ISC D4

Thanks for the pics and review as well Jim. I have not had a chance to really test out the D4 since I got it, but hopefully will this weekend.

I will try it out on KMIII, Sterling HTP and Yale Kernmaster and see which one I like best.
 
been running the d4 with kernmaster for a week or 4 and its real sweet. one handed motion is super smooth once you get it, the anti panic is frustrating at first but super simple once its dialled in. noticing a bit of wear on the carabiner hole but there is a tonne of metal there. great base anchor as its super super solid. i like .
 
http://youtu.be/CxhfPMV6cIw

Some practice views from me dialing in the one hand control while swinging out and down to an adjacent tree. I was switching hands on the handle to get use to that as well. It is starting to feel more and more like a hitch now. I am glad I put the extension on it as well.
 
I use a rope access harness so I don't have a bridge to connect to. This way I can still keep the extension and the D4 away from my hip. You will get use to the panic, once you do it is like butter.
 
Currently the Petzl Jane cowstails. Although I'm not a big fan of it. I will be going with some other dynamic line in the future. I like to have a long cowstail even though "the rules" say you should only have the length be arms length long.that just does not work out when aid climbing a ceiling or bridge.
 
Scottyrunner100 said:
@Fairfield
Really old tread but anything new to add about likes/dislikes of the D4?
The Webinar has peaked my interest.
Any mishaps with the locking button mechanism?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Hey Scotty! So wow this is an old post I never thought would come back up again!!! Thanks Rich for the webinar and @TreeStuff & @bonner1040 really good class for sure! For tree work I see a huge amount of good reason to put your money into a D4. Granted I don't see someone really using it for working a tree SRT really unless that is what they are most comfortable with, but obviously their are way better options. What I do see it HIGHLY useful for are rescues, complex rigging ig; highlines, speedlines, controlled cradle lowering, compounded raising to lowering when more the the GRCS is needed. I had to go to church for most of the webinar so I am not sure what all Rich had hit on with it ( keeping in mind it seemed the class was mostly hitting on rescue). Like what was mentioned there though about a hitch cord slipping prior to breaking same goes for the D4 as well as a RIG and I'D.... ... ( I like the D4 more then those though due to the one handed ability of use and not needing to add extra friction during a two person load rescue). Never personally had and issue or scares with the locking button.
 
Thanks for the additional info. Was given a chance to try one but quickly went back to the familiar Rig, couldn’t get use to the spinning handle during the short time I used it.
I’m comfortable with the Rig and I’d S having used those with SPRAT, and the I’D L for TRT in the Fire service. After the Webinar seeing that no added friction was necessary for rescue sounds good. Along with the one-handed use, although I haven’t seen the one-handed use anywhere written other than out here. I seen it for slopping terrain but not full vertical (not doubting just haven’t seen it).
Other than the panic lock (which the I’d has) is there other reasons you feel the D4 is safer than the Rig? Considering giving the D4 another try.
 
Other then the panic lock the only other thing in my mind that has stood out is on a heavy load side of things ( like a rescue or heavy rigging) . As I am sure you have noticed with the I’D or the Rig when you have a rescue load on and you go to descend (with extra friction) it can be a bit rough getting the handle to pull down and descend . I personally have had two I’Ds and one Rig break on me while on Rope doing this with a person hanging off my system. One of the Times was during my level two SPRAT test..... and it was not my device.... it was Trolls....... not only did he want to kick my ass but he also didn’t give two s|%£ that it was a test, I had to continue on with what I had to finish the rescue ( was thanking God that day that I love being put in those positions!! Ate that up!). The D4 on the other hand has not given me that tension when having a load and I have yet to be able to break the gear in it. That’s not to say that it has not been done though, I just hadn’t done it....yet. For fire Service Work I like it more then the large device that my company uses ( sorry having a brain fart and forget the name of it). I think any device that is to be used for Rope Work in the rescue service for the most part should be easily used as a single climber on Rope acting alone. That’s just a personal view that I know is not looked at the same from others. But, in my mind if you are going to be called a Rope tech especially if Pro Board vertex you damn well better be able to work solo on Rope and complete a rescue...... wonder why I’m not a High angle instructor for my County School...LOL!
 
Interesting, I guess we haven't used the I'D for that purpose enough to encounter that problem. Didn't have a problem in SPRAT with them. So it was the handle/cam that broke?
Did the other device happen to be the MPD? We use those as well and they are not user friendly for a tech to use on Rope alone.
Thanks again for taking the time to share your input and experience with both devices. Good stuff.
 
It was the gear that broke on all occasions. Year the MPD. I like the MPD but it really only dumbs down a device to the lowest denominator imo. It basically reinforces that thought that rescues have to be team played when we know that’s not the case. Again though, I tend to be harder on subjects then most lol. So I understand when someone doesn’t see it the same way.
 
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