Threaded Unicender-pros and cons

Tom Dunlap

Tom Dunlap

Here from the beginning
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Retired in Minneapolis
Today while I talked with Morgan Thompson he shared an idea that he's been thinking about for a variation on the Uni.

Think over the idea and let's see how the trade-offs might balance out.
Some climbers leave the Uni on their harness and move the rope, that's me. Other climbers leave the Uni on the rope, that's my brother.

There are reports of the rope coming out of the top 'clutch'. I don't doubt that it could happen even though it's never happened to me in all the years that I've been on a Uni.

Adding the roller fairlead and a gate mechanism to the bottom L-clutch is a great idea and is likely to become a reality over the winter.

Now, here's Morgan's concept. Make the clutches closed so that the rope has to be threaded through the center. Some hitch climbers have done that for years and it's quite normal.

Morgan said that the Uni could be made a little smaller too. This might be simpler to manufacture so it has the potential for being cheaper...but do NOT expect that.
 
No way. One of the big reasons that I like it is that I can retie in the tree and NOT have to thread it.

I was really excited for a previous version of the lockjack, then lost interest when I found out it had to be threaded.

love
nick
 
No nick your not following me,not threading it,It needs to have a gate that opens and closes allowing you to midline attach.
 
I actually posted a video earlier Tom of how easy i can unthread the uni off of all four clutches and yes it has happen to me in the tree.Well at least 2 of the clutches.
 
I see no reason you would really ever need to take it off. There has been one or two times where it may have been sort of convenient not to have to thread the rope wrench. but the trade off is more moving parts and more complexity. I think I will soon just have rope wrenches permanently installed with each rope. Realizing that it did not have to be mid-line attachable was the big break through for me because it became that much more simple. I think the Uni would greatly benefit from being threaded.
 
Since the rope diameter to clutch tolerance is quite close a splice of any kind will not thread thru the clutchs. Spliced eyes are more widely used then ever. I played around with a mini beaner thru the top attachment point of the uni during srt to keep the uni upright. Perhaps 1 block between the upper attachment point and the first clutch plate that can capture the rope better that the clutch can keeping the rope aligned and oriented to the remaining clutchs. A thread thru design is a step backward. Personally I don't care for the uni in Ddrt I use a VT. In srt the uni is excellent My 2 cents
 
I like to be able to take it off midline. I don't find it 100% necessary, but there are definately times i find it a big advantage.

My experience comes with the Rope Wrench and knot, not with the uni. Never used it but don't think it would change the way i climb.
 
I have to agree with Big D on this one.

I'm not a fan of threading the uni on. Too often the uni is used on multiple lines, by multiple people. My apprentice uses the uni a lot but on his own line. I don't mind lending out equipment but the less I have to lend out the better. Having to thread the uni on and off all the time would be a pain in the butt.

There are other, simpler solutions to this problem then a total redesign. Having climbed on the uni for well over a year I have never had my uni come undone from the top down (although I don't doubt the ability of it happening)

I think a little more back and forth will come up with a much better resolve then to thread. Like nick said, I was pumped about the new art spider until I realized it couldn't be attached mid line. No bueno.
 
Don't like the idea at all. A threaded version would be a step backwards.

Any tool or knot can fail when used out of its design tolerances. As I stated earlier SRT and the Uni in particular requires a rethinking of the way you move in a tree. What worked for your VT and hitchclimber is not necessarily the best scenario for the Uni.

Closing off the bottom L with a gate, all by itself, would be a vast improvement. A roller would be nice but is not necessary and, of course, designing in higher-wear components. All of these things could be accomplished without altering the initial design. Simple.

Dave
 
[ QUOTE ]
Closing off the bottom L with a gate, all by itself, would be a vast improvement. A roller would be nice but is not necessary and, of course, designing in higher-wear components. All of these things could be accomplished without altering the initial design. Simple.

Dave

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed 100%

Also- one of the bonuses you mentioned, Tom, is that it would be a stronger design. In my opinion, the Uni is like a climbing line. Stronger doesn't do me any good. It just needs to be strong ENOUGH.

I want performance.

If I want to switch lines, installing a threaded uni would be a hassle. If I was at a rec climbing rendezvous and wanted to let people try it, it would be super annoying.

I had a friend (also named Nick!) that never untied his friction hitch. When he pulled his line out of the tree he'd advance his hitch back up the line and store the rope in the bag with the hitch on it. He would LOVE this idea.

I looked at it and thought it was goofy. In the time it takes you to advance your hitch up, I could have it untied and retied twice.

Threading = waste of time for no worthy bonus.

love
nick
 
[ QUOTE ]
Also- one of the bonuses you mentioned, Tom, is that it would be a stronger design. In my opinion, the Uni is like a climbing line. Stronger doesn't do me any good. It just needs to be strong ENOUGH.


[/ QUOTE ]
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I imagine it would be a lot smaller and user friendly. I'd like to see it. why doesn't he just make two different models?
 
[ QUOTE ]
I imagine it would be a lot smaller and user friendly. I'd like to see it. why doesn't he just make two different models?

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My guess would be money. Cost a lot to prototype and test new designs. Morgan will probably make some as he is probably obsessed with his "baby" but he has to be relatively sure he can sell them before he commits to it a production run and all of the testing that is entailed to bring it to market. This thread Im sure is testing the water. I hope he continues to keep tinkering as it will only help us all in the long run.......
 
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