New line lockers from SMC
There’s a new line locker on the market that shows great promise for short lines. SMC (Seattle[ish]-based-rigging-hardware-manufacturer) has just released a collar-shaped 1″ inner diameter aluminum ‘rigging ring’ that looks to make a great line locker ($4.50 at REI as well as from SMC directly). I picked up a couple today and (magical time traveling edit) they are unfortunately still prone to the same cosmetic dings as the normal ‘donut’ rings, but they look awful cool. They’re smaller than the aluminum rings I normally use, yet rated to 32Kn! Not nearly the deal that the MadRock rings currently are ($1.95!), but if you want something a little different…
EDIT NUMBER TWO: after these have gotten significantly dinged, the ‘dings’ form sharp burrs that will abrade your line. I would not recommend these for longterm slackline use. If you decide to use them, either make a “sleeve” for your carabiner to prevent the rings from denting, or make sure the dents are always in the same place. If you use the dented ring and the dents are oriented underneath the slackline they will abrade it.
Tried these, and even on a 20ft trick-line, it abraded my mainline webbing! Also its not any more dent resistant, mine had dents withing the 1st 2 days.
Recommended use: destroying a perfectly good bit of webbing.
PS thanks for all the helpful info, and for running this massively informative blog
Can you elaborate as to how it abraded your webbing? So far I see no abrasion from my use (and there are no sharp edges, so I’m not certain how this could happen).
I just bought two of these from REI thinking I was getting a great deal… So should I wait and purchase a different type of ring or can I be careful enough with these to make them last a few days so I can get on my new line?
EDIT: I think you can use them for a long time just fine, as long as you are careful to always put the “dings” in the same place. When you use the locker it’s pressed tight against the carabiner and that makes a “ding” on the locker. If you use it later and the old dings/dents are underneath the line the next time, then they can cut into the line. So either always orient it EXACTLY the same way (so the dented parts never get underneath the line), or cut a short piece of line to act as a sleeve on your carabiner, like attached images.
Also, I just filed mine down to make them “new” again. Obviously this can only be done a finite number of times.
will using some tubular webbing as sleeves on the carabiners completely prevent dings forming on the line lockers, or will it just minimize them?
ANSWER: I dunno, gimme a week to experiment and I’ll tell you. =)
I’ve tried this trick with the webbing sleeve with Omega Pacific rings and it worked pretty well for a while. Then I started to notice the little indentations made by the carabiners (even with the webbing sleeves). Is there a way to prevent the dings altogether or is it pretty much unavoidable?
Only way I know absolutely for sure is to use steel hardware.
I have been noticing small tears on my line, would have never found the culprit having not read your article.
Could you suggest a particular steel ring?
What about wrapping the aluminum rings in electrical tape or something similar?
If my main line has a few small nicks on the outside edges, do I need to abandon it?
Thanks
Shawn
EDIT: The one inch steel rings RenoB sells are okay; Balance Community also sells a one inch ring that is even better; I honestly prefer just a forged 1″ aluminum ring though (for anything up to 150ft this should be plenty safe).
Electrical or athletic tape may work, if you can wrap it thick enough. You might also be able to dip the ring in something ‘rubberizing’ (like a product they sell to dip the handles of various pliers and other home tools). Or a nylon sleeve for your carabiner is easy and cheap and seems to work okay. For $2-4 for a new ring, I’d just go that route, though.
You don’t need to abandon/retire a line that has a few nicks, but be aware that the strength of this line is probably closer to 2000 or 3000 (at best) pounds now. So for 30 or 50 foot lines, no problem. For 100 feet, not safe. I have a 150ft line that has a few nicks in it, and I’ve now retired from anything involving pullies to tighten it.
Shawn, I’ve been using the Omega Pacific Aluminum rings for only a few weeks now, but I’m already getting a few dents/wear marks in it. Are you getting those too? I worry about the integrity of the rings.
ANSWER: I have rings that are years old. They dent a lot, but never break or bend. (OmegaPacific, MadRock, etc.) As long as it’s a forged ring you should be good to go.
I used the omega rings on my main line and one did manage to cut my webbing a little. they have dents all over is there any way i can till use them and not have them hurt my line without getting new rings?
Adam’s Comments:
Yeah, I would try either doubling up the rings, or using a 24″ sleeve of 1.25″ (32mm) webbing that you thread your main webbing inside. Or both. That is what I do on my primitive lines that i want to take good care of.