Prussik cord purchasing

wct4life

wct4life

Location
Columbus Ohio
Some history first.

I'm the only one at my company that has been climbing with an advanced hitch set-up. For about the past month or two, Ive been showing others the benefits of this system. While at a trade show, I bought severval different tresse cords to experiment with and pass along to coworkers after training. Well as some of you know, I'm leaving my company and I want to leave them with a list of places to buy the proper cord as they need it. This coming Monday I have to give a safety speech inwhich I'll use the time to praise the benefits of this setup. This is the list that I've comprised so far. More or less, I was wondering if anyone had any other suggestions? All thoughts welcome.
 
www.frescoarborist.com

Pumpkin line 9mm 4,350lbs
Yalex 3/8” 6,000lbs

www.sailnet.com

Sta-Set 3/8” 4,400lbs
Sta-Set X 3/8” 5,500lbs
T-900 3/8” 11,800lbs

www.wtsherrill.com

Ultra-tech* 5/16” 7,800lbs

Some thoughts about prussic cords.

No matter what cord you decided to use, it must be rated at 2,500lbs or more to comply with ANSI.

5/16, 3/8, 7mm, 8mm, 9mm are all good sizes. Anything smaller or larger tends to be awkward.

Ordering rope in 5-foot increments is a good idea so that you can “tweak” the length for what works best for you.

*Hopefully you can purchase unspliced.
 
Or, if they want spliced one's because they like super cleanliness on their saddle and they don't mind spending the $$$ then they can find ...someone...to splice it for them.

Don't forget to mention...

-Just because a hitch works for one person, doesn't mean it'll work for you
-Just because your hitch worked yesterday doesn't mean it'll work today
-Just because that hitch worked with that rope, doesn't mean it'll work with this one

Learn a variety of hitches so when something's not working, you can quickly adjust the hitch so it'll work and you can get up the tree and only come down on your own terms.

Practice low and slow.

love
nick
 
I've got a lot of good info about advanced hitches to pass out. Alot from the articles section here, TCC, and some other places. I wanted to make sure that they could "cross-reference" the articles so that they'd realize that it's not just one persons point of view.

Everything that you've stated has been covered. My main cocern is where they'll find new cords when theirs wear out. I'm just looking for some other places to find it.

Ohh, and at some point in the future, I'm going to be getting ahold of you for some splices and tips. /forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I'm pretty sure that most communities w/ waterfrontage/boating will have a West Marine or something similar. Maybe I'm spoiled living in Florida? I went to west marine the other day and they have an impressive display of New England rope. You can actually touch it and get any length you want. Price seemed reasonable too, esecially when you're only buying 10'-20' at a time. /forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Good call on the west marine thing. When I left WI, one of the guys there asked me where he could get some hitch cord, and I sent him to west marine (being right on Lake Winnebago, there was a West Marine on the way to work.

Make sure you tell them that there's a such thing as Sta-Set and Sta-Set X, and the X version is no good for hitches.

love
nick
 
[ QUOTE ]
the X version is no good for hitches.

[/ QUOTE ] Thanks for the heads up. So far I've tried Sta-set(5/16 and 3/8), ultra-tech(unspliced), and the tenex?(yellow slpiced) that Sherrill sells. The Sta-set is MY favorite so far. But, I'm curious as to where you find the HRC cord. Anyone know?
 
As for the West Marine idea.... I live on the ocean but we don't have one of those here. The boating supply stores around here don't carry that much of a good selection. They can order the stuff, but so can I/they via the internet. Once again, just trying to make it easy on them. I don't want TO many varibles(sp) for them to think/worry about.
 
How about Ne Ropes - 8mm HRC Prusik cord? That's my favorite. 5000# tensile and a cover that is resistant to heat of 800*F (or greater). ANyone else like this stuff or is it just me?

Also, I don't care for T900 for prusik. I find it too stiff to grab easily and the cover is poly so it burns as quickly as the cheap stuff. I'd rather use 3/8 economy braid or sta set.
 
Re: Prusik cord purchasing

The high-tech cores with polyester cover (Like T-900 or Crystalyne) only make sense as a back up. If you burn out of the tree like crazy, you'll burn the polyester cover real quick, then the core MIGHT be able to stop you.

But really, does this happen? I judge a friction hitch for day-to-day use. Like Mark already eluded to, the polyester/high-mod double braids are a waste for day to day use. I personally like single braid high-tech cordage for friction hitches. Right now I have a Vectran one and a technora one that I switch between. The technora is the coated stuff that Atlantic Braids makes and the coating makes it sticky. The Vectran is Yale Vectrus. That stuff bites down pretty tight, but it's a thin diameter (not quite 5/16th after being spliced!).

I find the best/most reliable performance is from a polyester double-braid. Sta-set seems to be the most popular. I have some 3/8th Yale Double Esterlon that is my stand-by.

love
nick
 
Re: Prusik cord purchasing

The Ultra tech is for friction hitch, prussik and VT, The Tech 12 I was planning to splice in one end and use for balancers in various lengths but when looking at it now it seems a bit hard so there is a chance the klemheist won´t bite on the bullrope. I´ll give it a try anyway.
Svein
www.hogstogrydding.no
 
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