab straight away, it's a weight thing I'm sure I weigh 220lb and I just not sure it's for the bigger climber. However ive not tried it on the bigger rope yet so I might be eating my words.

 

 

Some Samson vortex would be perfect for you man

[Old Mill Tree Care]

my fall plays in my mind too man lol, this is why I have embraced it and learned it inside and out. I love it, but I am guessing that the combination of the bend and the angle of the pin/bolt would lighten the weight on the hitch by at least half, Kevin B. would know for sure though.

 

Cary, I keep reading references to your fall. If you don't mind me asking, what happened exactly?

I only ask in case there is something myself and others are unaware of regarding the RW.

If you're uncomfortable posting on here perhaps you could pm or email me.

Thank you.

[carlos]

hi ian on your test photos what is the purpose of the metal eye on the rw tether?

looked like an interesting tree to climb.

thanks carl

[Cary Gibson]

hi ian on your test photos what is the purpose of the metal eye on the rw tether?

looked like an interesting tree to climb.

thanks carl

That is to clip your lanyard into over the shoulder, for ascending

[Cary Gibson]

Cary, I keep reading references to your fall. If you don't mind me asking, what happened exactly?

I only ask in case there is something myself and others are unaware of regarding the RW.

If you're uncomfortable posting on here perhaps you could pm or email me.

Thank you.

 

I'll post it in a bit man, no worries

[carlos]

thanks cary, i too would like to hear about your "event" hope you are ok from it!

would be good to know what not to do with the wrench

thanks again carl.

[Cary Gibson]

Okay, since more and more people are trying the rope wrench, I figured I would share my fall on one when I first started.

Me and a buddy were climbing a big red oak, 100+'.

I had taken some fast up and downs to show him how fast it was. I went to the ground and started back up at about the 35' mark, my pantin popped off the line, and I did not have my lanyard over the shoulder near tight enough, plus I had a VT way too long and not dressed as tight as it should have been.( this is crucial, it needs to grab right away.)

 

The next thing I knew, I was falling backwards, trying to set the hitch, which it did not so I resorted to grabbing the rope to slow my fall. I hit the ground on my back, right between two headstones ( we were climbing a cemetery tree), the smell of burnt rubber from my gloves was all I could smell.

Then the burning pain set in, seems the rope was between my legs and up my arse, I was wearing Arborwear Tech pants, which are nylon....the heat of the rope and the fall melted them to my , well..... my stuff not fun at all, took a bit to heal, but nothing else was hurt. Even though the hitch did not grab, the RW DID slow my fall though, enough that between it and the rope thru my crotch; I walked away uninjured, well kinda...

 

Freaked me out for a good 2 months, I was a bit scared on ascents, but it passed. So the rule is this, short , well dressed hitch that grabs right F@#%ING NOW , and a tight lanyard over the shoulder, plus on a long ascent, I clip a biner in my pantin to back it up. It was in no way the fault of the wrench or SRT, just my own complacency, play safe people

[Pedroski]

Nasty one Cary.

 

Can I ask....the tight lanyard over the shoulder.... how does that work? Is it clipped into the climbing line as well? When I've gone up rope I've just kind of carried my lanyard on my belt!

[Paul Smith]

Lanyard is over the shoulder and clipped in to the RW or unicender, this self tends the device.

[Cary Gibson]

unclip your snap and throw it over your shoulder, like a bandolier , then clip it into either the HC pulley if you are using one, the tether of the rope wrench, or, like me the DMM thimble on the tether, snug it up good.

 

then when you ascend, this tends the hitch and RW together, leaving your hands free.

 

I only do this for long ascents, while working I just put one hand over the wrench, and one between the wrench and the hitch. A good trick is to clip the lanyard over the shoulder when you can climb a good section of the tree, it tends all the stuff as you climb like a kid, unencumbered you are in a way, self-belaying