I have climbed on toothed ascendors professionally for several years, I for one would always have something clipped through the top hole to ensure the rope is guided into the cam channel properly and as additional back. The fact that CMI does not have aggressive teeth is a negative as you want the teeth to cut and shear the fibres in a fall event there by increasing slippage down the rope and reducing shock loading, blunt or soft teeth will only cause the device to fail earlier. Climb safe I think what you guys are doing is great, wish i could join you.
We recently did some testing on this exact topic and thoroughly convinced ourselves that it is never a good idea to fall onto any acsender, no matter what the teeth! Given that we don't fall on ascenders, we find the less sharp teeth preferable. It is so much easier to down climb a few feet and doesn't chew up the rope so much. The CMI ultracender, as with the other ascenders we tested, will rip the sheath of a rope in a long fall, but any fall long enough to generate enough force to sever the sheath pretty punishing on your body.
Indeed, falling is never a good idea and the first rule is to endeavor never to have such a scenario happen. Have you looked into other forms of ascent other than using toothed ascendors? They are pretty much frowned upon now in my climbing circles, although after several years and many hundreds of ascents I have never had an issue. I use a hitch based ascent system now which is as efficient as toothed ascendors, but perhaps a little more complex. I did use a Unicender for a short while and this made a good replacement for a toothed device and allowed descent, but is flawed and not particularly durable. Anyway i ramble on, climb safe and keep up the good work.
ArboristUk Sure - we climb in just about every way imaginable from prusiks to hitches to rope walker systems. The inventor of the Unicender, Morgan Thompson, is a good friend of ours and on our advisory board. Rumor is that he has another gadget in the works. I'm looking forward to seeing his next clever invention. Everyone has their favorite system - one fellow on our staff climbs with a yo-yo rig (ascender and gri gri) all the industrial rope access guys climb with a frog system. Last time in the Redwoods I used a rope walker with home-built chest roller..and I have to say...it was deluxe!
Your student looks spaced out...
It was a long day of climbing!
I have climbed on toothed ascendors professionally for several years, I for one would always have something clipped through the top hole to ensure the rope is guided into the cam channel properly and as additional back. The fact that CMI does not have aggressive teeth is a negative as you want the teeth to cut and shear the fibres in a fall event there by increasing slippage down the rope and reducing shock loading, blunt or soft teeth will only cause the device to fail earlier.
Climb safe I think what you guys are doing is great, wish i could join you.
We recently did some testing on this exact topic and thoroughly convinced ourselves that it is never a good idea to fall onto any acsender, no matter what the teeth! Given that we don't fall on ascenders, we find the less sharp teeth preferable. It is so much easier to down climb a few feet and doesn't chew up the rope so much. The CMI ultracender, as with the other ascenders we tested, will rip the sheath of a rope in a long fall, but any fall long enough to generate enough force to sever the sheath pretty punishing on your body.
Indeed, falling is never a good idea and the first rule is to endeavor never to have such a scenario happen. Have you looked into other forms of ascent other than using toothed ascendors? They are pretty much frowned upon now in my climbing circles, although after several years and many hundreds of ascents I have never had an issue. I use a hitch based ascent system now which is as efficient as toothed ascendors, but perhaps a little more complex. I did use a Unicender for a short while and this made a good replacement for a toothed device and allowed descent, but is flawed and not particularly durable.
Anyway i ramble on, climb safe and keep up the good work.
ArboristUk Sure - we climb in just about every way imaginable from prusiks to hitches to rope walker systems. The inventor of the Unicender, Morgan Thompson, is a good friend of ours and on our advisory board. Rumor is that he has another gadget in the works. I'm looking forward to seeing his next clever invention. Everyone has their favorite system - one fellow on our staff climbs with a yo-yo rig (ascender and gri gri) all the industrial rope access guys climb with a frog system. Last time in the Redwoods I used a rope walker with home-built chest roller..and I have to say...it was deluxe!
Nice one