Bent My Helium Stick, Should I Cut It?

[Hunter260]

Was practicing rappelling down with my brother in the backyard the other day and noticed this when we took the stick down. There was a bend in the tree I didn’t notice and the stick was in the bend. We climbed up and rappelled down 10-15 times and I noticed this when I pulled the sticks down. I’m planning on climbing with my platform mostly this year so the stick won’t get much use, but I don’t trust it in its current state. If I chopped just below the bend I’d have a 22” stick, so is the best call to go ahead and cut all three?

 

[gcr0003]

How’d ya pull that off? Almost looks like it was ratcheted too tight to the tree by the way it bent(Not saying thats what you did just saying that’s the way it looks).

Yea lop that sucker off and call it a day, not much more you could do with it bent like that.

 

[stini]

that sucks @Hunter260. I had a similar problem with my hawk helium sticks, I bent the steps towards the tree from climbing and adding more sticks.. seems like the product has some stability issues .. I'd say cut one and see how it works out before doing the rest. there's a great video from G2 outdoors about doing a mod to the hawk helium 30" sticks.

 

[Hunter260]

How’d ya pull that off? Almost looks like it was ratcheted too tight to the tree by the way it bent(Not saying thats what you did just saying that’s the way it looks).

Yea lop that sucker off and call it a day, not much more you could do with it bent like that.

If you ever need something tore up just let me know and I’ll send my address. I have no idea how it happened, I was using daisy chains and they get pretty tight I guess. My other thought was to turn the stick upside down and move the button to the other end and use it as the bottom stick exclusively. That way when the stick breaks the only thing hurt is my ego.

 

[Recurveaholic]

I would definitely only cut the one stick that's bent and leave the others until you see if it will work for you at that length then if it doesn't work for you then you only have to buy one stick to replace the bent one! If you do like it you can always cut the other 2 later but you can't uncut them, just saying!!

 

[St.CroixArcher]

If you’re interested in selling it I’d be interested in buying it. I want to try and cut one to roughly 12” to attach me scout to. No idea if it will work so don’t want to buy a new stick.

 

[Fuse Dude]

D

If you ever need something tore up just let me know and I’ll send my address. I have no idea how it happened, I was using daisy chains and they get pretty tight I guess. My other thought was to turn the stick upside down and move the button to the other end and use it as the bottom stick exclusively. That way when the stick breaks the only thing hurt is my ego.

Don't do it.
Cut it.

That bent section is compromised, and can collapse underfoot.

 

[raisins]

that sucks @Hunter260. I had a similar problem with my hawk helium sticks, I bent the steps towards the tree from climbing and adding more sticks.. seems like the product has some stability issues .. I'd say cut one and see how it works out before doing the rest. there's a great video from G2 outdoors about doing a mod to the hawk helium 30" sticks.

If I recall, this video advocates cutting to a set length (starting off with the exact length you want) and it puts the drill holes for the steps precariously close to side cut outs (which would lead the step hole to break out over time). You can see it in the cut diagram on the thumbnail. A guy made a youtube video pointing this out and showing another way, which is basically to center your step holes in between the side cutouts and pick the areas that have at least 1.25" of aluminum between factory cutouts. Here's the step location for one I mod'd. Then put the standoff where it makes sense. I moved mine a bit from factory spacing so the sides would be on solid metal. Let the stick dictate the exact final length. You might end up with 17.25" if your target is 17". From the cut diagram, G2 should've gone with a 22.5" total length and centered his holes.