JeffGu
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Osceola, Nebraska
I use ordinary garden hose washers because they're dirt cheap... I figure out the number by getting geared up and spike in a foot off the ground on a telephone pole or tree. I use a second lanyard with some slack in it to stop me from falling over backwards. I stick two washers on a quick link and lean back into it and add more accordingly. I don't tell anyone how many to use, because that depends on how much you weigh, the angle you're comfortable at, the gear you're toting up the tree, etc. and will vary a LOT between climbers. I basically figure out how many will hold me with some intentional bouncing around and mild shock loading, then add one more for good measure. Obviously, in the tree, you MUST be tied off on a climb line. I keep the breakaway on my D ring with a quick link, and a second quicklink to clip the lanyard onto. It works for me, and the you can buy the washers anywhere... I buy a 50-pack at a time, so they're consistent.
I think trying to choose a breakaway (failure) force is silly... it needs to be a force that's a bit more than what holds you while working. Only a real-world test with the gear you'll be using can tell you that. A 250-lb. climber is going to need more resistance to breaking than a 120-lb. climber, and a guy with a MS-660 will need more than a same-weight climber toting a MS-150 and a handsaw.
I've only had the breakaway do its job once... and it wasn't a Circle of Death scenario... just a big piece that swung back and I grabbed as it hit me. I ended up on the climb line, and it sure as hell was a little scary, because I wasn't expecting it. But, that's the whole point, isn't it? I was very happy, though, because I found out that the goofy, hillbilly engineering actually worked. I confess, I really haven't looked for a better system since then. I only use it on very rare occasions, usually dead pines which are everywhere these days.
I think anything that does the job is okay, but cheap is good. Dirt cheap is real good. You want to test the thing out, preferably re-testing whenever you think there's a significant weight or gear change or you just want the peace of mind you get from testing something again, before you risk your life depending on it. If it's cheap to replace the components, you'll be more likely to do that.
I think trying to choose a breakaway (failure) force is silly... it needs to be a force that's a bit more than what holds you while working. Only a real-world test with the gear you'll be using can tell you that. A 250-lb. climber is going to need more resistance to breaking than a 120-lb. climber, and a guy with a MS-660 will need more than a same-weight climber toting a MS-150 and a handsaw.
I've only had the breakaway do its job once... and it wasn't a Circle of Death scenario... just a big piece that swung back and I grabbed as it hit me. I ended up on the climb line, and it sure as hell was a little scary, because I wasn't expecting it. But, that's the whole point, isn't it? I was very happy, though, because I found out that the goofy, hillbilly engineering actually worked. I confess, I really haven't looked for a better system since then. I only use it on very rare occasions, usually dead pines which are everywhere these days.
I think anything that does the job is okay, but cheap is good. Dirt cheap is real good. You want to test the thing out, preferably re-testing whenever you think there's a significant weight or gear change or you just want the peace of mind you get from testing something again, before you risk your life depending on it. If it's cheap to replace the components, you'll be more likely to do that.
