How do you clean sticking carabiners?

Jeff · Aug 28, 2015

I use Petzl Am'd Ball Lock 'biners for all my life support needs, and after putting some miles on them, they start sticking. The gate swings shut and the barrel rotates most of the way, but not far enough for the green ball to pop up thru it's hole. Is this a dirt issue, or a lack of lubrication, or both? How do you guys clean them? Dishwasher? Mineral spirits? Or just add dry graphite lube?

Boomslang · Aug 28, 2015

Soap and warm water. Scrub with a toothbrush. Try to get in all the nooks and crannies. Air dry. Graphite. Good to go.

oldoakman · Aug 28, 2015

TreeLogic · Aug 28, 2015

What about pine sap? Soap and water doesn't work too well for that...on my hands, at least. That's when I have to break out the rubbing alcohol.

JeffGu · Aug 28, 2015

I use WD-40 to clean them. Lubes 'em and the methanol in it takes the stickiest of crap off quickly.

MikePowers321 · Aug 28, 2015

TreeLogic said:
What about pine sap? Soap and water doesn't work too well for that...on my hands, at least. That's when I have to break out the rubbing alcohol.

Peanut butter works great to remove sap from the skin

Jeff · Aug 28, 2015

MikePowers321 said:
Peanut butter works great to remove sap from the skin

What?!? Is this a joke? Creamy or chunky?
Then what, get your dog to remove all the peanut butter from you?

oceans · Aug 28, 2015

Canola oil pulls sap off like nutt'n. I use it for chainsaw bar oil, so it's on hand and a nice natural solution.

jmcscrap · Aug 28, 2015

MikePowers321 said:
Peanut butter works great to remove sap from the skin

x2 on the peanut butter - it also works great for getting the residue left behind from stickers.

TreeLogic · Aug 28, 2015

Jeff said:
What?!? Is this a joke? Creamy or chunky?
Then what, get your dog to remove all the peanut butter from you?

We can't keep PB in the house. My dog's allergic :inocente:

monkeylove · Aug 28, 2015

I use this stuff in work for cleaning all our wood cutting tools and also at home for all my metal climbing gear. Works great, it is biodegradable, and its reusable. For biners and such just fill a container with enough stuff to cover the item. Let it sit for about an hour, come back and wipe off.

http://www.amazon.com/CMT-998-001-0...S3TV7H65&dpSrc=sims&dpST=_AC_UL320_SR250,320_

MikePowers321 · Aug 28, 2015

Jeff said:
What?!? Is this a joke? Creamy or chunky?
Then what, get your dog to remove all the peanut butter from you?

No joke! Creamy of coarse.

Tom Dunlap · Aug 28, 2015

PB takes the place of Go Jo or any thick cleaners. Any veggie oil will cut sticky sap

Boiling biners has been suggested too. The rolling water seems to get inside and seems to float the debris out

GregManning · Aug 28, 2015

Tom Dunlap said:
PB takes the place of Go Jo or any thick cleaners. Any veggie oil will cut sticky sap
Boiling biners has been suggested too. The rolling water seems to get inside and seems to float the debris out

Be careful with chemicals & heat.
KNOW your carabiner internal construction !

When I started climbing (2007), I bought a recommended brand that contained an internal plastic component !

1. Some plastics are susceptible to chemical stress cracking. (Expose the plastic to e.g. solvent, it could fracture at a much lower force than expected !)
2. Boiling (212°F) is a very high temp for many plastics.

Tom Dunlap · Aug 28, 2015

Greg

Thanks for finishing my thoughts. Too often I assume that people understand their gear well enough to know what's inside

TimBr · Aug 28, 2015

GregManning said:
Be careful with chemicals & heat.
KNOW your carabiner internal construction !

When I started climbing (2007), I bought a recommended brand that contained an internal plastic component !

1. Some plastics are susceptible to chemical stress cracking. (Expose the plastic to e.g. solvent, it could fracture at a much lower force than expected !)
2. Boiling (212°F) is a very high temp for many plastics.

Hey, Greg! I had no idea they would use a plastic component that is in a place that I assume it is not possible to inspect. For a life support piece of gear, yet.

How did you find out about this, just out of curiosity? Did you cut one open by way of sacrificing it, just to be able to inspect it. It would never have occurred to me that a manufacturer would do something like this.

You would probably be reluctant to say the name of the manufacturer of that item, correct? Do you know if they continue to make their biners in this fashion, or whether they've changed?

In a more positive vein, could you tell me the name of a company or companies that make biners whose quality you really like and that you trust?

Thanks in advance for any answers you choose to provide to my questions, and for your time.

Tim

GregManning · Aug 28, 2015

The carabineer in question used a plastic bushing inside the sleeve for the triple action gate.
Failure could prevent the auto-lock mechanism from working properly.
(It could swell after LOTS of exposure to water, or just gunk accumulation.)
A very small white portion is visible with close inspection.
The climber/salesman that sold it to me, mentioned the potential problem sometime later (1 year ?).
I was told the company stopped using plastic parts.

My point is just know your equipment, or ask the manufacturer.

Howie65 · Aug 29, 2015

TimBr said:
Hey, Greg! I had no idea they would use a plastic component that is in a place that I assume it is not possible to inspect. For a life support piece of gear, yet.

My first thought was the Petzl "Ball Lock" family. The ball mechanism is definitely made of plastic.

TimBr · Aug 29, 2015

GregManning said:
My point is just know your equipment, or ask the manufacturer.

Thanks for everything in the above post.

Howie65 said:
My first thought was the Petzl "Ball Lock" family. The ball mechanism is definitely made of plastic.

I will have to look more closely, but I'm not sure you're right about that. It all feels really solid and metallic. They may just make the tip of the button release out of plastic, maybe for comfort's sake. I so far have had no issues with the Petzl ball lock biners. I trust them, so far.

Tim

GregManning · Aug 29, 2015

TimBr said:
I will have to look more closely, but I'm not sure you're right about that. It all feels really solid and metallic. They may just make the tip of the button release out of plastic, maybe for comfort's sake. I so far have had no issues with the Petzl ball lock biners. I trust them, so far.
Tim

Some of the Ball Lock sleeves used to be made of plastic.
They were susceptible to cracking, and need to be inspected. The cracks are easily visible.
I think the design was changed to all metal sleeves.