Thread: crystaline

I just picked up some Yale Crystaline the other day at a local shop. More than I would ordinarily spend, but I figured I would try something new. So far, I like it a LOT. Runs smooth, and seems to hold up pretty well. The only thing I don't like about it is that the core is VERY tough to cut through.

Any of you guys use the stuff? I think I wound up spending like $2.13 / foot or around there.

No, but I like the idea of such a tough core.

Crystalyne should work like Ultratech. That tough core is Vectran, which in my opinion is the best (for our uses) of the high-mod lines. High heat resistance, not super sensitive to UV light, will hold a knot, works as a friction hitch.....

The cover on that is pretty thin polyester, so don't expect anything special out of it.

I like Crystalyne for rigging slings.

love
nick

Nick, how do I cut this stuff and have it stay in tact? I tried to cut it with my electric rope cutter, and it pretty much just laughed at that.

Electric rope cutters don't get hot enough to cut the Vectran.

Okay, tightly tape (masking tape works best) the area you want to cut. Set the rope on a firm surface (cutting board). Now use a long sharp straight blade and use long, steady strokes. That should get you through in a few second.

love
nick

I was once in a store (Galyans in Schaumburg, IL) which I abhor. I was looking at the ropes that they had in stock when this lady came and started looking at the rope rack. She asked the nearest sales guy for help. She explained that she was helping set up a project for the local Boy Scout troops. They were going to teach the boys how to "properly" cut/melt rope ends. I wanted to interject and talk about how a whipping might be a better lesson, but I bit my lip, knowing that in many cases the melting is good enough. She told the guy how they were going to get knives red hot and cut through the ropes, then melt them so they don't fray.

So the guy proceeds to show her the ropes (literally) when he gets to a "chock cord" that rock climbers use. It has a parrallel strand vectran core and a super tightly woven polyester cover. It was a 6mm cord that sold for about 3.00/ft. Equivalent nylon ropes of that size sold for line a fifth that cost. The explained that she needed one hundred thrity feet, since each of the ten boys was to end up with a ten foot piece of rope, melted on each end, with which to practice knot-tying and she wanted extra for the troop leader and a little more just in case. Sales-dude explained that this is the best rope and is good for practicing knots.

The guy measures out the 130', as I am now fake-looking at rope and watching him from the corner of my eye, as he seemed scheisty. He fires up the electric rope cutter and starts making the cut. He gets through the cover than begins to struggle with the high-heat resistant core. Pauses for a second and explains that the knife needs to heat up. He waits for a bit, then tries again but to no avail. He can't get through it. He reaches for a normal knife they have nearby to cut rope.

At this point, I couldn't take it any more. I envisioned this lady leaving the store with almost $400 worth of useless rope. I interjected, "Ma'am, that's about the worst rope you could get for what you're doing." She looked shocked. I went on briefy about the vectran core and how tough it is, pointing out that this skilled rope cutter couldn't do with high-tech equipment exactly what she was expecting untrained little boys to do with crude tools. I went on, "That rope is strong enough to pick up 2 SUVs. You don't need that. This rope here is 60 cents a foot and that hot knife will cut it with ease. Don't get that rope."

This is the best part. She turned to the sales guy and ripped him apart! She loudly accused him (perhaps rightfully so) of trying to rip her off of 350 dollars and how he should be talking about things he didn't know about. She kept looking at me and saying, "can you believe this?!?!?!" I kinda felt bad for the guy, but he was asking for it.

Is it wrong that I waited until he cut the rope (partially) before I said anything?

After she left I showed him 2 tricks to cut the rope. He thanked me.

I don't think it waw wrong in the least - heck, the guy is lucky the lady did not hang him with a piece of it!

Nick, yur a danged troublemaker!

Originally posted by NickfromWI

Is it wrong that I waited until he cut the rope (partially) before I said anything?

After she left I showed him 2 tricks to cut the rope. He thanked me.

Expensive lesson for him, would have been worse for her. If you had just bounced over and gave your opinion pre-cut, it wouldn't have carried much weight with either of them.

Originally posted by JCSJC
Expensive lesson for him, would have been worse for her. If you had just bounced over and gave your opinion pre-cut, it wouldn't have carried much weight with either of them.

That's what I was thinking. At first I just thought, "she's gotta be wealthy enough that that big purchase isn't that "big" to her." So I wasn't as bothered about the money. But when I imagined the tikes trying to cut that stuff, then finding it too difficult, proclaiming, "########### is way more funner than rope!" ....that's when I had to say something.

It was funny because at the time, I was working nights at a http://www.erehwonoutdoors.com/ , a store that relied heavy on education. Galyans is like the walmart of sporting goods. I could rage on and on about the crappiness of the store. Let's just say that this experience just strengthened my appreciation for the "little guy" stores.

love
nick

ps- So about that Crystalyne!

(I thought you said you were from WI, hahaha)

Special concerns? One should be concered about using a high-modulus line in situations where it will be shock loaded. Size things accordingly. Just because the breaking strength is 15,000lbs, doesn't mean you can drop 3,000lbs into it and still be "5:1 safe."

Other concerns? Make sure it's spliced properly.

love
nick

Mikey, no linky?

I have a length of my old three-strand esterlon rope from the '70's. I keep it in my trunk as a tow-rope.