Doctorb Posted December 7, 2003 Posted December 7, 2003 I got a catlog with the new Metolius "Range Finder" cam featured on the back cover. "Red means stop, Yellow mean caution, and Grean means go" So, since you can't use the red part of the cam, why have it there in the first place? But if you cut it off, the consistent shape of the logrithmic spiral forces you to re-apply the Red/Yellow/Green color code on what's left. Get rid of the red, reevaluate, cut off more red, etc, until you're left with nothing. So, essentially, there is no portion of the cam that can be considered "green" permanently, which makes the entire cam worthless as functional pro. "Range Finder" is a dumb idea... Quote
glassgowkiss Posted December 8, 2003 Posted December 8, 2003 if you see how the cam is retracted it would be hard to cut any of the part off and still have functional unit. but what do i know... Quote
ScottP Posted December 8, 2003 Posted December 8, 2003 Doctorb said: (snip0 So, since you can't use the red part of the cam, why have it there in the first place? (snip) I have to disagree with this part of your otherwise sage observation: Included in the infinite bag of tricks that constitutes aid climbing comes the tipped out cam as a body weight placement. In the aid realm, red would not mean "stop", rather "tread lightly." Quote
Gary_Yngve Posted December 8, 2003 Posted December 8, 2003 The red part the cam exists so that there is some margin of error should placements using the yellow/green walk. The cam should be made as large as possible until the tips of the cam touch the opposite side when overcammed. If the cam is made any larger, then real-estate on the cam is wasted. Quote
Jens Posted December 8, 2003 Posted December 8, 2003 I'm no engineer but it seems like they have the "green" in the wrong place. Would Ray Jardine say that when placed toward the end of the green dots, the units are way way way overcamed? They sure look like it to me. Granted metolius cams may be slightly different, but their cam angle is in the same ballbark as manyof the other manufacturers cams. Quote
Retrosaurus Posted December 8, 2003 Posted December 8, 2003 The green range is a "go" from a marketting standpoint. Those are the placements that become "fixed". Then you need to buy another to replace it. That said, cams placed in that range are the most secure. And when I get concerned on lead, guess what my placements look like. Quote
catbirdseat Posted December 8, 2003 Posted December 8, 2003 What are the two doctors discussing, a cam-ectomy? Quote
Scott_J Posted December 8, 2003 Posted December 8, 2003 Jens said: I'm no engineer but it seems like they have the "green" in the wrong place. Would Ray Jardine say that when placed toward the end of the green dots, the units are way way way overcamed? They sure look like it to me. Granted metolius cams may be slightly different, but their cam angle is in the same ballbark as manyof the other manufacturers cams. That, Jens, is exactly what I thought when I saw their new marketing idea. The picture in the ad seems to show an over cammed cam. Quote
Doctorb Posted December 8, 2003 Author Posted December 8, 2003 ScottP said: Doctorb said: (snip0 So, since you can't use the red part of the cam, why have it there in the first place? (snip) I have to disagree with this part of your otherwise sage observation: Included in the infinite bag of tricks that constitutes aid climbing comes the tipped out cam as a body weight placement. In the aid realm, red would not mean "stop", rather "tread lightly." Sure. You could also beat the trigger handle into a crack and use the cam like a circlehead. Or loop the end over a hangerless bolt, and clip into one of the holes in a cam lobe. My point was to do with the functionality of the cam as active protection. "Red means stop". This implies that about one third of the cam lobe is useless to begin with. I would re-design the the "Range Finder" to have only two red dots on each lobe, one at each infinitesimal end of the logrithmic spiral. Quote
catbirdseat Posted December 8, 2003 Posted December 8, 2003 I'd have a second yellow zone on the "overcammed" part of the lobes. Yellow instead of red, because overcamming is not dangerous, just expensive. So the pattern would go yellow-green-yellow-red from smallest radius to largest radius. Quote
Alpine_Tom Posted December 8, 2003 Posted December 8, 2003 I assumed that the color markings were intended more as "user education" than precise technical specs. Quote
Dr_Flash_Amazing Posted December 8, 2003 Posted December 8, 2003 catbirdseat said: What are the two doctors discussing, a cam-ectomy? That's a "pair o' docs", you foolish feline. Say it fast a few times then look at the posting again. Quote
chriss Posted December 9, 2003 Posted December 9, 2003 If the formula for the cam is a "constant contact angle" then the "holding power" of the cam will be the same throughout the range. From green to red. Wild Country says anything between 1/4 to 3/4 cammed is good. I guess the manufacturers want you to stay away from the ends. Maybe the potential for metal deformation is greater there. chris Quote
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