Emergency rappel kit

[silvery37]

I have been wanting to make one of these for a while and finally ordered the stuff. It consists of 100' of 5mm new england tech cord, 15' of webbing, 2 carabiners, and 1 smc escape 8. The entire kit packs to the size of a fat nalgene bottle and weighs less than 2 pounds.

The cord is an aramid (kevlar) type cord so it is extremely strong. The 5mm cord has a breaking strength of over 5000 pounds. It is also a very stiff cord. I purchased the cord from tree stuff which sales it for .85 a foot. I dont know why they sale it this cheap as most places charge 1.25-1.40 a foot. It is also one of the few places that sale it by the foot. Most places only have 25 meter spools.

The webbing is used to build an anchor or to tie a swiss seat if I am not wearing a riggers belt. The rope could also be tied directly around a tree or other anchor. In a picture below.

One of the carabiners is used to build the anchor and the second is to clip the figure 8 into the harness/belt.

For cord this thin you need to use a specialty type figure 8 device or another descending device specifically built for thinner rope. I chose the SMC figure 8 because it is one of the cheapest and it is also the device new england uses in their own emergency rappel kit with the same 5mm cord.

The cord in this kit is more than strong enough to rappel on. But because it is so thin there is a smaller margin of safety against abrasion and cuts. I also found some articles that said that after extended use aramid type ropes begin to break down. Aramid has also been shown to loose a larger amount of strength than nylon type ropes when tied into knots. I still believe this kit is perfectly safe. Just be aware of the limitations and dont use it as your regular rappel gear.



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[RioGrandeGreen]

I think of a reinforced garden hose for emergency purposes! No BS I've seen it done many times.

OP, nice set up.


Gramar n Speling blamed on Maker's Mark!

stay safe
RGGreen

[Quiet-Matt]

I agree with Rio. I always used a section of fire hose tethered to my anchor point. I just slid it down to the edge as I got started. I have seen garden hoses made the same as fire hoses. A section of that would be ideal to provide a little protection for your setup. I like your rig.

[Dead Man]

Have you fired this up, yet? I haven't used a rescue-8, but I'd poop my pantaloons if I had to vertical rap a 5mm single-line with a figure-8.. seems like it'll be really hard to control.

The Kong Robot will ascend and descend all rope/cord diameters, and does double as easily as single line- figure-8s are kind of wanky on double-line. It's heavier, but it's still pretty compact, and would be a lot easier/safer/funner than the 8, I'd guess.

What's your potential application for the kit?

[Dead Man]

I think of a reinforced garden hose for emergency purposes! No BS I've seen it done many times.

OP, nice set up.


Gramar n Speling blamed on Maker's Mark!

stay safe
RGGreen

I agree with Rio. I always used a section of fire hose tethered to my anchor point. I just slid it down to the edge as I got started. I have seen garden hoses made the same as fire hoses. A section of that would be ideal to provide a little protection for your setup. I like your rig.

I'm trying to wrap my mind around this... rapping a garden hose?

[Ironworker46]

If you're worried about loosing strength due to knots, use a hitch. A clove hitch would work great and doesn't set like a knot would. Another that would work would be a bowline. Just keep in mind that Spectra cord or any Kevlar based ropes or cords should be finished with a overhand knot as back up. The overhand knot would be on the tail, so there wouldn't be any loss of strength there.

[Dead Man]

The worst offending knots are generally around 50% reduction, which would bring his cord down to around 11kN. He'd need to shock-load the cord to get up there, and if there's any potential for that, tech-cord is NOT the line to use anyway. I wouldn't worry about what knots to use or not to use... I'd just focus on coming up with the easiest, fastest method possible, and in an urban escape scenario, that's going to be a carabiner hitch, or clipping the carabiner directly to something. Knowing exactly where you might actually need to use the kit would simplify that greatly. If the guy's a travelling highrise tenant salesman, he'll need to come up with a few alternative methods.

[RFB]

Have you looked at an F4?


http://www.sterlingrope.com/product/...l_Response_Kit


Other options: http://www.sterlingrope.com/products/463784

[Quiet-Matt]

I'm trying to wrap my mind around this... rapping a garden hose?

Lol, no. I used the fire hose or in this application a section of fabric garden hose about 18 inches long. You insert your rope through it at your anchor point. As you begin your rappel slide it down to the edge as you go. Use a tether of 550 cord to keep it from slipping down, or a prusik knot to your rope. You could have it pre installed on your rope, attach your anchor, hook up and go. Just slide it down as you go and not have to worry about abrasion compromising your rope.

[silvery37]

I am not worried about the strength reduction because of the knots. It was just something to be aware of and a reason why cord like this shouldnt be used for regular rappelling.

In the photos I am using it on a a very steep hill. It was steep enough that I needed to use feet and hands to get up it. I first tried a double wrap on the figure 8 and it was too much friction. For a completely vertical descent a double wrap should provide plenty of friction. I will try it on a vertical descent when I get a chance. I dont foresee any issues other than being extra cautious about rope abrasion on sharp edges.

I have looked at some of the other kits like the F4. I didnt see any that used rope smaller than about 7mm except for the New England kit which uses the same cord. Most of them tend to be geared toward fire fighters and only have 50-70ft of cord. It was also much cheaper to put it together myself.

I like the fire hose idea. I have used an old burlap sack with a standard rappel kit. I am trying to keep this as small and light as possible. In the future I will probably use the webbing for the anchor. Webbing is cheap enough that I just throw it out and buy more if it gets damaged. If you wanted to this cord is small enough you could use 1' webbing and slide the cord into that, the same as you do with the fire hose.

The purpose I had for this is in a BOB or overnight backpacking situation. It would be used for unexpected steep or rough terrain. I plan on adding a few rappel rings so I could leave behind a little webbing and the ring and retrieve the rope.