Strange GriGri Questions

[Jens]

I will be working on a very steep slope very soon doing some landscaping work for my buddy and wish to use my grigri on a fixed line as a method to self belay myself as I work. I also want to use the grigri to rappel down the slope. I will be using static line as my fixed rope.

 

*Can I use a grigri on static line?

*The grigris are made for 10mm-11mm ropes (although many of us use them down to 9.7mm) What would be the static line eqivalents?

*What are the most commonly sold widths of static line at gear shops? How will I know if they work (width-wise) with the gri-gri?

*Does anyone do any rigging or the like for a living and have any advice for me? Are their any better devices for such a task? How would you rig up a rope system for working on a steep slope?

[JosephH]

What 'work' are you going to be doing? It's all fairly dependent on that...

[zeroforhire]

why don't you just use prussiks? cheap and easy...

[cbcbd]

 

Yes you can use it on static line.

 

Be careful of soft falls with the Grigri - soft falls don't always activate the camming. Always tie a backup knot just in case.

 

You can buy many diameters of static line. I think the popular black Sterling static we used to sell was 11/16" thick and 200m long... or you could buy it by the foot.

[Bogen]

Cavers or arborists would be better suited to answer these questions, I suppose.

 

Having done work in situations similar to what you propose, I will only advise that you most definitely should back up your grigri with a prussik, if not 2. I caught the lever on a fold of clothing while working...

 

I never saw a problem with the way the grigri handles 10mm static rope.

[Bogen]

Edited August 15, 2008 by Bogen

[Alpinsanity]

I just finished pressure washing my 60 degree roof.

Used an ascender, with a prusik underneath it.

That way, is was easy to ascend and, to go down, I had a back up while releasing the ascender to lower it.

Worked great.

Always had a slackless device ready to catch a slip.

Hope this helps.

[ketch]

Second the vote on an arborist being a little better suited. I would go to Wesspur for my rope you might even get a deal on a remnant. There are several sizes and charecters of Static line. I will dig out my catalog and give you some options from the industry side of things.

 

Definatley be aware of the "soft fall" issue that came up earlier. I Gri Gri will work fine for rapin in and stoping at the right place but set a prusick when you are not going to be moving as a sliding fall (like steep landscape work) may not activate the grigri.

 

 

[snoboy]

I'd probably use an ATC style device and a prussik to the leg loop over the grigri if I was doing less than vertical work, due to the soft fall thing.

 

Why do you want to use static? Got an old 10.5 kicking around? Use that...

 

 

[Figger_Eight]

A brake rack would be sweet for the descent, but you won't be able to jug back up with it. If you can walk from the bottom, then it would be perfect.