Chads93GT wrote:Great info. Looks like I should buy a rack before dropping into that 170 foot pit then ehh ;)
Do you guys have any suggestions for a brand? I kind of liked the Petzel unit as it had a $70 price tag. Any suggestions?
All previous observations/opinions/experiences with racks are right on so I won't add to that.
The observations of the 8 are likewise, yet I still do like using one. But like others only for drops less than 100 feet. I own several 8's (being an instructor) and one of them is the SMC stainless steel 8 which I've used on deeper drops. I don't know why I get shouted down about it but in my experience the steel 8 does not get quite as hot as the aluminum ones does. I've done Stupendous Pit (-201) on my steel 8 and yes I did spin around and around and around but upon landing the 8 was warm but not unbearably hot. I still removed it quickly from the rope none-the less.
On the spinning aspects that 8's tend to do I've found through trial and error that the twists and kinks at the end of the rope are primarily because there is simply too much rope at the bottom. Say using a 150' rope for a 115' drop, naturally all that twists that the device puts on the rope will cause the end laying on the floor to bunch up. But using a 125 or 130' rope for a 115' drop and the bunching is considerably less if not totally eliminated, as the twists work themselves out the end and the next person down doesn't spin as much.
One solution is intentionally short-roping the drop when using a longer rope. Meaning, that the first person down can holler up for the caver on top to haul up the rope til just a few feet are laying on the floor, the topside caver can then re-rig the drop (adding another wrap around the tree if using a tensionless wrap rigging, and the twists and bunching are no longer a problem. Sure, it takes a bit longer to get things set up but IMO adds a bit more life to the rope than laying on a muddy floor where landing cavers may inadvertently/unintentionally step on it and possibly damage the sheath.
I've spun on racks before, even after a rack user went down before me. The rack isn't completely spin free either.