Compact Bulldog Bone

Thanks Gordon.

I received my BDB today and got in a quick first climb. Up 65', slow descent down 20', climbed some limbs allowing my over the shoulder lanyard to tend the BDB without my weight on the rope below it, fast descent with easy stop and a fast descent with hard stop (too much coasting, need to dial it in to my rope).

All in all, a very good first impression. And the important thing.....a photo with the new 'anti-cross handles'.

IMG_0546-001 (Small).webp
 
If that's tropical ivy, it slipped on me with the stock bollard too (5/8"). I noticed it flattened alot when running through. I had given up on it for the bone until Aaron said it was running well with the 3/4" bollard.

So gmcctr, the outsides of the arms on your CBdB look black like there's a coating on them. Illusion?

Also, can the domed screws be removed if needed? Just asking because I can't really see a Phillips head, star head, or Allen head in the pic.
 
I have been running the aluminum parts in a vibratory tumbler in order to de-bur them, which gives the aluminum a sort of patina. However the parts need hand chamfering and burnishing with a wire wheel afterwards anyway, so the tumble process is really unnessesary and in fact adds to the work to produce a bone, so I think I will skip that step.
It may be a chore to remove the 1/4"-20 bolts, as I have used red lock-tite on the threads.
Will you are up next for a moded Bone, should ship tomorrow.
 
Aaron Cipolletti said:
I've been running that rope in the bone with 3/4 bollard for excellent performance interface IMO ..no slippage down and not too tight for easy ascent .
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll switch to the 3/4""bollard.

TreeLogic said:
If that's tropical ivy...
...So gmcctr, the outsides of the arms on your CBdB look black like there's a coating on them. Illusion?

Also, can the domed screws be removed if needed? Just asking because I can't really see a Phillips head, star head, or Allen head in the pic.
Click to expand...

It's Aztec...just another color variation of the Yale 11.7mm ropes.

The 'coating' is just patina from tumbling as Gordon stated.

Yes, they are domed carriage bolt heads without means for tool removal. However, to remove them, heat is required to melt/release red loctite and I imagine the bolt head or spacer could then be grasped with pliers to remove them.

I also got the corrosion resistant links.

IMG_0548 (Small).webp
 
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Nice pictures, thanks! Gordon you have the BDB looking real good! I am really looking forward to trying one of these bad boys.
 
Glad to hear mine is coming soon Gordon. Thank you!

That patina looks kinda sweet by the way :)
Oh yeah, in reference to homemade mods, I've been wondering about dissimilar metals and the corrosion they can cause on aluminum. Just thought y'all might want to keep that in mind when modding the bone yourselves. Maybe I'm over thinking it.
 
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gmcttr said:
... and a fast descent with hard stop (too much coasting, need to dial it in to my rope)...
Click to expand...

I put the 3/4" bollard in as advised and all is good with Yale Aztec 11.7mm. With 'faster than I ever want to do' descents and releasing the BDB, the only coasting I could get was just enough to save my back and the rope from pain. A wild guess of less than 10". Perfect.
 
The stock bollard seems perfect for my Yale Luna. I am getting a bit of friction on ascent though. Maybe I should get away from using the bungee neck tether and go to a solid neck tether?

I'm finding if I'm completely parallel or standing up right next to the rope, friction increases....if I lean back a bit on ascent, it tends a bit smoother. Happen to anyone else? Any fix?
 
Mike, it may help to clip directly into the spine for ascent rather than how you have it pictured.
 
surveyor said:
Mike, it may help to clip directly into the spine for ascent rather than how you have it pictured.
Click to expand...
That happens here to. I use a solid neck tether advancer thing and lean back the slightest bit than normal and it works great. And Im with Gordon on that. The bigger diameter hole is great for clipping whatever u advance the bone with on and off.
 
Had a little trouble with the neck bungee too. When I'd pause to sit back I had to push the bulldog up by hand to engage it. Swingdudes chest harness worked better in that application. I think maybe the bungee was the issue.
 
Man that's totally not true. You've taken me wrong bro. Just trying to learn from y'all and pass on what I "think" I know. Sometimes my excitement about stuff comes across wrong. Sorry about that.
 
I'm completely kidding by the way. I prefer a chest harness for when I'm using the Haas. But, if I were to use a neck tender it would be static not bungee. On another note, I found that my CMI double handed ascender with a bungee from it to the BDB when footlocking works a charm. No groundbreaking info here, but I have been having a blast with the Bone, it is an awesome device. I have not had to take it off the line (no climbs requiring redirects so far, so I've kept the slic pin through the 3/4" in the lower arm and it's been flawless) but it has been excellent for removals and pruning.
 
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The climber who had the Bone arms cross load has explained that it happened when he was up close against the tree stem when using the Bone on a short doubled line like a lanyard, He had a second line also supporting him. I have asked John to explain his experience with the Bone here on the forum better than I can, and he has agreed to do so later this week.
 
I could have sworn I measured the hole in that lower arm 5/16 but I may have been spacing. I need to get that slic pin for 3:1

The Bone really is cool. I'm impressed. Congrats Gordon.
 
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