bolting hammer

[Charlie]

Kong have this marked as "coming soon" 

and the petzl one is the standard

so,

Does anyone know of a caving shop that sells Kong gear?
Any ideas about weather it will cost more/less and be better/worse than the petzl?
Anyone know when it is going to be available?

possibly an idiot question, I have only ever used a lump hammer for hiltis, is a bolting hammer heavy enough to fire them?

Cheers
Charlie


P.S. Why does the spell check on a caving forum want to change petzl to petal

 

[Dropper]

I would have thought a bolting hammer would be fine for capping. It would prevent mashing the hilti cap in to the bottom of the hole which can happen if you use a big lump hammer.

 

[NigR]

Have used the petzl hammer (for bolting) for years and have been pleased with it. Haven't seen the Kong model (apart from in the pic) so can't really comment but would personally be inclined to stick with the petzl.

With regard to the suitability of a bolting hammer for capping, yes it would work so long as you hit it hard enough but it seems a very expensive option to me.

 

[Charlie]

It is mainly inended for bolting rather than capping. I only asked about capping because that way I only need to have one hammer in the caving kit box.

thanks for the replies, keep em coming

Charlie

 

[jarvist]

I was very impressed by the Kong stand at the 2006 Italian caving meeting (http://www.casola2006.it/en/page.php?1), and was given their one UK distributor (at that point):

Yes - they are basically Petzl rip-offs, but are done by CAVERS (not rope access monkeys), with little improvements and refinements where useful. I found their twisted 'banana' bobbin descender very intriguing, especially as they were in the process of making steel replacements bobbins.

No online catalogue - but responded very quickly to email. The price was however... uhm... not as wonderfully competitive as it was to buy at the conference in Euros...

But I'd be interested in whatever quotes / info you get...

    High Places
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              Gloucestershire
              GL10 3SA
              England

      WWW.high-places.co.uk
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      +44 (0) 1453 822 840
      +44 (0) 1453 822 828

 

[SamT]

re capping and hammers - If you insist on having to use caps (there are much better, more effective and much much much safer options available) then use a lump hammer on the basis that your less likely to miss the pin with a 'glancing blow' this can result in the pin firing out the hole literally like a bullet. Nobody has been killed like this yet - but there have been some close calls (think along the lines of - entry and exit hole in the side of a helmet, a shattered wrist and a near puncutred lung requiring an general and operation to remove shard from between ribs).

A good clean strike with a lump hammer should initiate a cap first go - rather than repeated taps.

Better still - use a pogging bar, slide hammer etc.

Even better still - use modern delvelopments.

 

[NigR]

I entirely agree with SamT on the inherent dangers involved in capping. My earlier post regarding the possible suitability of a petzl hammer was in direct response to the question posed by the original poster and should not be construed otherwise. Not sure what Sam's 'modern developments' are but personally I prefer the old-fashioned approach from a safe distance.

 

[SamT]

Not sure what Sam's 'modern developments' are but personally I prefer the old-fashioned approach from a safe distance.

Not old fashioned as its not readilbly available in the peak.

but certainly remote - as in on the end of a cable.

But not as remote as the 'oldfashioned' materials implied above as you only need to be 'out of line of sight' and fumes are not a problem so you can return straight away and carry on diggin. 

 

[Bob Smith]

Really wouldn't use a Petzl hammer for capping, as SamT said you risk not hitting the bar sqaure and they do shoot out of the hole. Slide hammers are the best for this as the bar stays captivated. Interesting that Jarvist should suggest that Petzl are "rope access monkeys" and not cavers, I'm sure Fernand Petzl is spinning in hs grave!

http://en.petzl.com/petzl/frontoffice/corporate/who-is-Petzl.jsp

 

[SamT]

Id love to know what the 'little improvements/refinements' actully are.

They look pretty damned simlar to me except the kong one doesnt have a hand leash.

 

[ChrisB]

P.S. Why does the spell check on a caving forum want to change petzl to petal

My understanding, which I've just tested, is that the spellcheck is in your browser, not the forum software; it's your PC that wants to change it!