Can you squish a rope and make it useless?

Post by KD » Fri Jan 30, 2004 4:05 pm

I have a trad rope that I bought around two or three years ago. It is a Mummut Supersafe and has a great hand and tough sheath at the same time. I used it a lot but didn't hang or fall on it too much. Recently I noticed flat spots and indentations in parts of it. I have a bad habit of keeping my ropes in the bottom compartment of my pack and throwing my rack et al on top of it. i think that I squished my rope to death! Can you do this or did this rope just prematurely die? Has anybody had this happen before?

Post by KD » Fri Jan 30, 2004 4:06 pm

that's trad rope not "tard" rope sometimes I type like a tard though.

Post by KD » Fri Jan 30, 2004 4:07 pm

damn i did it again! trad trad trad!

Post by **Artsay** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 4:35 pm

Do you use a GriGri? That'll squish a rope.

Post by KD » Fri Jan 30, 2004 4:38 pm

I do use a gri gri, hmmm, I haven't though of that. Do you know of anybody who has ruined a rope using one?

Post by **Artsay** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 4:45 pm

I worked in a climbing gym that used GriGri's and the ropes would all be squished within a few months of (over) use. I use a GriGri sparingly because of this and limit using it to projects and such when I don't want to work so hard at belaying. I don't know if the rope loses it's strength but it kinda looks that way, doesn't it?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 5:29 pm

2 or 3 years old and used a lot? Do you think maybe it's just time to retire it? Even though you say you didn't hang or fall on it much, that's a lot of time out of one rope.

I only very rarely use a GriGri (and only because I hate them), but I think it can happen with other belay devices, too. I use a Jaws, which has a pretty deep slot. One of my old partner's rope flattened after only about a year of use from our tube belay devices, but he uses an ATC. It just happens.

Post by **SikMonkey** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 5:32 pm

.....you said "deep slot"....

Anyway, yes, greegrees will make little dents and flat spots in your rope. No big deal in itself, but the fact that it's so old Moses used it to tow the 10 commandments around should be a pretty good indicator of the need for its retirement.

Mj

Post by KD » Fri Jan 30, 2004 6:35 pm

it doesn't look scarywhen i'm over the top of it, only when when its over me: like hangs, falls, and lowering. I probably need to retire it.

Post by **Artsay** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 6:43 pm

A good FYI for using a GriGri is that it was designed to be used with a biner in the belay loop, not attached to a biner that is through the bottom and top loops of your harness (where you tie the rope). When it's used correctly, the rope runs through the device smoothly and the pinch isn't as severe on the rope. When used incorrectly, there is a constant tourch on the rope from the GriGri being shifted 45 degrees.