VT Knot Question

R

rangerdanger

Location
Lexington, Kentucky
Alright, I've been noticing this my past few climbs (especially todays climb) that my VT knot would tighten up after hanging in it for a bit, like say in a limb walk. It wasn't overly tight, but it wasn't quite as responsive as a "looser" VT. Anyone know how to fix this, or what the problem is. I had to loosen the VT about 3 time today to get it back to its original form. Been climbing with 34" Ice and PI. Thanks!!
 
I would play with the length of your cord as well as with the number of wraps and crosses and everything. Find what works best for you. Also you might try a different cordage. Just remember though about the low and slow.
 
It's your ice tail starting to break in. Ice tail is one of the more softer materials and loosely braided split tail. It's a 12 strand braid that softens after a couple uses then it starts to lock up easily. I'm not a huge fan of it's strong hold but know of some that like it

Try a beeline or something that us a double braid like the beeline or an ocean polyester line. It doesn't break in as soft but still locks and unlocks easily. Also try a 10mm line, it still grips well but not as tight as an 8mm line
 
Thanks guys. And yes, my ice tail is starting to break in. You're probably right then, because when I first had it, it was the same as bee line, releasing easily, smooth, etc. Going back to Bee Line tomorrow to see how that works. Also, I thought 10mm wouldn't work very well. I've been meaning to try some, but form what I've heard, it won't hold very well with the smaller rope.

And thanks PUClimber on that advice. I've been toying around with the VT for awhile now and found 4 wraps, two twists (Don't know what to call the things below the wraps) is a perfect fit for me. 3 wraps would slip on me, making for a scary situation. 4 wraps holds great, but releases easily for me.

EDIT: What about HRC??? Good cord compared to Bee Line or not.
 
hrc cordage works great and has a broken in feeling from day one, it doesnt lock up as bad as ice tail and it lasts a while, i still prefer 10mm line, i like having a handfull so i dont burn up any of my fingers on longer or faster descents. ive been trying very hard to get some ocean polyester line but cant find if for any cheaper than 7 bucks per foot.

i remember reading that 10mm line should be used on 1/2 lines and thought that was just how it was but was soon taught differently from a mr jim roach. it all matters how you rap it and cord length. i prefer 10mm because of my weight (about 200 pounds). my weight makes the smaller diameter cordage bind up a bit too much for my liking.
 
Thanks ft. Just to clarify, 10mm will work on PI or something of that size. Because I've burnt the tips of my fingers once or twice on the smaller cord, so the larger one would be nice.

And man, 7 bucks per foot for oc. That must be some nice cord!!
 
I have been using the ice on the fly rope for about two months now and have been having a terrible time. Went from the v.t. to the distel and still no better. Before this I used the v.t. with the yellow jacket rope and the ice , it worked great. I htought it would be an upgrade to the fly and it has been painful.
 
i tried ice a while back on fly, blaze, and blue moon. it would always lock with a knut, and the only way i could get it to work with a vt was less wraps and more braids which became too long for me. try bail out with a vt or michoacan if you can't get the ice to work.
 
Ice tied 3 wraps two crosses with the hitch climber pulley on Tachyon rope is THE best combo i've found in approx 6 years of VT use. Only lasts about 2 weeks of good climbing though before it binds up and it becomes a bin magnet. I'm afraid I don't know the PI rope you speak of but different combos of wraps and crosses and lenghts will always bring you differing results with the same rope on rope combos. Search Spiders knot page as he has some sonic tweaks for the VT. The hitch climber def makes it bite better though, and it feeds more effortlessly in with the bargain (that is, assuming you don't already have one and know this!!!!)
eyemo.gif
 
HRC is the cord for me, it seems to hold up better and not lock down as hard as Bee line. I could be crazy though!

3 wrap, 2 braid VT on the blaze, well, it's actually chameleon...
 
Yeah, I climb on Yale's P.I. w/ N.E.'s HRC and it's a good fit. I'm using the Hitch Climber an' just doin' 7 wraps up on the V.T. I'm foolin' with my cord length constantly. The other day I even had to throw an extra wrap on a new piece o' cord early on in a crane removal just to keep from slippin'. I'm hoping to get the kinks outta that length soon.

P.S. I'm a feather-weight (less than 150lbs.)
 
I'm using HRC on Poison Ivy, 3 wraps, 2 braids. I'm finally ready to replace this split tail that I've been using almost daily since the last TCIA... November I think?

When you tie the VT, are you paying attention to how the braids overlap? It makes a big difference.

I like Icetail but it doesn't last long before it glazes. The only time HRC ever bound up on me was when I had pine sap on my rope.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom