ascending rope rack

[PineFever]

Add me to that list of buyers as well.
If your ascender/decender is sized down a bit, maybe 6" to 8"
And you could make and sell them for a comfortable profit at $150.00
I think you'd be smiling from ear to ear.
Looking forward to seeing more posts about your venture.

Ed
Stay Safe Out and Up There.

 

[ssurveyor]

Ok Jomoco and Ed. That seems to be the consensus so that is what I am working on next. I'll keep you posted.

Gordon

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

And you could make and sell them for a comfortable profit at $150.00

For a crafted device made from machined aluminum? What year are you living in! I wonder if it could be made for $150 each.

 

[ssurveyor]

so John, if I can make a compact model for $150, do you want me to make you one also? :bringit:

 

[jomoco]

so John, if I can make a compact model for $150, do you want me to make you one also? :bringit:

Might be a little early yet to go shock loading your device like that Surveyor!

Just kiddin JPS

jomoco

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I have no problem with being 250, when ever I drop below 225 my wife starts to get worried. I look like a refugee.

Climbing pecker-poles can be a bit scary though

 

[ssurveyor]

compact model

Thought I would post an update for those interested in my rack ascender.

I have made a compact model of the same design. The rack portion is 3 1/2" and the overall length of the spine is 6 1/2". I did a static weight test today with a 55 gallon drum filled with water (total weigh approaching 500 lbs.) and it passed just fine. There was no discernible slippage of the rope through the rack, and I was able to pull the release lever on top with little effort and lower smoothly and with very good control.

Drop testing should be next. I am leery of rigging and executing the test but will try to do it in the near future and share the results (hopefully with a video)

I will continue making each by hand once I have testing completed.

Here is a picture of the compact model

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e33/gdsandkes/100_1052.jpg

 

[Tom Dunlap]

CAn it be used on SRT?

What diameter rope is it designed for?

What alloy aluminum are you using?

Can you show a better picture of how the rope weaver through the links?

 

[ssurveyor]

It can be used on SRT.

It is designed for 1/2" rope.

(The rope in the attached pictures I just took to demonstrate how the rope passes through the ansi chain link rack, is 3/8")

This particular rack is aluminum alloy 6063, I have another made with alloy 6061. however the point of contact is on the steel links.

This first picture shows the rack in descend configuration.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e33/gdsandkes/100_1053.jpg

This second picture shows the rack gripping the rope.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e33/gdsandkes/100_1054.jpg

 

[Nailsbeats]

Great work Surveyor, give that Unicender some competition.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I'm interested and excited to see if this unit can be put into production.

Doing the testing and finding a company to insure the sale may be two big challenges.

Since Rock Exotica is making the Unicender now there is a price reduction.

How many people climb SRT now?

Paying more than $50 for a replacement hitch on DdRT doesn't seem to be much of a value. Paying more for a tool that works on SRT is priceless.

 

[PineFever]

Thought I would post an update for those interested in my rack ascender.

I have made a compact model of the same design. The rack portion is 3 1/2" and the overall length of the spine is 6 1/2". I did a static weight test today with a 55 gallon drum filled with water (total weigh approaching 500 lbs.) and it passed just fine. There was no discernible slippage of the rope through the rack, and I was able to pull the release lever on top with little effort and lower smoothly and with very good control.

Drop testing should be next. I am leery of rigging and executing the test but will try to do it in the near future and share the results (hopefully with a video)

I will continue making each by hand once I have testing completed.

Here is a picture of the compact model

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e33/gdsandkes/100_1052.jpg

Looking good, the 6 1/2" size is great.
Can't wait to see or hear the results of the drop test.
You downsized the device rather quickly, keep up the good work.

Ed
Stay Safe Out and Up There

 

[ssurveyor]

preparing for drop test

Here are a few pictures from today, as I prepare for a drop test, hopefully tomorrow. I keep running out of time each day!

I am testing a lightweight model (12 oz.) that uses size 60 Ansi roller links and works on both 7/16 and 1/2 rope

Here is my weight rig with 200 lbs.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e33/gdsandkes/000_0018.jpg

here it is hoisted halfway up (15') on the way to 30' up.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e33/gdsandkes/000_0020.jpg

here is my prusik hold, for getting a new purchase with my come-along doing the heavy lifting.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e33/gdsandkes/000_0021.jpg

 

[jomoco]

Good job Surveyor.

Be careful, and thanks for the update.

jomoco

 

[PineFever]

Pics look great........what are the results?
Must have taken a while to crank it up 30' with a come-along.
I figured you would attach it to the bumper of your vehicle to raise it.

 

[ssurveyor]

I have not dropped it yet. Hope to video that tommorrow.

bumper of the four wheel drive, don't know why I didn't think of that! Next test I reckon.

I suppose a person could ascend that way also.

 

[ssurveyor]

drop test for O.A.R. device

Well I took Pine Fever's advice and hoisted the weight (200lbs.) with my four wheel drive. Here is the video drop test. this is actually the third drop, I had technical (camera) difficulties with the first two. The first drop it actually came off the rope! So I modified it and added two gates to help guide the rope. the second drop stretched the rope more than I expected, it was almost at full stop, but did impact the ground. I have not actually examined it closely after this third drop, as I ran out of time again, but it did survive the other drops with no damage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD3EqluCKDg&feature=player_embedded

 

[ssurveyor]

compact OAR offset ascending rack

To those who may be interested here is my handmade compact OAR device that I will be sending out for testing.

 

[PineFever]

Looks Very Nice and very compact considering what you started with.
Congrats Gordon!

 

[ssurveyor]

Update for compact OAR ascender/descender

Here are two videos of my handmade ascender/descender.

The first is the static load test, using a piece of climbing rope lent to me by a fellow poster. It held 475 lbs. with no slippage. The model pictured helped me rig the test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4HE0t1fQT0

The second video shows the latest compact OAR being used to ascend and descend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DioU8283NA


I inadvertently ran the first static load test, using only the bottom two racks engaged, but even so it held 175 lbs and slipped at approx. 195 lbs.