Awah Z3 fire

[Colin1234567]

I want one. Arbsesh is selling them for around $2400. On eBay there are multiple vendors from China selling what look to be the same exact thing for around $900. I want to buy from an American vendor but obvi $1500 in savings is a lot of coin. Does anybody know anything about this?

 

[Colin1234567]

Asked chatty and answered my own question. Chinese “grey-market” direct to consumer. It is not counterfeit- it’s not CE marked and it probably won’t be serviced by an American network. So that $1500 buys you a CE stamp and dealer service. Lots to mull over.

 

[treegongfu]

I know about them. AWAH IS a Chinese company and a Chinese product. You can by them directly from China. The markup for the North American market is obscene. I use the AWAH Z3 MINI. It isn't sold outside China as far as I know. It's advantage is that it works on rope diameters up to 13mm. It is smaller which is good but it has a lower wll and it may be harder on your rope.

 

[Bart_]

Google gave ali express with a unit for $122.38 Can. ! At that price, paint "not PPE" on it and use it for ground ops only till it breaks.

Treegongfu, can you dial caliper measure the O.D. and what I call the "groove diameter" of the pulley groove channel (just dia at bottom of channel) just for reference sake? This goes back to chasing sheave design from the Wraptor days. There was a push to squeeze down sheave diameters.

 

[southsoundtree]

I know about them. AWAH IS a Chinese company and a Chinese product. You can by them directly from China. The markup for the North American market is obscene. I use the AWAH Z3 MINI. It isn't sold outside China as far as I know. It's advantage is that it works on rope diameters up to 13mm. It is smaller which is good but it has a lower wll and it may be harder on your rope.

I know a guy in China...hmm

I know about them. AWAH IS a Chinese company and a Chinese product. You can by them directly from China. The markup for the North American market is obscene. I use the AWAH Z3 MINI. It isn't sold outside China as far as I know. It's advantage is that it works on rope diameters up to 13mm. It is smaller which is good but it has a lower wll and it may be harder on your rope.

How does one get one direct?

 

[Colin1234567]

I know about them. AWAH IS a Chinese company and a Chinese product. You can by them directly from China. The markup for the North American market is obscene. I use the AWAH Z3 MINI. It isn't sold outside China as far as I know. It's advantage is that it works on rope diameters up to 13mm. It is smaller which is good but it has a lower wll and it may be harder on your rope.

And you have to take the drill off to descend? That’s why I was thinking fire. Appreciate the input.

 

[treegongfu]

I get them through Taobao Chinese language interface. They might be available through their Eng version but fewer products are. I would have to check.
I think Taobao might not ship dIrectly to the USA , but it does to Canada.

$900.00 USD is still a good markup I can get it to the door for about $700.00 CAD.

Southsound, your guy in China should know about Taobao and cld get it delivered to him.

 

[treegongfu]

Colin, detaching the drill just means pulling out and even if you are in an excited state from your new tool it is more fool proof than the traditional "pool out" method.

All joking aside, they are both the same in that regard as far as I recall. Generally I wldn't descend much with the drill in because it is big, in your face and can fall out.

 

[treegongfu]

They have the Z3 Fire and the Z3 pro that are the same but for the fact that the Fire has the built in swivel. They are for ropes between 9-13 mm. With a camp gyro on my bridge I don't think there is noticeable difference.

Then they have the Z3 mini. It has the swivel and is lighter with a 100kg weight limit but works on ropes from 9-13 mm.

They have literature for a Z3 Tank for ropes from 9-13 mm. But other than mention of it in their lit. I can find no trace of it.

Their are numerous other Chinese companies with their own versions that are probably knock offs. Some of the brands seem to have a larger Chinese presence but I can't really ascertain quality and the prices are similar.