Jamie

Yales 16 strand XTC is very similar to Samsons Arbormaster, the difference is more in fine splicing techniques than actual construction. between different ropes in teh same construction genre there will be minor differences but like cleetus has said rope fibre differences makes a massive difference. a double braided polyester rope would be spliced differently to a double braided dyneema. One of my problems with Yales Beeline is i've heard people splicing the 10mm in the same maner as they would splice the 8mm. both are totally different ropes. Jamie

I took one oregon wedge, drilled a hole then i smoothed the edges off. being a pedant i tehn stripped the core out of some 3mm rope and spliced it up each end and attached it to a snap gate Jamie

That goes without saying that there will be deviation from the mean in regards to break strengths. An average break strength encompasses minor discrepancies while still being accurate enough to factor in safe working limits. I quite enjoy playing in this minefield of speculation Jamie

If training is the way forward (which it obviously seems like it is) it needs to be flexible enough to acknowledge and allow splicers to develop splices for specific applications. Knowing how to is only half the battle, understanding why is to me a more important part of the equation. Jamie

the cover looks quite bunched up around the eye. I've never seen NEs Fly close up. Thats my only thought Jamie

i started off in teh sthil leathers and they were brutal at first then i got used to them, i'm now in Haix after a stint in some treeme... Haix all teh way Jamie

I'm sticking with my boss cos he has a crane:001_tongue: back on topic however in my opinion everyone should be able to use a saw on a squad, if nothing else just to save time. if they can't use it at least be able to start it and maintain it before its sent up a tree Jamie

I don't get it either Butch. if you are on a cutting squad you cut, imagine working in a taxi and not driving Jamie

you can get chain vices which can either be bolted to a work bench or stuck in a bench vice. Either that or you could just sharpen it at the time and never have to worry about this problem. If its a 15" bar it won't take that long Jamie

Alex that was my thought. A body offering a qualification in splicing competance (with minimal cost to those applying ). How do you start up a governing body? NPTC / Lantra etc already have the clout. I don't believe its an ARB only matter, how many other applications are there for rope access / rigging. So who has the time, finances and inclination to delve into the training world and start up a new CS unit? Jamie Oh and i know it wouldn't be a CS.

As a splicer (and an avid one at that) the main problem i can see is people taking short cuts when splicing them, using the wrong splice type on the wong rope construction / fibre. The splices that i've drastically altered i've had tested. For all my non standard splices i keep records of how they were spliced and more importantly WHY i deviated from the manufacturers recommended splice. Every splice i do for a given cord / application combination is as close to identical as humanly possible. The manufacturer can only offer their support to their products, what we do with them however is a whole new ball game. Like i've mentioned before i know a splicer with a NATO contract. He redesigned a Samson splice for some 80mm eight strand rope froma six meter splice down to a one meter splice. Thats pretty good going, picking up a few hundred ton on a redesignned splice. The manufacturers are not the be all and end all of rope technology. Slightly off topic, I've heard here people advocating using HMPE (Dyneema / Spectra) as prussic cords. Never mind which splice to use to fabricate a termination, i'd be more concerned about the low melting point. I'll stop now Jamie

I've asked Marlow about splice certification, splice testing, splicer training. they don't do it. Two splices can be carried out and look similar but be carried out in totally different ways. In our governments never ending quest quest to have a ticket and risk assessment for everything It seems bizarre to me that noone offers a splicing course and ticket. I know mine are good I'm assuming you managed the 16 strand in teh end carlos? Jamie

I prefer arbor master, it doesn't milk Jamie

I'm after doing the online degree, might as well add more letters. i've already got an Hons. part of my future plan, climb while i can then move onto consultancy one day. Jamie

according to proclimber. Samson 13mm Stable braid has a average strength of 4717kgs. Using the figures i quoted above a bowline would drop that strength down to 2830.2kgs. thats a seriously big bit of wood. Jamie

here is some text copied from a paper on all about knots. Strong Knots Blood Knot 85–90% (Barnes); 80% (Day) Flemish Bend 81% (Frank and Smith) Figure Eight Loop 80% (Frank and Smith) Double Fisherman’s 79% (Frank and Smith) Moderately Strong Knots Butterfly 75% (Frank and Smith) Bowline 60% (Day) Overhand Knot 60-65% (Luebben ) A Weak Knot Overhand Bend (My guess is less than 50%) I'm assuming the names in brackets are other authors Jamie

I'm intrigued to find out that the smaller (tighter) eyes broke at lower loads. I'd have assumed that the bend radius would be similar around the anchor point. Were the eyes tested with the same anchor or did the large eyes drop over a bollard with a larger diameter and the smaller eyes attach via a carabiner? I'm trying to figure out why the smaller eyes failed. I've found splices tend to fail at points where the taper changes. either at the end of the taper or (when i broke some tenex using samsons instructions) at the initial taper halfway down the bury just after mark one Jamie

The break strength of knots? Jamie

I get my ropes broken by the MOD Jamie

count me in, if i win i'll add it to my small bonsai library, and help my tiny garden forest develop Jamie

As with a lot of things in life the principles are good but the practical application has been messed up. Jamie

well done, your assessor thought you were going to fast. come work for us and we'll make you faster. Seriously though well done. Now go play and see what else you can do. Jamie

i thought about rope access window cleaning, then i figured its just window cleaning but hanging from a rope. i enjoy trees for the challenge. this thread ain't about me Jamie

I was getting into hill running in a big way. my good ladyfriend was dragging me everywhere (she has been running for years) and i was happily sitting at 8 miles or so then i tweaked my IT band. fun ideas are balance boards and slack lines. i'd say subtle toning but your balance improves no end Jamie

Arbormaster with some regate blakes Jamie