Delta link in place of large ring on a "soft 8" / "flint locker" canopy anchor device

[Phil]

All the black friday deals convinced me to pull the trigger on a few items I don't need but have always wanted to toy around with. One being the flint locker/soft 8. I've scoured the threads on this forum as best I could to see the different ways folks make their own or tweak how they implement the deployment of the flint locker. This brought me to the delta link as a replacement for the large ring as an option for a midline attachable version...in lieu of a say a quickie. It has always been my understanding, without being able to find any sort of published instructions, that a delta link meeting the minimum life support strength rating is acceptable to use in a choking/side loading configuration. I bought a few stainless 3/8" deltas as they are just generally useful links but plan to make my own flint locker with a delta in place of the large ring. So a few questions:

Is side loading a delta link considered a safe and acceptable practice industry wide?
Is there a difference between a galvanized delta and a stainless delta of the same size? Is one better suited than the other?

 

[Muggs]

All the black friday deals convinced me to pull the trigger on a few items I don't need but have always wanted to toy around with. One being the flint locker/soft 8. I've scoured the threads on this forum as best I could to see the different ways folks make their own or tweak how they implement the deployment of the flint locker. This brought me to the delta link as a replacement for the large ring as an option for a midline attachable version...in lieu of a say a quickie. It has always been my understanding, without being able to find any sort of published instructions, that a delta link meeting the minimum life support strength rating is acceptable to use in a choking/side loading configuration. I bought a few stainless 3/8" deltas as they are just generally useful links but plan to make my own flint locker with a delta in place of the large ring. So a few questions:

Is side loading a delta link considered a safe and acceptable practice industry wide?
Is there a difference between a galvanized delta and a stainless delta of the same size? Is one better suited than the other?

I love the stainless delta link. Side loading it is fine. Technically (to spec) it's supposed to be tightened with a wrench, a little 5/8 stubby will do, but to me it's fine just wrenching it on tight by hand, even better if you're wearing grippy gloves. The number of turns it would take, under load, to open right up is a lot, I just don't see it happening by accident. Just my opinion. JB Holdway has a nice little mod for a stubby wrench that he just leaves on the delta, he grinds off the open wrench end and keeps the box end hanging on there:

 

[Phil]

This was my understanding so good to verify. I am in agreement that hand tightening is plenty secure. I'm sure we have a plethora of random box wrenches at the shop that would fit the bill for leaving on the link. If nothing else, it'll make it easier to find when I inevitably drop it.

 

[Neill]

Crows foot wrench with a bit of throwline to keep it on the delta is another option

 

[Mowerr]

You can also put some grippy tape stuff on the gate so that it's easier to tighten it more by hand....I forget what it's called but when I used to use quick links, I really like it.
Ita definitely felt like I could get it tighter whether I had gloves or not and also made it easier,quicker to open and close.
Ofcourse...if you do this you won't be using a wrench. Which I agree your totally fine not torqueing it down with a wrench

 

[southsoundtree]

Where does this shine compare to a basal-tie?

Is it to avoid damage from ground crew, primarily?

 

[Phil]

Where does this shine compare to a basal-tie?

Is it to avoid damage from ground crew, primarily?

I wouldn't really compare it to a basal tie. It's just another choking canopy anchor. A perk is that the Delta link is way cheaper than a quickie and doesn't have the issue of potentially loading a slic pin incorrectly and gloves actually make the Delta easier to open/close.

A lot of times I ascend on a running bowline Yosemite canopy anchor and swap to MRS to advance higher. My expected use for the flint locker is to set it up as a canopy tip with the splice crab blocked in the small ring. That will make the swap really easy. No knots and my terminal crab is already up top. Using a Delta in place of a solid ring is just a way to make it be a bit more convenient in some circumstances.

 

[southsoundtree]

I guess I posted the question in the wrong Flintlocker thread.

Thanks for the info.

I'm always trying to pick up tricks.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I slip on a short piece of old BigShot tubing to the gate of screwlinks. If I finger tighten using this sleeve I can't unscrew the gate with my fingers only. Just a fewmore pounds to give a bit of security.

JBs cutoff boxend is brilliant

 

[Steve Connally]

I used JB’s hack for a long time. I believe @Richard Mumford-yoyoman had some data years ago what the average male finger tightness is related to the torque spec and it exceeded it. The wrench, from my
Recollection, was more for when it got overtightened by whatever forces. I could be mistaken

 

[Lviv79]

Never use wrench to tight delta ring or mailon rapide and all is good.
Especially in flint locker configuration when delta will be pressed to wood .
On thing how it will be on easy on retreive ?

 

[Richard Mumford-yoyoman]

I used JB’s hack for a long time. I believe @Richard Mumford-yoyoman had some data years ago what the average male finger tightness is related to the torque spec and it exceeded it. The wrench, from my
Recollection, was more for when it got overtightened by whatever forces. I could be mistaken

True fact a normal strength person wearing grippy gloves can tighten a 5/16 screw link to the specifications.

PS I consider myself normal but many have disagreed over the years.