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Tether Prussik / Mechanical / Schwabicsh - Looking for Help

K

kwecker19

New Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2021
Messages
28
Looking for suggestions. Here is what I am encountering. I am using 8mm Oplux.

The Ropeman 2 is out of the question, just bought it and it is difficult to adjust / too noisy as well - it's for sale for cheap in classifieds if you want it.

I tried a prussik with a tender as well, the prussik is cinching down really tightly and grabbing so well that it is difficult to break loose with the tender unless I loosen the knot first (this is not the goal).

I previously had a Schwabisch Hitch on it which worked pretty well but I pre-ordered it on the rope and carabiner since I was not comfortable tying that set up. The problem was that the way it came, the ends attaching to carabiner were too long so the tenders did not function well with it (too much slack to pull with the tag-end to reach the knot with the tender).

So, my questions are:

- Is there a certain size / type of rope that I should be using for the prussik on my 8mm rope that will make it less difficult to adjust with a tender but still safe from slipping?

-Should I try a Kong Duck, is it that much better than Ropeman 2?

-Do I go back to the Schwabisch Hitch set up? Is there a rope / hitch / biner combo out there that works great and where do I get it?

Thanks for reading and your suggestions!
 
I am a fan of the Schwaibish or Distel
Check out the sewn eye Cruzer offers or go on EWO and reach out by phone/ online chat.
Also search on here lots of helpful posts / pics about how to tie one using 6mm or appropriate rope.
 
My only question is how many wraps with your prussik? I’ve tried 3 and 4 and 4 seemed to want to remain stuck. Don’t know enough to help with anything else .
 
TreeCreep said:
I am a fan of the Schwaibish or Distel
Check out the sewn eye Cruzer offers or go on EWO and reach out by phone/ online chat.
Also search on here lots of helpful posts / pics about how to tie one using 6mm or appropriate rope.
Click to expand...

Thank you, I may call EWO. I order stuff from there often.
 
bfriendly said:
My only question is how many wraps with your prussik? I’ve tried 3 and 4 and 4 seemed to want to remain stuck. Don’t know enough to help with anything else .
Click to expand...

3 wraps, I thought maybe that was it too. Its a great looking knot but I'm guessing the rope size (6mm) that the knot is tied with grabs too well. I've tried a few different tenders and none work for one handed adjustment.
 
kwecker19 said:
Thank you, I may call EWO. I order stuff from there often.
Click to expand...

Just hopped on Cruzr's website and ordered the Schwabisch hitch set-up with the sewn eyes. Great suggestion, did not know this was out there. Looks like it'll work better based on length of sewn eyes vs. what I had before. Thank you for the suggestion!
 
I think you'll like the sewn eye TRC hitch cord that Cruzr sells. Works great for me with a Schwabisch hitch on Oplux. I use 4 wraps up with the tail tucked in below. Matching the hitch cord to the rope seems like a real hit or miss proposition. I'm still trying to get a hitch cord to work as my backup for Rappelling with 9mm Canyon elite. I've tried the 6mm probe, Sterling autoblock 2, 6mmTRC, 8mm Sterling flex all tied with a VT, Schwabisch autoblock and the Klemheist. I've got a Bluewater ropes 7mm VT Prusik on the way to try next. Hopefully this one will hit the target.
 
wingnut said:
I think you'll like the sewn eye TRC hitch cord that Cruzr sells. Works great for me with a Schwabisch hitch on Oplux. I use 4 wraps up with the tail tucked in below. Matching the hitch cord to the rope seems like a real hit or miss proposition. I'm still trying to get a hitch cord to work as my backup for Rappelling with 9mm Canyon elite. I've tried the 6mm probe, Sterling autoblock 2, 6mmTRC, 8mm Sterling flex all tied with a VT, Schwabisch autoblock and the Klemheist. I've got a Bluewater ropes 7mm VT Prusik on the way to try next. Hopefully this one will hit the target.
Click to expand...
How are these not working out for you? I’m guessing they may all be sewn cords?
 
I went through everything you’re going through now.
I bet we all did???

I have probably 20 different cords hanging on hooks that I’ve tried on different ropes and tied different hitches...
I have learned a lot in the last six months and I learned most of it in the first two!

The Swabisch is what I’ve settled on...
 
They are not working, either because they won't break loose or they won't hold. Yes they are all sewn cords. I'm starting to get quite a collection of cords with more on the way. I can get closest using the VT, adjusting the number of wraps and braids but it seems to be a fine line between holding and locking up.
I think the Rappelling hitch is harder to match because It's fully weighted when your breaking it loose. With a tether you could take some weight off by using your stick or platform. The simple 2 to 3 mm smaller cord than your rope is not as easy as it seems either when ropes and cords don't actually measure what they are sold as. For an example, my 9mm canyon elite measures 10.5mm. So I thought an 8mm cord should do the trick. My Sterling flex 8mm cord measures 9mm, so not small enough to work as well as it should.
My next attempt I'm trying a Bluewater ropes 7mm cord. Hopefully I can hit the sweet spot.
 
I just ordered 50' of 7mm Bluewater cord last night. My plan is to try it out on my Camo Elite.

I'm thinking about chopping up my 40 footer of that rope to make new bridges on a few of my saddles.
I need to find the right hitch cord before I dive into that project...

I actually enjoy the 'challenge' of getting a winning combination of rope/hitch.
It can definitely get frustrating though!
 
Last edited:
wingnut said:
They are not working, either because they won't break loose or they won't hold. Yes they are all sewn cords. I'm starting to get quite a collection of cords with more on the way. I can get closest using the VT, adjusting the number of wraps and braids but it seems to be a fine line between holding and locking up.
I think the Rappelling hitch is harder to match because It's fully weighted when your breaking it loose. With a tether you could take some weight off by using your stick or platform.
Click to expand...

Are you actually rappelling from just your hitches?
If so, just save yourself a bunch of struggling and get a figure eight and rappel from that.
 
2B7560F8-F7E0-4CFA-90CB-601F56B4C8D4.png
Sorry, only thing I had that expressed the historic and common point of view. Most hitches you can’t, especially if there is multiple loading and unloading of the hitch.
DE52CDAD-C969-4EF0-94EF-31C8B333B67D.jpeg
 
Out of spec but I use a madrock safeguard at height and have for all of last season. Ready to repel when hunt is over or if there is any other reason. No noise when on rope, easy to adjust.
 
I'm using a figure eight. The hitch is the backup. Who try's to Rappell without a device. Seriously.
 
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