Handbuilt Ascender

Oceans, Do you have a print drawn up for this yet?


oceans said:
This has been on my mind for well over a year now. It seems that every time I reach for my dual handled ascender before a climb, I wish it was smaller. Truthfully, I'd be much more likely to bring it with me more often if it was smaller. That always got me to thinking that it should be foldable without losing any function. I always a fan of gear that can do it all in a small, well designed package. I'm happy to see more and more gear nowadays that fits that mold for us tree people.

This build was specifically done with the Stationary Rope Work Position climber in mind. It was not designed to be tethered to, nor as life-support. It was simply built as an aid for those that may fatigue their hands over time due to ascending lower diameter ropes. A SRWP climber can often encounter a scenario when close to a spar or stem and Rope Walking is not practical. This ascender will work well when coupled with a foot ascender in such a case, and especially well when installing a temporary RADS (3:1 haul-back) for extended high angle limb walks.

This ascender was built from a scrap piece of 1/4" aluminum plate, a broken pallet slat, old throw line, a broken spring, and salvaged hardware...all of which has been waiting patiently in my shop to be reused for considerable time. All shape was created by welding, grinding, and smoothing with a flap disk. This includes the cam, which used a Petzl cam as a template for shape only. Drilling and countersinking was done with a battery powered drill, and the wooden handles were rough cut with a jig saw. It was built without a drawing, and I will admit it went together more like free form sculpture than machined, but I'm ultimately happy with the end result.

While this unit is crude at best, it is completely functional and effective, and it represents something that I would hope to see on the near horizon from gear manufacturers.


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Oceans
oceans said:
This has been on my mind for well over a year now. It seems that every time I reach for my dual handled ascender before a climb, I wish it was smaller. Truthfully, I'd be much more likely to bring it with me more often if it was smaller. That always got me to thinking that it should be foldable without losing any function. I always a fan of gear that can do it all in a small, well designed package. I'm happy to see more and more gear nowadays that fits that mold for us tree people.

This build was specifically done with the Stationary Rope Work Position climber in mind. It was not designed to be tethered to, nor as life-support. It was simply built as an aid for those that may fatigue their hands over time due to ascending lower diameter ropes. A SRWP climber can often encounter a scenario when close to a spar or stem and Rope Walking is not practical. This ascender will work well when coupled with a foot ascender in such a case, and especially well when installing a temporary RADS (3:1 haul-back) for extended high angle limb walks.

This ascender was built from a scrap piece of 1/4" aluminum plate, a broken pallet slat, old throw line, a broken spring, and salvaged hardware...all of which has been waiting patiently in my shop to be reused for considerable time. All shape was created by welding, grinding, and smoothing with a flap disk. This includes the cam, which used a Petzl cam as a template for shape only. Drilling and countersinking was done with a battery powered drill, and the wooden handles were rough cut with a jig saw. It was built without a drawing, and I will admit it went together more like free form sculpture than machined, but I'm ultimately happy with the end result.

While this unit is crude at best, it is completely functional and effective, and it represents something that I would hope to see on the near horizon from gear manufacturers.


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JontreeHI said:
Funny you say that, I happen to have two, ready willing and able!
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Oh, rad! We're in business! I'd like to hit the PNW with at least two of these. That way I can hear in person..."I love this thing!", or, "Uhhhhh, yyyeaaahh. Might have to go back to the drawing board, dude." Hopefully the first. :)
 
JontreeHI said:
Awesome-you're coming out? I have no doubt that it will be the first!. Let me know Eric!
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I have a few places to get to...a few handful of climbers I want to meet and learn from. I will be hitting a few spots on the Left Coast without a doubt. Hopefully we can get some time together.
 
Thanks for the bump, Mike. All I can say is it's really close, but the last leg may be the toughest to get through. Unfortunately, I don't have no idea what the timeframe may be. :(
 
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