Need a new mechanical

From the BlackBird thread a good point was brought up by member @Lupin_IV
The Unicender was mentioned by @ATH It may be an awesome option. I find my self doing spar work and it leaves me using the ZZ as another flip line for a double tie in. Trouble is, there's no bailout option. It serves as more of a security blanket. The Uni solves this issue. Again, I want something able for mid line attachment. Not interested in a RR or Akimbo because I don't like the working end of the rope terminating on the bridge, when using for MRT.

I've watched Reon Rounds in action using the Uni for bail out on spars....I had forgotten all about this.
So to those who have flown the Uni, your thought are wanted. How smooth is the Uni without the add ons?
Are the add ons almost necessary? I think one was called the barrel?
 
96coal449 said:
From the BlackBird thread a good point was brought up by member @Lupin_IV
The Unicender was mentioned by @ATH It may be an awesome option. I find my self doing spar work and it leaves me using the ZZ as another flip line for a double tie in. Trouble is, there's no bailout option. It serves as more of a security blanket. The Uni solves this issue. Again, I want something able for mid line attachment. Not interested in a RR or Akimbo because I don't like the working end of the rope terminating on the bridge, when using for MRT.

I've watched Reon Rounds in action using the Uni for bail out on spars....I had forgotten all about this.
So to those who have flown the Uni, your thought are wanted. How smooth is the Uni without the add ons?
Are the add ons almost necessary? I think one was called the barrel?
Click to expand...
For straight bail outs off of the crane, I think terminating to the bridge is a non issue. I understand the issue with actually climbing on it. I use the Akimbo on a longer rope when my normal crane rope comes up short that has a zigzag on it.


As for the uni, I don't have any off the shelf mods on mine, but I did make a captive bar with bearing rollers for tending slack. I'll look for a pic. I can't remember the last time I did much repelling in doubled rope on it but I seem to remember it being smoother in srt for descents
 
96coal449 said:
From the BlackBird thread a good point was brought up by member @Lupin_IV
The Unicender was mentioned by @ATH It may be an awesome option. I find my self doing spar work and it leaves me using the ZZ as another flip line for a double tie in. Trouble is, there's no bailout option. It serves as more of a security blanket. The Uni solves this issue. Again, I want something able for mid line attachment. Not interested in a RR or Akimbo because I don't like the working end of the rope terminating on the bridge, when using for MRT.

I've watched Reon Rounds in action using the Uni for bail out on spars....I had forgotten all about this.
So to those who have flown the Uni, your thought are wanted. How smooth is the Uni without the add ons?
Are the add ons almost necessary? I think one was called the barrel?
Click to expand...
Personally I can’t speak to modified unicender/usage on spars. I’ve only climbed on one a couple times and don’t have enough hours flying one to give a comprehensive review. I’ve seen that Climbing innovations sells a drum and wear plate to prolong the integrity of the hardware would be my guess.
climbing-innovations.myshopify.com

Climbing Gear

climbing-innovations.myshopify.com climbing-innovations.myshopify.com
 
Is that captive bar aluminum or steel? Suspect aluminum might not bend nicely. Have a vague recollection of seeing your mod back in the day. You could say I was greener to the game back then. The skateboard bearings twigs a memory.
 
Bart_ said:
Is that captive bar aluminum or steel? Suspect aluminum might not bend nicely. Have a vague recollection of seeing your mod back in the day. You could say I was greener to the game back then. The skateboard bearings twigs a memory.
Click to expand...
Yes, I posted those pictures back in 2020. I actually found that old post to screenshot and reshare them verses finding them on my phone.

It is an aluminum rod, I picked it up from a Rural King. Bent it with a hammer and a vice.

Two negatives to the mod. You do have to cut off a portion of the factory bar, this makes room for the bearings. If your ok with tending on the stock bar you could probably modify my design some to keep it in tackt apart from drilling and tapping.

2nd negative, this design does get rid of a nice feature of the Uni, which is being able to go on and off the rope without taking the Uni off of your bridge. A work around to prevent dropping it. Open remove from the bridge. Swing the captive bar open and reattach to the bridge. Remove the rope like normal.
 
To shave down weight get someone to machine a teflon or delrinAF pulley, maybe with rope groove, to replace the steel bearings.
 
Going to revisit some BDB threads, and wait for some more views on the new products before deciding. I don't want to invest at the moment anyways. I'll keep making do for now. Besides I really need a new to me replacement pickup. Getting myself back into a diesel would be superb. The only decent trucks around here are 15k and up. Might as well read up on the Uni too.
 
The uni with a barrel was one of the best devices I ever used. Problem is the uni wears out kinda quick. The barrel is kind of like a rope wrench for the uni, attached to the top hole. I've only seen 2 that my old friend had, he gave me one. It eliminated the need to wrap the rope around the top. He also had a uni with stainless steel inserts.
 
levi r said:
The uni with a barrel was one of the best devices I ever used. Problem is the uni wears out kinda quick. The barrel is kind of like a rope wrench for the uni, attached to the top hole. I've only seen 2 that my old friend had, he gave me one. It eliminated the need to wrap the rope around the top. He also had a uni with stainless steel inserts.
Click to expand...
I hear that and it's been on my mind. On the path of a BDB more, then MAYBE getting a blackbird at another date to play with.....depending on reviews.
 
levi r said:
The uni with a barrel was one of the best devices I ever used. Problem is the uni wears out kinda quick. The barrel is kind of like a rope wrench for the uni, attached to the top hole. I've only seen 2 that my old friend had, he gave me one. It eliminated the need to wrap the rope around the top. He also had a uni with stainless steel inserts.
Click to expand...
Very good to know - glad to have even a small bit of input haha. Have a monster black willow crane removal coming up next month that is definitely pushing me to see if I can snag one. I don’t think it’s a device I would use on the regular but it seems to be the proper tool for this situation if the descents are okay. No real limb walking. Wrapping the rope for srt descent will not hinder anything because not much for technical movement. Adjustable tether would be nice when going up a couple feet with no ascenders.

Would definitely go for a used one if it pops up on treebay @Njdelaney - will keep an eye out.
 
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Just found a 12 year old thread discussing the barrel for the uni on arbtalk - not sure if I’d want the top termination hole gone but it sure is cool sounding. Looks like Thompson sold it on his website in the past. The uni is way underground I guess.
 
Before I settled on the adjustable bridge configuration I got the Adjustment under the Uni

There are many configurations.

I like how DMM has taken my adjustable bridge concept to such a tidy solution
 
Tom Dunlap said:
@Lupin_IV

Richard Mumfords solution is the next iteration. It works great

Why do you say that the Uni is underground
Click to expand...
I say that not because it is invisible, but because it is barely talked about within more popular circles and its potential seems to be unknown to most. Myself included. Richard Mumford does has a great video on YouTube, but there is very few others that talk about it. There was less than a page of what seemed to be reputable videos last time I checked. It’s rare (in my experience) to find someone online or in person mention they use the uni as a primary device or even have familiarity with it. This thread even took awhile to bring it up despite it matching the criteria immediately described.

I would have pulled the trigger on a brand new one years ago but half the people that talk about it say it’s frustrating despite its obvious capabilities.

Anyway - that may all be moot now.
 
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