• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Rappelling setup, figure 8 or ATC, a few questions

CharlieTN said:
It’s easy to confuse some of this terminology. There are stopper knots, also known as backup knots, that would be tied at the figure-8 knot to ensure that it didn’t come untied, then there are stopper knots at the end off the rappel rope so you don’t go zipping off of it on the rappel.

If you’re referring to a stopper knot at the end of the rope so that you don’t rappel off, the I would say no. Just make sure that you can see the rope laying on the ground before you rappel down. I started off with a stopper knot at the end but untied it the first time I had to pull my rope down over a branch so that the rope could pass through the quick link, just never retied it since I usually only climb to around 20’ high and my rope is 36’.

I prefer the scaffold knot over the figure-8 knot to hold the quick link since it keeps it held tight and keeps it from rotating. If tied correctly with a decent tag end sticking out and a thick enough quick link the concern of pulling the quick link up into the knot is pretty much negated. That concern would be pretty much the main reason I can see for going with the figure-8 knot instead.
Click to expand...
Yea that’s what I was thinkin exactly
 
IMO, a stopper knot behind a figure 8 knot is unnecessary. the rope/line will break before it comes undone, provided you dress it. if you're not dressing your knots correctly, then a stopper knot isn't going to save you either.
 
tcmetrohunter said:
21dd2bbdf9896d66670e5bfebe29aa8b.jpg
Click to expand...
How do you like your Birdie?
 
davecarp said:
IMO, a stopper knot behind a figure 8 knot is unnecessary. the rope/line will break before it comes undone, provided you dress it. if you're not dressing your knots correctly, then a stopper knot isn't going to save you either.
Click to expand...
With no stopper how much tag end, 4-5 inches?
 
Buy a madrock safeguard as soon as you can find one...the easiest way to set up for rappelling down out of the tree...very small and easy to use...keeps it simple for me as well...
 
Buy a madrock safeguard as soon as you can find one...the easiest way to set up for rappelling down out of the tree...very small and easy to use...keeps it simple for me as well...I dont like too many steps and more equipment to carry and hook up
 
As is the Beal Birdie.

Or get real simple and use a prussic to ascend and put an ATC on the rope when it's time to come back down. You'd never be unhooked then.

Just saying there are options.
 
Hunter260 said:
I’m looking To get a rappel setup together to practice with before next season, and have a few questions. I’m doing this on a budget for now, to see if I’ll like 1 sticking. My planned setup is 40’ of sterling htp 9mm and either a figure 8 or an atc device. Couple questions from what I’ve found.

1. I’ve read on climbing sites that rappelling with a figure 8 causes twists in the rope, and might damage with long term use or at the least give you trouble when packing up the rope. Is this an issue with just like a 30’ rappel? Or just with 100’+ rappels?

2. It seems like a figure 8 would give you more variability in friction, with different ways to use it, and it seems pretty simple. Can I get that adjustability with an ATC device?

3. Are all figure 8 and ATC devices kind of created equal? As long as they’re rated for the rope and 22KN of weight or more? Anything special I should look for?
Click to expand...

I’m currently using a small figure 8 that’s rated for 8mm OpLux but if your using 9mm or larger I’d recommend an ATC. Figure 8’s are fine too but nothing is as simple for the novice as an ATC with a friction hitch below.

Whatever you choose, practice at ground level until your 100% sure you know what you’re doing. It’s not rocket surgery but quality reps doing it correctly will give you the experience and confidence required at night in the rain.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
weekender21 said:
I’m currently using a small figure 8 that’s rated for 8mm OpLux but if your using 9mm or larger I’d recommend an ATC. Figure 8’s are fine too but nothing is as simple for the novice as an ATC with a friction hitch below.

Whatever you choose, practice at ground level until your 100% sure you know what you’re doing. It’s not rocket surgery but quality reps doing it correctly will give you the experience and confidence required at night in the rain.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
What figure 8 are you using?
 
davecarp said:
a grivel 2x8 figure eight device works very well (almost too well) on 8 mm teufelberger resc tech. it's smaller than a standard 8 that I have that is a little greasy for 8mm single line
Click to expand...
What I have but not tested it out yet. 1 or 2 wraps on the bottom (small) circle of the grovel?
 
davecarp said:
Yeah, I probably have less, maybe 3" but whatever your comfortable with. When the tag is too long it's just in the way and annoys me.
Click to expand...
(That's the real benefit of a backup knot on a figure 8. Makes sure you leave enough tail, and manages that tail)
 
tcmetrohunter said:
As is the Beal Birdie.

Or get real simple and use a prussic to ascend and put an ATC on the rope when it's time to come back down. You'd never be unhooked then.

Just saying there are options.
Click to expand...
The Beal Birdie is like a Lifeguard or GriGri. All three of those do not have panic stops. The Safeguard and GriGri+ have a panic feature that if you pull the lever all the way open (i.e. panic) it grabs the rope and stops you. We (my dad, son and I) use the plain GriGri.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
 
cmatthew80 said:
The Beal Birdie is like a Lifeguard or GriGri. All three of those do not have panic stops. The Safeguard and GriGri+ have a panic feature that if you pull the lever all the way open (i.e. panic) it grabs the rope and stops you. We (my dad, son and I) use the plain GriGri.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Safeguard doesn't have a "panic" feature.
 
When I let go of the handle on the Beal Birdie while rappelling it comes to a stop. Same thing would happen if I got knocked out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top