A Prize for Top Technical Tip

[Badlad]

A prize for Top Technical Tip on ukCaving ? starting NOW!!
A further prize of 50m Spanset Gold 10.5mm SRT rope will be announced on 20th December 2014.

The prize will be awarded for the best technical tip for digging, SRT or rigging as posted in the Digging or Equipment section of the technical forum.  The spirit of the prize is that it should encourage new ideas, so although long forgotten tips may be relevant, re-posting of tips given previously on ukCaving is not really the intention.

Winners to be chosen by Jane & Tim Allen (with help from forum members ? If you like a tip please post to say so).

The 50m Spanset Gold will be bagged and shrink wrapped for protection and will include relevant product information.  Caver post will be the preferred method of dispatch to the lucky winner. 

A big thank you to Spanset Ltd from ukCaving.

 

[Bottlebank]

Digging tip, easy one - get a "Lugger".

Invaluable digging weapon, usually available even at short notice. A little high maintenance on mobile calls and lifts but more than makes up for it with enthusiasm etc.

:

 

[Pegasus]

For those that don't view the home page when logging onto UK Caving - here's a reminder of the prize for Top Technical Tip.....

 

[cavermark]

If you find your windscreen wipers smearing when driving to your dig -

Use some vinegar on a cloth or tissue to wipe the rubbers - problem solved (and a good excuse to stop at the chip shop on the way!)

 

[cap n chris]

I think they mean a proper caving tip, not a tangential one. Something like, "when rigging clip a couple of carabiners to each elbow pad, as it can be quicker and more efficient than fishing around for some clipped on your harness or sling"?

See video, 50-57 seconds....

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fMjT9J4lGSs

 

[cavermark]

I think they mean a proper caving tip, not a tangential one. Something like, "when rigging clip a couple of carabiners to each elbow pad, as it can be quicker and more efficient than fishing around for some clipped on your harness or sling"?

I couldn't think of anything like that... (and my caving trips are often improper) 

 

[badger]

when driving to a cave make sure you have necessary equipment to enter the cave, then would save me having to lend my carry rope to the group who forgot the rope for the handline 

 

[Peter Burgess]

Like small kids gloves, tie your wellies together with strong cord, running up your oversuit legs and tied to anything handy you might find on the way. That way, they won't slip off when they get trapped in a crevice.

 

[shotlighter]

Like small kids gloves, tie your wellies together with strong cord, running up your oversuit legs and tied to anything handy you might find on the way. That way, they won't slip off when they get trapped in a crevice.

And a free vasectomy too!

 

[Peter Burgess]

Looks like more Viz mag readers here than Descent readers....  :

 

[Peter Burgess]

Actually a sensible one (no prize winner of course) - if you have the option, dig crawls out to kneeling height as a minimum - you can extend the dig just as quickly as if you keep the crawl flat out. The number of digs I have seen abandoned because they were just too bloody awkward when they need not be. It does, of course, depend on the depth of infill and the amount of space you have for dumping. It also prevents future arguments about whether it is ethical to make a tight place easier to get through......

 

[Pie Muncher]

When capping, a small square of capping mat, just an off cut 4" square, placed between the target and the protective capping mat, extends the life of the protective capping mat, saving costly replacement of the main protecting capping mat and a trip to A&E to have a rogue fragments of cap and/or rock removed from digit! Ouch!

 

[cavermark]

Actually a sensible one (no prize winner of course) - if you have the option, dig crawls out to kneeling height as a minimum - you can extend the dig just as quickly as if you keep the crawl flat out. The number of digs I have seen abandoned because they were just too bloody awkward when they need not be. It does, of course, depend on the depth of infill and the amount of space you have for dumping. It also prevents future arguments about whether it is ethical to make a tight place easier to get through......

Definitely - I reckon it works out quicker in the long run than "rabbit holing" something flat out - see how quickly you can remove a pile of soil/sand in your garden when kneeling down with a full size leaf shovel, compared to a using a trowel whilst lying on your belly...

Shoveling into buckets or kibbles is also ten times faster than trying to fill sand bags.

 

[royfellows]

First to my mind is for Petzl Stop users.

Always use a braking crab

Technical doc does not show it and on the face of it its completely unecessary, until your stop becomes a bit worn and you use it on a new rope.
This was Roys first near miss many years ago, in a 210 ft freehanger.

 

[Simon Wilson]

First to my mind is for Petzl Stop users.

Always use a braking crab

Technical doc does not show it and on the face of it its completely unecessary, until your stop becomes a bit worn and you use it on a new rope.
This was Roys first near miss many years ago, in a 210 ft freehanger.

Better still, throw your Petzl Stop in the bin and get a Petzl Simple descender and a braking crab. You will have a much more controllable descender that won't damage your ropes.

 

[Antwan]

Take anti-sickness pills before abseiling down a big free hanging pitch using an Italian hitch  :yucky:

 

[cavermark]

Take anti-sickness pills before abseiling down a big free hanging pitch using an Italian hitch  :yucky:

..and a course on how to untangle big tangles!

 

[mch]

First to my mind is for Petzl Stop users.

Always use a braking crab

Technical doc does not show it and on the face of it its completely unecessary, until your stop becomes a bit worn and you use it on a new rope.
This was Roys first near miss many years ago, in a 210 ft freehanger.

Better still, throw your Petzl Stop in the bin and get a Petzl Simple descender and a braking crab. You will have a much more controllable descender that won't damage your ropes.

Even better, dump all your Petzl descenders and use a rack!

 

[Burt]

never eat yellow snow. :yucky:

 

[SamT]

Not sure folks are taking this too seriously. 

There is actually an actual prize to be actually given to someone for an actual decent caving tip.  I'm not allowed to enter, being a mod, but I'd be trying a bit harder than you lot if I was allowed.  :ras: