Heightec Prism descender

[Cantclimbtom]

Rope access descender | PRISM device | UK Manufacturer

PRISM rope access descender, high specification multi-function for abseiling, ascending, lowering, hauling and rescue. Leading provider 25+ years

www.heightec.com

Rope diameter: 10.5 mm – 11.5 mm

Quite a narrow range? Probably it's be fine on 10mm ropes...?

 

[cap n chris]

FWIW I don't use maillons for sports caving rigging (generally - except at work where there's getting on for about three hundred of them, for which an adjustable spanner is the preferred tool's tool, obviously) so the multifunctional usefulness of the old style Stop for spannering a variety of maillons (thus negating the need to carry 2-3 different spanner sizes, if you actually needed to have one with you) meant it was a neat and nice design characteristic but seldom needed - nice when it was needed, though, eh. My guess is that people who routinely rig using maillons would indeed have a spanner for doing that (not on elastic, remember!, but tied to you somehow or another) although using them is tedious and the comparative cost nowadays with compact alloy carabiners means it's an easy decision to use the latter for sports caving trips. The Stop also spanners your central maillon if you're using an old style one rather than one of those new-fangled Omnis with their Triact or Screw Gate superfast operational feature(s).

 

[cap n chris]

but I do have a fairly worn stop.

Why? Shouldn't caving kit be in tip-top condition?; I mean it actually is as though your life depends on it. Just saying.

 

[mikem]

Because, provided that you know what you are doing, it may be better for you than the alternatives...

 

[cap n chris]

Because, provided that you know what you are doing, it may be better for you than the alternatives...

How do you know that you know what you are doing though?

 

[aricooperdavis]

Why? Shouldn't caving kit be in tip-top condition?; I mean it actually is as though your life depends on it. Just saying.

It's safe worn, rather than unsafe worn, just well used. It's the piece of kit I'll replace next though I think.

 

[Loki]

Why? Shouldn't caving kit be in tip-top condition?; I mean it actually is as though your life depends on it. Just saying.

Find me a half decent caver with equipment in tip top condition!

 

[Loki]

It's safe worn, rather than unsafe worn, just well used. It's the piece of kit I'll replace next though I think.

It’s not worn, it’s experienced 🙂. If the threads of the bolt aren’t visible it ain’t done yet 😜 kidding

 

[cap n chris]

Find me a half decent caver with equipment in tip top condition!

Ian Patrick (and a host of others I know of/well) keep their gear in immaculate condition; it reminds me (although I don't have his book to hand so will have to paraphrase from memory) of Dave Elliot's dry quip that "any caver who can't be bothered to look after their gear should give up".

 

[Loki]

Ian Patrick

Who? And anyway if you’re doing decent caves your gear is going to get trashed whether you care for it or not.

 

[AlexR]

I'd say "tip top condition" is a slightly polemic choice of words, a single caving trip can give your brand spanking new gear an appearance that would make any non-caving wise H&S monkey employee blanch at the idea of continued use - but I would deem perfectly safe (metalware), though other bits may not be (soft goods).
Ultimately any cavers life entirely depends on their SRT kit, if that's not motivation enough to keep it in good shape I don't know what is.

@cap n chris :
Looks like we're on the same page when it comes to the Stop though, I'm simply delaying the inevitable by using a specially manufactures stainless top bobbin and getting my mitts on a couple of the remaining bottom (handle) bobbins. Only managed to wear a single aluminium side plate in 10 years, so probably fine on that front. Then for digging/ trade routes I use a BMS rack which sees most of the wear*, but find an old style Stop way superior for rigging.

*and I would thoroughly recommend to anyone putting in a decent mileage on ropes, about 3km for the top bobbin which you can then flip to get 6km. For reference the top bobbin of my Stop needs replacing every 1.5km or so, the bottom bobbin about 4km. This is predominantly Derbyshire digging on in situ ropes, Yorkshire will provide better numbers.

 

[cap n chris]

 

[Loki]

View attachment 16166

I think most cavers are pretty sensible and know when their gear is fecked tbh. The only incidents I know of that fortunately didn’t involve injuries were due to trusting in situ ropes and rigging or worn out spits. Most people can use their own intelligence and make thier own assessments and decisions on their personal safety.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

I think most cavers are pretty sensible and know when their gear is fecked tbh. The only incidents I know of that fortunately didn’t involve injuries were due to trusting in situ ropes and rigging or worn out spits. Most people can use their own intelligence and make thier own assessments and decisions on their personal safety.

Think I mentioned on here before, that the first ever drop of my first ever access job (many many moons ago, in a "past life") the Stop I was issued by large/famous access company looked OK (note "looked" OK not "inspected" OK) self destructed when I sat on the rope. Thank *** for a shunt rope and the footloop I was standing in. It looked fine but salt water corrosion from previous jobs had done something bad to the nut that held the lower handle/bobbin and also the hinge, both of which just fell off. The L3 was next to me at the top watching me as he knew it was my first job and he quickly confiscated the broken stop swapping for his one (hide the evidence) and forbade me to discuss it. He packed me off down the rope before I could change my mind. So I am in agreement that inspection of kit is essential as life depends on it, the anecdote given changed my attitude from a casual attitude to thorough inspection and replacement when needed.

But I also agree with you.... there's a balance between inspecting kit for safety and some extreme idolising, polishing, sleeping with it, keeping in a display case attitude (a gross exaggeration... not saying any posters here are that extreme). Dunno very much about caves, but certainly in mines and other foolish outdoor uses I put srt kit and ropes to, it can get a beating. It's working kit after all so it needs to work for a living!

 

[Edz]

The key difference is that caving kit is usually your own so you know it's history etc. The exception is club kit but it's still being used by people who generally want to keep it in reasonable condition.
Work kit suffers from the 'someone else's problem/can't be bothered' syndrome. Handing damaged stuff back in and hoping no one will notice or a thorough examination that's not very thorough.

 

[cap n chris]

I think most cavers are pretty sensible and know when their gear is fecked tbh. The only incidents I know of that fortunately didn’t involve injuries were due to trusting in situ ropes and rigging or worn out spits. Most people can use their own intelligence and make thier own assessments and decisions on their personal safety.

Sadly plenty of examples disprove this in my experience.