Broken Aluminum Ring!

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You've done a great service for all climbers. Thanks for taking the time, and money, to have the tests done.

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I glady accept donations, Hahahahahaha! It was a snow day here, something to do. Anyway, it always makes me feel better about the gear I ride.
 
Yeah thanks a lot No Bivy!

I know that hammer technique wouldn't make it into any scientific journals. I guess the moral may be again, to always inspect your gear.

No bivy, did you mention earlier that you don't use alluminum carabiners, only steel?

jp
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Yeah thanks a lot No Bivy!

I know that hammer technique wouldn't make it into any scientific journals. I guess the moral may be again, to always inspect your gear.

No bivy, did you mention earlier that you don't use alluminum carabiners, only steel?

jp
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alum. = personal support
Steel = rigging
And yes I will ride steel too!!!
 
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I'm switching to the biggest clevis I can find...LOL
Thanks for the tests, I just got a new Aluminum ring!

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Hey Roger, aren't you glad you didn't go with the rock star gold one now !!! LOL
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aluminum has its place (i guess) , but not for me. None, nada zilch. All my biners are steel, minimum of 45kn rating. the very slight weight difference is not an issue for me when working. When rec climbing, no biners, just a harness, rope and a plethora of hitches and knots
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Just wondering what kind of saddle you climb with? most saddles that are on the market have alum. attachment points.



I climb with 10-12 biners on my saddle, if i converted all of these to steel, i would weigh 1000 pounds. Not to mention, i would have to give up all of my cool gear(rope guide, lock jack, ascenders, .....).

Rob

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i climb on a BASHLIN X, with STEEL attachment points. There is a thick aluminum machined plate to clip into on the bridge, but i have replaced that with a 80kn rated forged steel ring.
 
Great test NoBivy!!!! thank you for doing that! can you test the FIXE steel ring now and maybe a few D shackles??/ pleeeze pleeze pleeeze????

i'm still usign steel for my suport though... :)-
 
Now that was great evidence for the conclusion!
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What impresses me most is John went out and did scientific research/testing to back up what he was thinking. It is important to "back yourself" up before you make huge claims on any subject.

Hats off to you John!
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Great test NoBivy!!!! thank you for doing that! can you test the FIXE steel ring now and maybe a few D shackles??/ pleeeze pleeze pleeeze????

i'm still usign steel for my suport though... :)-

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Sure, a break test is 20$, send me your stuff plus cash, I'll do it, no problem.
 
Great job of inspecting your gear before each use. I have never heard of an aluminum FS ring cracking and/or breaking. I have inspected 100's of them. It does appear that your ring does have some pitting and wear on it.
Thanks for sharing this useful info.
 
Earlier this week I was making a new adjustable friction saver. I took an old aluminum big ring from a Buckingham Friction Saver that was pitted from many falls onto concrete, scratched from much abuse and stuck it in the vise. I beat the crap out of it but all it did was bend and deform but that is about it. Even after I cut it 3/4 of the way through with a hack saw it still wouldn't break and only after cutting it all the way through was I able to bend it enough to get it off of the friction saver.

I know it wasn't scientific but this being said I don't understand how No Bivy's ring cracked with so little effort.

I'd like to have an expert look at it and give their opinion.
 
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I know it wasn't scientific but this being said I don't understand how No Bivy's ring cracked with so little effort.

I'd like to have an expert look at it and give their opinion.

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You've have mixed up the members' names. TLHamel is the member who's ring broke. No Bivy is the member who had some rings break tested and they tested to spec and beyond.

How No Bivys' break testing of a couple of rings relates to the owner of a ring like TLHamels' that broke so easily is not so clear. The suggestion seems to be TLHamels' ring was not defective.......but it obviously was, so we are left hanging (hopefully!) if you will pardon the pun.

TLHamels' experience seems to be an isolated case and I know we all hope it stays that way.
 
I have seen those rings before and I don't think they're from Sherrill.
Any dealer or manufacturer info would be great.
The Buckingham rings are much safer than those gold/bronze colored anodized rings.
 
The aluminum rings probably came from U.S. Rigging originally. I have purchased quite a few from them and have never seen any problems with the quality. Whether or not they actually manufacture them or buy them from someone else is another question.
 
"The suggestion seems to be TLHamels' ring was not defective.......but it obviously was, so we are left hanging..."

Thank you, TreeCo. This is what I've been trying to say. What now? Who did manufacture this ring? What are their quality control methods?


"The Buckingham rings are much safer than those gold/bronze colored anodized rings."

Amen to that, Norm. I only use Buckingham or ART rings now. I believe they are milled. Perhaps not, but reputable companies anyway.
 
Milled aluminum would deform more before it breaks. Cast would snap from the strike from a hammer. Both are plenty strong for personal support. My climbing rack has all alumin. and takes more of a beating then my tree gear. We should not scare ourselves from a hammer test. Those rings may not be as good as ART rings. I have never heard of any ring failing from climbers body weight and probably never will. Dropping your gear on concrete from height is down right foolish. I still believe we cannot say TLhamel's ring was defective. A random sampling of rings from sherrill tested to break would be the only way to identify a problem. MAybe you all can convince him, he surfs here too I think. Sherrill has a test machine as well, I think?

Please stop eluding to a "hammer test" as a sign of strength.
 
One other thought. During the test the ring I blew out defromed for almost 4000lbs before it broke(14k). In fact it strecthed almost three inches. I'll ride my again to be sure!
 
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Milled aluminum would deform more before it breaks. Cast would snap from the strike from a hammer. Both are plenty strong for personal support. [/quote ]


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Purchased this friction saver ring from Sherrill early 2006. Pre-climb inspection revealed three hairline cracks. My initial thought was that only the colored coating had split.

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Sounds like a flaw, that the hammer did not cause. If there are hairline cracks along the lines as presented in the picture, that seems to be a serious issue. now if the ring had been dropped on to some hard surfaces, like concrete thats another issue, assuming it hadnt. Well then what?
 
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