Does Prolonged Immersion of Canyoneering Rope in Cold Water Compromises Rope Integrity?

Рет қаралды 380

Celessence

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 20

@Coast_to_Coast 2 ай бұрын

No issues. Nice.

@chaddubuisson343 2 ай бұрын

I'd be interested to follow up on this after pressure washing a tested dirty rope to see if that would improve it's strength by removing more of that internal grit. Yes, pressure washing indeed, you have to use low pressure (1,500-2,000 psi or so), it works amazingly well. Cavers figured that our years ago. Using low pressure, it will not damage the rope. I've seen muddy caving ropes look like they were almost new. Using the pressure washer helps blow the grit through the rope and helps extract it from the depths of the kern, not just surface washing the mantle. I've done it myself MANY times on ropes used for industrial rope access, caving and for canyons and it's works really great. Just use a fan tip, low pressure and you'd be amazed. Now, relative to this discussion and Harlan's comment, if that dirt makes it that much weaker, it'd be cool to see a test where you had a weakened rope, as he described. take a couple of samples from that dirty rope, pull them after pressure washing to see if it regained any of that lost strength? That'd be pretty cool to determine. Overall, I knew this wasn't an issue. Some people have it in their head that a rope under water for 10 months would somehow be ruined, but why? If water ruined ropes, we'd all be using something else. Especially if it was totally under the water in a bag, no UV getting to it, no oxygen, it's just sitting there. Glad you all did that to help show the truth. The rope was fine, no issues there. Weaker than new, of course it was, they all are after we take them out and start using them. But the water didnt' hurt it.

@Celessence 2 ай бұрын

Oi! Thanks for your essay of a reply :-D So I talked to the rope's rescuer Nick about it today, he was more concerned about the temp of the water (thus i changed the title to "cold water" from just "water"). Illusions does freeze over during winter, but I doubt it freeze more than 2 feet from surface tho. While heat affects rope, there hasn't been much study on prolong cold. Might have to plant a rope in a shallower water where ice and snow surround it haha. But anyways, gentle pressure washer over rope eh? Doesn't that push fine grains farther into the rope? But actually push fine grains THROUGH? hrm. I'll see if can get hands on pressure washer. So many experiment to be done and so many fun canyons and mtb trails to do too hahaha Yeah basically of people I talked to so far before making this video, it's you, me, Harlan, and Brian feel safe using that Prime.

@harlanstockman5703 2 ай бұрын

@chaddubuisson343 we should try an experiment! The simplest is to take two more sections of rope from Celes, and "pressure-wash" them. There is actually a pressure-wash "test" on the Swaygo Gear site; I'd caution, however, that Swaygo test was visual only (they did not do break tests), and wouldn't see very fine particles of dirt. I already cut open Celes' rope and didn't seen any distinct particles, but the core strands were a bit "grayer". Similarly, the rope I dirtied had just a slight darker tinge, no obvious particles. I am unfamiliar with the pressure washing technique for ropes (i've just seen them used to clean engines and graffiti-covered walls). For a more controlled test, I think we'll need a minimum of 3 pristine controls, 3 dirtied but unwashed, and 3 dirtied but pressure washed. Teufelberger may be interested in this; their quoted "standard" was actually for ski boot bindings. I'm interested in following this through; a useful washing scheme could do a lot more for the safety of canyoneering, than all the crap they normally worry about!

@Celessence 2 ай бұрын

@@harlanstockman5703 Should I go on FB asking to borrow a pressure washer? Last time I inquire for unwanted rope donation, people just laughed at me 🥲

@harlanstockman5703 2 ай бұрын

A comment on the effect of mineral dirt on ropes. First there is an interesting study by Teufelberger (it's on their site) where they found a fairly light soiling caused the ropes to loose up to 50% strength; washing did not help, as the mineral dirt was lodged between the fibers. I just repeated the test with my new canyonprime (never used in a canyon), same stuff that broke at 3058 and 3100 lbs in this video, and a much milder dirt exposure than the Teufelberger test (I'll have details elsewhere). The mildly dirtied "new" canyonprime broke at 2286 and 2058, MUCH weaker. Washing your ropes will improve the smell and appearance, but it probably won't do much to restore strength. I measured the canyonprime sheath as being 52% of the rope mass (jeweler's scale), so even grit in the sheath may do much to reduce strength.

@Celessence 2 ай бұрын

someone need to follow you around with a camera like paparazzi.

@GeneHacker 2 ай бұрын

I would. Compared to the sketchy rock cairns that I have used as anchors in death valley, the water logged rope is the least of my concerns.

@Celessence 2 ай бұрын

haha I usually lapar on those, and knot chocks too. my risk tolerance is.... a bit high. but yeah didn't think waterlog is a concern either but many do.

@harlanstockman5703 2 ай бұрын

2nd pristine sample actually broke at 3058, not 3000. Minor detail.

@Celessence 2 ай бұрын

Aye, I realized it after i posted it 😅