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How to rappel with MadRock Safeguard without dying?

The two things I was specifically questioning that got me looking at this thread was the orientation and use/control of the safeguard in relation to the carabiner on my bridge and the rope. I think I have everything right, but want to double check. Attached is a picture I just took where I laid my stuff out on my desk.
Is_this_correct_orientation_for_Safeguard_3.jpg
I am right handed. The blue cap at the top represents the tree with the rappel rope wrapped around it and secured with a quicklink. I would be attached at the bottom of the picture and looking down at my safeguard. I believe I want the safeguard oriented so that the lever is on the back with the hinge on the left, and the rope goes into the top (near the picture of the climber) and then loops down to right above the carabiner (that connects the safeguard to bridge of my saddle), and then the rope loops up (under the picture of the hand) and comes up and out the top right of the safeguard. I believe my left hand should control the lever and my right hand should hold the tag end of the rope. My first decent was jerky, but I just think I need practice. Let me know if you see anything wrong with my setup. (Other than attaching a pull down rope behind the scaffold knot on the quicklink.)
 
Looks right. I'm right handed and that's how I orient mine. I always try to remember to put the open end of the carabiner through the Safeguard from the side facing me. It keeps it oriented correctly once I hook in. It sounds like you're new to using the safeguard. If so I recommend just hooking to the tree at ground level and practice by leaning back with your feet against the base of the tree. With your legs stiff release the Safeguard while tending the tag end with your right hand. You'll get a good feel for what the proper pressures need to be for a smooth rappel. When you get comfortable enough to control your sit back and stop with your butt just inches off the ground you should be comfortable enough to try an actual rappel from a bit higher.
 
boyne bowhunter said:
... It sounds like you're new to using the safeguard. If so I recommend just hooking to the tree at ground level and practice by leaning back with your feet against the base of the tree. With your legs stiff release the Safeguard while tending the tag end with your right hand. You'll get a good feel for what the proper pressures need to be for a smooth rappel. When you get comfortable enough to control your sit back and stop with your butt just inches off the ground you should be comfortable enough to try an actual rappel from a bit higher.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a good exercise, so I will try it tomorrow. Thanks.
 
Today (at low height on a tree in my backyard) was my first experience using my new safeguard, so after using it a little I came in and posted a question. I got some very helpful responses . Then tonight, I read through this whole thread (and watched a lot of other videos) and there was lots of good info. Thanks to everyone (today and previously) who shared their experience and advice.
 
Ummmmmmmm... Seems obvious but only climb to a height of a couple feet and practice until you know what you're doing before climbing to 'could plausibly die' heights

That's a good way not to die.
 
cpeaden said:
The two things I was specifically questioning that got me looking at this thread was the orientation and use/control of the safeguard in relation to the carabiner on my bridge and the rope. I think I have everything right, but want to double check. Attached is a picture I just took where I laid my stuff out on my desk.
View attachment 45142
I am right handed. The blue cap at the top represents the tree with the rappel rope wrapped around it and secured with a quicklink. I would be attached at the bottom of the picture and looking down at my safeguard. I believe I want the safeguard oriented so that the lever is on the back with the hinge on the left, and the rope goes into the top (near the picture of the climber) and then loops down to right above the carabiner (that connects the safeguard to bridge of my saddle), and then the rope loops up (under the picture of the hand) and comes up and out the top right of the safeguard. I believe my left hand should control the lever and my right hand should hold the tag end of the rope. My first decent was jerky, but I just think I need practice. Let me know if you see anything wrong with my setup. (Other than attaching a pull down rope behind the scaffold knot on the quicklink.)
Click to expand...
I do mine with the carabiner 180 degrees so the carabiner opens away from me. The handle is then on the near side. I don't think it matters, just whatever you feel more comfortable doing. I hold the tag end of the rope with my left hand and pull the handle with my right.
 
One of the things I found useful using the safeguard was gloves, specifically on my left hand controlling the lever. Practicing with bare hands was difficult and led to jerky descents, that little handle dug into my hand and it felt like I had a hard time easing the brake off the rope. Once I started using gloves, I was able to grab hold of the handle better and smoothly descend controlling the tag end. That alone made the biggest impact to smoothness of my descents.
 
cpeaden said:
I believe this guy did a good job on his video of showing how he uses the Madrock Safeguard:

Madrock Safeguard: THE PERFECT rappel device for SADDLE HUNTERS!!!

His video helped me.
Click to expand...

Personally I think it’s a bit irresponsible to post videos using devices out of spec, but that’s just me. I do think he explained a lot about how many hunters use the device.
 
AustinL911 said:
OK, didn't realize I was supposed to be holding the tag end when I went pulling on that lever. I was pulling, pulling, and pulling, and then it just cut loose. Madrock's instruction manual is worthless.
Click to expand...
I bet you were thinking what all the fuse was about after doing that.
 
useyourbow said:
Auto block/pursik, how long?
Click to expand...
I have tried both a standard Prusik and a slightly longer version. After several climbs and rappels you will likely not use it. Packing up all your gear takes long enough! However, starting out it was a huge help!! Made the descent extremely smooth!!!

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk
 
Staggs in the wild
G.Staggs shows several ways to repel without a mad rock & how to. I liked the Beal jammy.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
This summer I went out and got all sorts of gear to SRT and One Stick. After many practice runs, tree trimmings, and hunts, I can say is the Madrock is inferior for one sticking and a waste of money. I like the Mammut Smart 2.0 belay device waaaaay better. I don't even consider using the Madrock anymore unless I am doing an SRT climb. The Smart 2.0 with a friction hitch is the way to go. It is a lighter, smoother rappelling, quieter, and cheaper setup. The only technicality with it is finding a carabiner it likes with your particular rope. Mammut recommends an HMS style. Oddly the one it came with didn't work as well as the Black Diamond Gridlock HMS carabiner. I have used the Smart 2.0 as progress capture while SRT climbing. It does work for that, but the Madrock does a better job.
UzxhSR4.jpg
 
The first time I repelled was with the safeguard earlier this year and the moment when I took my one stick off the tree for the first time 25ft up certainly made me nervous, but I made it down safely, albiet quite jerky! I've done it close to a dozen times now and feel SO much more comfortable then I did initially. The biggest thing for me was using your "free" hand to hold the rope that's feeding into the safeguard and use THAT to control your decent more than just the lever on the safe guard. Doing that allows you to be much smoother and more controlled. Hope that helps!
 
cjr4497 said:
This summer I went out and got all sorts of gear to SRT and One Stick. After many practice runs, tree trimmings, and hunts, I can say is the Madrock is inferior for one sticking and a waste of money. I like the Mammut Smart 2.0 belay device waaaaay better. I don't even consider using the Madrock anymore unless I am doing an SRT climb. The Smart 2.0 with a friction hitch is the way to go. It is a lighter, smoother rappelling, quieter, and cheaper setup. The only technicality with it is finding a carabiner it likes with your particular rope. Mammut recommends an HMS style. Oddly the one it came with didn't work as well as the Black Diamond Gridlock HMS carabiner. I have used the Smart 2.0 as progress capture while SRT climbing. It does work for that, but the Madrock does a better job.
UzxhSR4.jpg
Click to expand...
The small piece that snaps on isn’t needed for rappelling, it is for beginner belayers in rock climbing to not short rope the climber.
 
I have never experienced a great rappell on small diameter line as a thicker rope provides but I am a fan of hybrid devices. I have used numerous devices- rappell racks, atc's,ID'S, other tubular devices, Petzl Stop and others and just like sacrificing a little weight and bulk for a great ride. As stated numerous times before I use a Roperunner and have no need for additional backups other than a brake hand . Use devices that you are safe with but you should exercise caution when decreasing diameter of your climbing/ rappelling line as friction also decreases and sometimes affects control. I know military operators, firefighters rap on some pretty thin rope but they are rigorously trained for this type of deployment. Many times in rock climbing these small diameter ropes are used in a doubled configuration. I love rappelling and it sure makes the end of a hunt nice!
 
Brocky said:
The small piece that snaps on isn’t needed for rappelling, it is for beginner belayers in rock climbing to not short rope the climber.
Click to expand...
You asking or telling? Its purpose is to keep the rope strands at the proper angle so you don't accidently prevent lockup when belaying a rock climber. If the stands are too parallel, the device won't lock up. It is not needed for a hunting application. It came with the kit I purchased, and I just wanted to try it. The only benefit it has that I have seen, is it holding the device on the rope without a carabiner clipped to it.
 
A little research showed that the Smarter is for locking up the rope more reliably when the belayer doesn’t do their job.
 
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