Notch Stainless Steel Portawrap - Updated

Luzl78 · Mar 28, 2022

Just get rid of it and buy a bucking ham.

Chris Schultz · Mar 28, 2022

I’ve got a buckingham powder coated, and the larger RC drum…. Never had issues with either. I’ve never used one of the Notch brands, I’ve held one at a trade show. The only difference I could see was the gauge steel they used was noticeably thinner. That drum acts like a heat sink. Is it possible that the extra heat created is adding to the friction? (or visa versa?) IDK, but it definitely is not fun (and it’s dangerous) when you need something to run, and it doesn’t…

Edit: then again if it’s not “running” at all, my theory about the heat sink/friction is out…

Vicente · Mar 29, 2022

I have the smaller one never had an issue with it not running outside of user error.

Friedrich · Mar 29, 2022

maybe you talked bad about the roperunner pro and now the notch ghosts haunt you?

MasonH · Mar 29, 2022

Dan Cobb said:
If you (carefully) feel the POW promptly after lowering a piece, you'll know where the friction is being generated - where it's hot. If the heat is not where expected, that may help with troubleshooting.

Interesting idea, cheers

MasonH · Mar 29, 2022

Jonny said:
Stock photo from Google.
If you had two and a half wraps on it, would it look like this?

Have you successfully used Buckingham or other brand portys? There’s a bunch of companies that make them in that design.
View attachment 81105

I've never run 2.5 wraps on it but yeah that's what it would look like. And yes I've used Buck portawraps

MasonH · Mar 29, 2022

Vicente said:
I have the smaller one never had an issue with it not running outside of user error.

Interesting. If this is the case I know a couple of groundies with a grilling on the way but I'll see

MasonH · Mar 29, 2022

Do I call a priest?

Boomslang · Mar 29, 2022

MasonH said:
Interesting. If this is the case I know a couple of groundies with a grilling on the way but I'll see

The best groundie on the crew should be the climber. How many wraps would you have taken on the pieces that locked up on you? If it was less, you should have voiced that. If it was the same, you can't really blame them unless they purposely didn't let it run. In which case get new groundies.

Vicente · Mar 30, 2022

MasonH said:
Interesting. If this is the case I know a couple of groundies with a grilling on the way but I'll see

We usually run a pretty low number of wraps the sterling atlas is my rigging line that runs the easiest through it.

MasonH · Mar 30, 2022

Boomslang said:
The best groundie on the crew should be the climber. How many wraps would you have taken on the pieces that locked up on you? If it was less, you should have voiced that. If it was the same, you can't really blame them unless they purposely didn't let it run. In which case get new groundies.

Right, like I said they followed instructions properly as far as I could tell. I just need to have a closer look at this thing while it's operating to see exactly what the issue is.

Bart_ · Apr 2, 2022

Best I can come up with is the bar stock/rod the eye is made out of might be larger diameter on the notch, possibly also the drum diameter and this could create a better (deeper?) Vee for the rope to wedge into and create a local higher friction point. With the real units to inspect personally you could see if this is so. Basic metal type ought not to account for the difference IMO. Curious to know what you find out.

MasonH · Apr 2, 2022

Bart_ said:
Best I can come up with is the bar stock/rod the eye is made out of might be larger diameter on the notch, possibly also the drum diameter and this could create a better (deeper?) Vee for the rope to wedge into and create a local higher friction point. With the real units to inspect personally you could see if this is so. Basic metal type ought not to account for the difference IMO. Curious to know what you find out.

Good points, that's sort of what I'm expecting to be the issue

treebing · Apr 2, 2022

ive had groundies wrap the wrong way and it will pinch. The portawrap is such a simple design it would be very difficult to make it wrong. too much friction on a portawrap doesnt seem to be a terrible problem to have. you can always take less wraps, or cut bigger.

southsoundtree · Apr 2, 2022

Some people think they have less friction by not using the fairlead, resulting in an abrupt bend, and stronger bite.

MasonH · Apr 3, 2022

Update posted.

southsoundtree · Apr 3, 2022

You need to use each different piece of gear differently.

If this has more bite, use less wraps. Not the device's fault.

The first video could have fallen off the extra 1/2 wrap.

Last week, any wrap was too much with a rigging ring up top, for what the climber was cutting.

I clipped a biner to the top of the POW as a redirect with friction. Still too much at times.

You don't have a way to measure your input force on the POW.

You didn't measure the load and impact force.

Seems like operator error.

southsoundtree · Apr 3, 2022

If you use a ratchet strap above, the POW won't be floppy.

Chris Schultz · Apr 3, 2022

POW has more of a tendency to need heavier pieces, or a running start to work well I’ve found. I like the RC 2000, for whatever reason you can get a more finite amount of friction allowing smaller pieces to “run”.

MasonH · Apr 3, 2022

southsoundtree said:
You need to use each different piece of gear differently.

If this has more bite, use less wraps. Not the device's fault.

The first video could have fallen off the extra 1/2 wrap.

Last week, any wrap was too much with a rigging ring up top, for what the climber was cutting.

I clipped a biner to the top of the POW as a redirect with friction. Still too much at times.

You don't have a way to measure your input force on the POW.

You didn't measure the load and impact force.

Seems like operator error.

Appreciate the feedback