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Amsteel aider with no metal. Thoughts?

J

Johnnybrav02

New Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2019
Messages
6
Hey everyone, first post here and newer saddle hunter building my gear up in preparation for the season here in East TN.

Last year I used a Black diamond 5 step aider with my wild edge steps and hated it. Its bulky, heavy and descending down it really sucks. This year i discovered the glory of amsteel and have built a number of things. The most recent is this aider. I'd like to see what everyone's thoughts are on it and if there is anything I should be careful of. From all the research I've been doing, it's plenty strong and saves me about 4 pounds.

Stats:
-Built out of 1/8th inch amsteel
-Over all height is 7' (I'm 6'3")
-Each step has locking brommel splices on each side with a 5 inch burry on each side.
-Each step has a zip tie inside it to provide rigidity (makes accessing the step easier) I did smooth out all sharp edges so it won't chafe the amsteel from within.
-Each step is 8 inches wide
-Bottom 2 steps are 24 ish inches apart (i have really long legs)
-Top step is 20 ish inches from the top
-the top knot is the same knot used in soft shackles. Check out this video of how to tie and a tensile test..
The top knot slips in between 2 locking brommel splices and can not slip out with weight on the aider. Once I'm off the aider and standing on the wild edge step, I can easily pull the knot out with one hand and move the aider up. Since there is no metal carbiner or hook it's quiter, safer (aider doesnt slip to the side or cant swing off like a hook), and lighter.

I have climbed with it and it works great, but I'm a novice and want some opinions from some one more experienced.

If anyone has any questions please let me know! Thanks in advance.

My hunting set up is:
Black diamond RCH
Fleece saddle
3 wild edge steps and DIY perch
This Aider going up with a linemans rope for fall protection. Once I get to hunting height I'll switch to my 40' 9mm sterling rope as a tether. Ill use this rope and madrock backed up by a prusik to rappel down.
 
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Welcome from East TN (Powell).
Ive used a soft shackle for a openable bridge and other things, but never an aider. I would suggest giving it a go. Once you have put a load on the soft shackle, they can be a bit of a bear to break...especially one handed, perched on a step. Very interested in seeing how this works out!
 
I wanted to use a soft shackle with my aider connections but I decided against because I didn't like getting the soft shackle open after it was loaded and I attach my aider anchor point as high as I can reach.....so opening and closing the shackle in the dark fully extended reaching above my head was too difficult....I use sofshak for other applications but the aider/sofshak combo didn't work for my gear....
 
Weldabeast said:
I wanted to use a soft shackle with my aider connections but I decided against because I didn't like getting the soft shackle open after it was loaded and I attach my aider anchor point as high as I can reach.....so opening and closing the shackle in the dark fully extended reaching above my head was too difficult....I use sofshak for other applications but the aider/sofshak combo didn't work for my gear....
Click to expand...

I could definitely see how a regular shackle loop could make it difficult. You would need 2 hands to pull the locking loop open and then the knot through. With the 2 brommel splices creating the loop on mine it opens with one hand when there is no weight on it. When I tied this one up, I left myself the option of using the locking loop that a typical soft shackle has and then also the brommel splices. If you look close you can see both options in the pictures. I dont know if I would trust this with just a soft shackle (with brommel spliced loop) as a connection point between the step and aider as 3 separate parts. Since the knot, brommel splices and aider are one, i feel like the knot has less chance of coming out of its home.
 
always89y said:
Are you planning on using some giant zip ties or something to keep the aider center of the step? Loolks good!
Click to expand...

I wasnt planning on it, but thats a good idea. The amsteel grips the step pretty well around the horizontal bar and ill be surprised if it does slip.
 
I've also just built 3 steps amsteel aider to be used with my wildedge steps because I do not feel safe with the knaider/swaider especially while climbing down at night
I chose a 2 point loop fixture to keep an even force on each side of the WEstep to prevent risk of pivoting.
I use grass trimmer line inside each aider step to keep it open while ascending/descending
2 of those are sufficient to reach 12~15 ft (which is largely sufficient in my hunt area)


IMG-20200819-WA0000.png
 
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