NICCS Method

It makes sense. I like it. I have tried to hide my lock stitches, in part to reduce abrasion and in part to annoy gear inspectors at climbing competitions :)

Have there been any differences in breaking strength?
 
Nope, but I've only tested it on one break.

Even if it did have a slight reduction in ultimate break strength, I'd still use it because I think it's safer in the long run...it just can't go away!

If there was a drastic drop in final breaking strength, obviously that'd be a prob, but so far so good. There are more on the slate to be busted.

I've been using this technique for a couple years now and it gets done to every splice that leaves my splicing bench. Some ALSO get whipped. A few of the splices have been asked about in gear inspections and passed. Some have been passed with the inspector not even noticing/asking about it, and my favorite was someone who reported to me that they were in a competition and the inspector asked about the lack of whipping and the climber just responded, "I don't know...NickfromWI did it." The inspector asked no more questions and let it go! I was pumped to hear that....

I've not yet heard of an inspector NOT letting one through. I'm sure it'll happen soon.

love
nick
 
The one concern I have is that at a glance, you can't quickly tell the difference from one that has been stitched and one that hasn't. If people get in to the habit of doing their ropes like this, then they'll get in the habit of seeing them seeming NOT stitched.

Then one day they'll have a rope by someone that was never stitched, but THINK it was stitched.

I know this isn't a problem for me...I know all mine were stitched, and I know how to verify it (scoot strands over to find a few stitchings). I know the guy that splices my ropes...so that's not the problem.

I have an in house method to mark that something has already been stitched. Typically before an order gets boxed up, I'll go and cut all the loose ends off like in the pdf. But
I've intentionally sent out some splices with a tail of thread sticking out of them. Thinking it would show the recipient, "hey, look what I did! This HAS been stitched."

Typically if I send them out like this, they contact me asking what it is, and I tell them they can cut it off. One guy told me that he left it because it reminds him that it IS stitched.

I wonder if they should all have a little thread hanging off it?

love
nick
 
you da man nick!

jp
grin.gif
 
Nick I noticed that on the footlock prussik when I recieved it I was like what the hell. Then I got to looking and figured out what it was. I still owe you for that by the way. It's later in march I'll be out your way. I would love to check out your splicing stuff and get some tips.
 
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