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homemade aiders
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nmoroder


Feb 3, 2005, 11:00 PM
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homemade aiders
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What do you think? They are made out of one piece of webbing and the knots are all water knots. Intended for light aid.

Please don't tell me that I'll die without telling me why. I'm looking for responses from real aid climbers.

http://img235.exs.cx/.../404/im0000415xm.jpg

http://img235.exs.cx/...9136/im0000431ho.jpg


sandbag


Feb 3, 2005, 11:06 PM
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Re: homemade aiders [In reply to]
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Cool.
Looks just like they used too look before people made sewn aiders.
Good job.


wlderdude


Feb 3, 2005, 11:13 PM
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Why would you die from home made aiders?
They are not life-line gear.

They don't have stiffeners to hold the steps open, but that will help them pack down smaller.

I made a set a few years ago with 1" tubular bebbing and 2" sewn on top of the steps to help stiffen them. I had plenty of time, webbing and thread, but no money. Otherwise, I would have bought them. At any rate, I haven't taken up aid climbing yet, so they sit in my "extra gear" bag.


nmoroder


Feb 3, 2005, 11:33 PM
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In reply to:
Why would you die from home made aiders?
They are not life-line gear.

I know, it's just that everytime someone says "homemade," the inevitable response is just that. Thank you both.


epic_ed


Feb 3, 2005, 11:40 PM
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Yep, those are old school tied aiders. Great for some cheap, quick aiders and light enough for alpine I'd guess. But total junk if you plan to do much aiding. There's a reason some of the old school vets started busting out their own gear -- because the existing options , like tied aiders, sucked. Thank God Johnny Yates was tired of the inferior design of several products and he started making his own. Fish, too. There are some things worth making on your own, especially if you feel like you can do a better job than stuff currently on the market. If you do much aiding in those I'll bet you get tired of them quick. But they are a nice way to cheaply break into the aid arena without sinking a boat-load of money into the gear, only to find it really not a game you want to play, anyway.

Ed


nmoroder


Feb 4, 2005, 12:42 AM
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In reply to:
Yep, those are old school tied aiders.

Haha, and I thought I had a good idea...


Partner kimgraves


Feb 4, 2005, 1:08 AM
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Hi,

The "trad"itional way was to use a Frost knot at the top. Check out this page from the 1972 Great Pacific Iron Works catalog:

http://www.climbaz.com/.../graphics/page54.JPG

Thanks to climbaz.com for the image.

Best, Kim


nmoroder


Feb 4, 2005, 1:25 AM
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Wow, thanks.


mesomorf


Feb 4, 2005, 1:26 AM
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What's that wad on the bottom end?

At the top end, use a Frost knot.


justen


Feb 4, 2005, 2:35 AM
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I have a pair of 5 step myself-

Duct tape for stiffener sound good?

If I do stiffen them, how wide a step would people recommend?

FYI- the benefit of the frost know is twofold: it reduces bulk at the top and keeps the last step nice and clean as a single loop.

Justen


timmy_t


Feb 4, 2005, 3:35 AM
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When thinking of step stiffiners, don't think of PVC pipe. You will slip out of them. If you have access to a sewing machine, I would sew them, that would be nice. Also if you are posting to RC.com don't be really drunk. This is my hardest post ever. Had to read several times, so many typos. P.S. if you are doing a lot of aid, (drink a lot) and get some real etriers. P.P.S. those look really good, I'm jealous, too much undiagnosed ADD. Must... stop... post.........


megableem


Feb 4, 2005, 5:35 AM
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.


nmoroder


Feb 4, 2005, 5:50 AM
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I don't need the Frost knot because I started with a folded in half piece of webbing. The ends of the webbing are at the bottom of the aider. The first knot is a water knot, and if I am thinking correctly, it should be cleaner than a Frost knot. Thanks again everyone!


megableem


Feb 4, 2005, 5:56 AM
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.


bilias


Feb 4, 2005, 8:19 AM
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Man, timmy t you are really drunk. :)


vertical_world


Feb 4, 2005, 4:18 PM
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It's even easier to make homemade adjustable aiders!

It takes two knots and a cam-buckle


abalch


Feb 4, 2005, 4:34 PM
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A year or so back, Climbing had the instructions for tying aiders, using the frost knot at the top, in their Tech Tips. It might still be on their website, if anyone is looking for good instructions on doing this.

I tied a pair before I bought some aiders. Even though I didn't use the tied one that much, it still was a fun experience to tie them, and climb on something I had made. I will bust them out some times, just to look oldschool.


golgiapp


Feb 4, 2005, 5:44 PM
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Here ya go!

http://climbing.com/techtips/aid/ttaid216/


gunked


Feb 4, 2005, 11:26 PM
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They look good!

My first pair were quite similar.

The only differences were:

- a beefed-up top knot. I cut a 3 inch piece of webbing and burned the ends open. I had the knot loop running through this piece as I knew it would take alot of abuse. Also wrapped the knot in duct-tape.

- The steps were stiffened with duct-tape, although, I think I could used something a bit better. After a little use, they were pretty flimsy.

Possibly cutting strips out of a plastic milk container and duct tape them to the top of the steps would work better?

Good job,
-Jason :D


bubba


Feb 5, 2005, 12:14 AM
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See also here:

http://climbing.com/techtips/aid/ttaid216/


skinner


Feb 5, 2005, 7:18 AM
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I think making and using your own gear is all part of being a well rounded climber. It's a great thing to know in case you have to whip something up in an emergency. I like making/modifying and improving upon what's already out there for *everyone* to buy.
that said..

    As far as stiffening up the steps, I find milk jug plastic just a little to soft and it tends to have a bit of a memory after being stood on. What I found works far better is nice and wide carton banding. The stuff they use to strap boxes onto pallets for shipping. Not the metal kind, but the plastic kind that has fibers embedded in for strength. Just remember to trim and sand the ends smooth, rounding off the corners. This is not only so it won't damage the webbing, but so you can slide it down the inside of the webbing. When tying a full aider from a single piece of webbing, that can be a long way to slide!

      just my 2 cent worth :wink:


      shutupandclimb


      Feb 5, 2005, 7:56 AM
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      I used clear rubber tube to stiffen mine. You just stuff the webbing through and slide it down, works great. You can get it at any hardware store.


      skinner


      Feb 5, 2005, 8:17 AM
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      umm,, I don't know about round tubing, the idea is to get them as flat as possible to disperse the weight on your arches. Try standing on that tubing for a couple of hours and you'll know why no-one uses it. :lol:

        In reply to:
        the knots are all water knots
        cept for that funky looking one at the bottom


        calangosauro


        Feb 8, 2005, 11:15 PM
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        http://geocities.yahoo.com.br/...ngosauro/estribo.jpg


        jeremy11


        Feb 17, 2005, 8:20 PM
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        I have a few tied aiders with the frost knot. they can be a pain, especially with no stiffener. I've tried using bike brake cable housing duct taped on but comes partway out and gets all messy, but better than nothing. just duct tape is ok, but not good. another problem with tied aiders is the steps twist so they are not always lined up with were they should be.
        has anyone sewn aiders? If I do, I'd like to try with all the steps on the same side like Fish makes them.

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