Inscribing gear

Mahk_Adams

Mahk_Adams

Location
Bloomington, Indiana
Anyone have any information about etching something onto gear such as carabiners and ascenders? I know that some companies and some individuals do it, and I haven't heard of any accidents because of it, but I wonder if there have been any studies on this. In a cursory look through my own gear it seems that manufacturers either paint or use raised letters to put information on their products.

Thanks.

Mahk
 
If you are worried about someone stealing your equipment I don't think your name etched on it will help. If you don't want to get it mixed up with co-workers use small spots of paint.
 
I have used an engraving tool on the gate of an autolocking carabiner, No hits on anything structural. It looked really good on red anodizing. I used my computer to print out my friends name in a cool font on a mailing lable, stuck it on the gate and engraved right through the paper for a professional looking gift.

I don't know if I would want to do it on a structural part.

Dave
 
I have no solid information, Mahk, but it has always been advised against in the USFS Tree Climbers Guide. Not to say that there are no errors or outright incorrect statements there. Maybe this is just an old wives' tale, but the theory seems to be that the vibratory etching process somehow can weaken the metal's chrystaline structure...a little hard to believe, but what do I know about metalurgy??? I think it's supposed to be more of a risk with aluminum. I hope someone has some real information, 'cause I've wondered about this myself.
 
I have a small inscriber with some sort of carbide tip. If I used it along the spine of a carabiner, it would do little more than scratch through the anodizing. I would not hesitate to do this to mark equipment.

Now if you're talking about engraving a 16th of an inch groove into it...well, that's another story.

love
nick
 
i think any structral shaping for support in aluminum would be the most sensitive part/easiest to violate structural strength; especially in chance leveraged position loading. Gate might be best, as it is just sheath and pin/hook is loaded support i think.
 
Here's what I have rolling around in my memory. It seems to me that Paolo told me that engraving on the gate is accepted. I'll see if I can find out some more.

After spending time talking with Denny Moorehouse about the issue of crystaline structure I believe it's folk tales. Here's what Denny says about the whole thing, "Rubbish!"

If someone has the inclination, do a search at one of these sites:

http://www.rockclimbing.com/forums/

http://groups.google.com/groups?oi=djq&as_ugroup=rec.climbing

When going through rec.climbing you need to keep your BS boots on. Too often threads turn into spitting matches. But there also some very knowledgeable people who post. Since structural engineers like to climb rocks they will share insights that we could only hope to get in arborculture.
 

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If the surface is cold worked or case hardened it would make a difference, also the alloy used. Stress cracks can occur where the cross section changes due to scratches, corrosion, or defects in the metal.
When you use an engraving tool, the metal is changed beyond the surface of the metal. It is work hardened beyond the engraving mark. Variation in the hardness of the metal concentrates stress. Probably voids the warrantee and any liability the company may have regarding your premature death.
 
I'm aware of steel climbers that failed because someone used a steel stamp kit to punch their initials into the leg irons.
Have you noticed that Buckingham isn't stamping their climbers L& R anymore?
 
The accepted place for engraving Caribina's is the gate or the back of the spine...
On other gear it should be a non load bearing part.
As for Spikes if you need left and right on them then you probably need it on your boots too

Didj
 
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[ QUOTE ]
The accepted place for engraving Caribina's is the gate or the back of the spine...
On other gear it should be a non load bearing part.
As for Spikes if you need left and right on them then you probably need it on your boots too

Didj

[/ QUOTE ]

And the back of the spine is a non-load bearing part????

Seems like the locking BARREL of the gate, as mentioned by Mahk and shown by Dave, would be fine, but when people say the gate is ok, I think the same questions of strength compromise would apply. Most likely people are meaning the barrel.

But the bottom line to me comes from Tom D.'s quoting Denny Morehouse. If Denny Morehouse thinks it's rubbish, it probably is.
 
Yeah, I think y'all are getting worked up for nothing.

Granted, the steel stamps that you punch into the metal....I wouldn't be down with that, but scratching...we do more damage in a few weeks worth of climbing!

love
nick
 
I no longer climb trees for money and have not for a few years now. I am a millwright/industrial rigger and as such have some experience with metalurgy.

Have a look at the attached photo of me beside a broken steel tie rod for a large injection mold machine I helped replace. If you look at the break you can see where it all started (5 oclock on the face). All it was was a tiny ding that apparently happened during installation. Over the period of about 5 months the weak spot turned into a crack that spread to about 50% before it snapped. I would not recommend scratching / engraving on any structural area of a carabiner.

Dave
 

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