Marking my gear with small zip-ties rather than tape.

"The Mark" looks interesting, haven't tried it, but it got the brain cells bumping together...

What about wrapping a piece of tinsel around a piece of gear then covering that with clear epoxy? Wouldn't really work on flat/big pieces pieces like belay devices, haul pulleys, etc,,, but those can just be written on with a permanent marker.

The Mark is great! It's extremely tough, and very obvious. The only downside is that it's not as easy as tape or nail polish to work with. Still worth it though.

I use this stuff called IDENTI-TAPE. identi-tape.com/geartape.html This tape is better than anything I have ever used. For a few years, I have been using the tape that trango offers and I have to replace the tape after 5 or 6 climbing trips. This IDENTI-TAPE is BOMBER. Super sticky and hasn't come off from all the contact with the rock. Best of all, they have multiple colors - 14. Just don't get red, that's mine! ;)

Although I would never recommend the general masses to start engraving there own gear, I am +1 on the etching your name into everything. I have also seen a gal @ the creek that lightly engraved flowers onto the entire cam lobe sides. I won't ever do that but its a good permanent, easy to distinguish style. Markers rub off, tape gets dirty, zips end up breaking off or cutting you and some polish and feces will degrade materials like plastic. So I guess epoxy and glitter sound fun since I would never recommend engraving rite?

I'd vote no on the zip ties... they will just become litter.

I mark suspect biners (that I dropped or found) with black tape. I'd use these "death biners" for just racking or camera... Great system til I started climbing with someone that marks All his gear with black tape. Off topic, but amusing. Also amusing- the spell checker wants me to replace biner with boner.

Mark Roth wrote:I'd vote no on the zip ties... they will just become litter. I mark suspect biners (that I dropped or found) with black tape. I'd use these "death biners" for just racking or camera... Great system til I started climbing with someone that marks All his gear with black tape. Off topic, but amusing. Also amusing- the spell checker wants me to replace biner with boner.

Death biners? It's pretty well established that any structural flaws also will be visible to the naked eye. In other words, if the biner looks fine, it is.

Peter Kananen wrote: Death biners? It's pretty well established that any structural flaws also will be visible to the naked eye. In other words, if the biner looks fine, it is.

This however, does not apply to "Death Boners."

I thought the zip-tie idea was an April Fools joke, much more-so than the dremel stamp, and I think I'm correct.

Hey thanks for the link on the mark. They also seem to have this wonderful product......

boulderbaseddesigns.com/pro…

500 Lbs limit!! that would be perfect for a bail biner :)

Peter Kananen wrote: Death biners? It's pretty well established that any structural flaws also will be visible to the naked eye. In other words, if the biner looks fine, it is.

So.... If I dropped a quickdraw down the face of Castleton Tower, say 3-4 pitches, bouncing off rock...that if you found it- saw no visible evidence, you would still use and trust it as a normal biner?

Anything like that, or even found hanging, to me, = instant bail beaner.... ....not boner.

Btw- where does that "pretty well established" information come from?? Did I not get a memo......

Shane Neal wrote: So.... If I dropped a quickdraw down the face of Castleton Tower, say 3-4 pitches, bouncing off rock...that if you found it- saw no visible evidence, you would still use and trust it as a normal biner? Anything like that, or even found hanging, to me, = instant bail beaner.... ....not boner. Btw- where does that "pretty well established" information come from?? Did I not get a memo......

See:
- The MP discussion safety of dropped gear
- Geir Hundal, The Climbing Mythbusters, Myth #1
- On Rope 1, Myth #1
- Black Diamond, FAQ, "Is it okay to use carabiners that have been dropped?"

Also, QC with KP "Off the Record" has other frequently asked questions

But in the end, it's all up to the user!

tooTALLtim wrote: See: - The MP discussion safety of dropped gear - Geir Hundal, The Climbing Mythbusters, Myth #1 - On Rope 1, Myth #1 - Black Diamond, FAQ, "Is it okay to use carabiners that have been dropped?" Also, QC with KP "Off the Record" has other frequently asked questions But in the end, it's all up to the user!

Usually objections are something like "but you just don't know!"

I say, so what? You don't know what happened to that bolt since the last time you were there, either. The science is pretty clear - if forged aluminum pieces like a carabiner have no obvious structural flaws, they are safe to use. Of course, you can only prove they are safe by destroying them, but whenever that is done, they are always fine. But like anything in climbing, it is up to the user to make the judgement.

Speaking of damage to gear... does blood have a detrimental effect on gear? I feel like thats generally how I mark my gear. The only downside to this method is that it wears out pretty fast so you have to keep applying fresh coatings.

Peter Kananen wrote: Usually objections are something like "but you just don't know!" I say, so what? You don't know what happened to that bolt since the last time you were there, either.

Quite true, one can never control all the variables. Just another reason climbing is badass!

If I have a binner that I might not trust 100% I mark it with red spray paint. I try not to spray on the gate so as not to impead it's operation. I'll use these to rack cammeras, water, jacket, chalk bag, tie up my dog, etc. If need be I use these as bail binners.

Phil Lauffen wrote:Speaking of damage to gear... does blood have a detrimental effect on gear? I feel like thats generally how I mark my gear. The only downside to this method is that it wears out pretty fast so you have to keep applying fresh coatings.

I'd say that as long as your blood is like most of the fluids in your body (with notable exceptions), and is relatively non-acidic, then you're fine. See "I accidentally peed on my rope"

But if your blood is more like those extraterrestrial beings documented in Alien, Aliens, Alien vs Predator, ect, then you may have a problem with your blood melting through your biners, rope, cams, slings, partner's hand...basically anything that happens to be around you when you get cut and your caustic blood is released.

Shane Neal wrote: So.... If I dropped a quickdraw down the face of Castleton Tower, say 3-4 pitches, bouncing off rock...that if you found it- saw no visible evidence, you would still use and trust it as a normal biner? Anything like that, or even found hanging, to me, = instant bail beaner.... ....not boner. Btw- where does that "pretty well established" information come from?? Did I not get a memo......

Sergio P wrote:If I have a binner that I might not trust 100% I mark it with red spray paint. I try not to spray on the gate so as not to impead it's operation. I'll use these to rack cammeras, water, jacket, chalk bag, tie up my dog, etc. If need be I use these as bail binners.

If I am reading this correctly, it appears you guys wouldn't trust these biners for normal use (ie critical link in the safety system). But, you would use these biners for bail (ie critical link in the safety system). Is this so?

zip ties are a stupid idea.

Greg D, yes it is so. The difference being a static small load during a rappel vs. a dynamic, potentially high load during normal climbing situations.

for example, just yesterday I found I had a biner whose gate won't shut on its own. I am not going to use it for normal climbing use (it's life span is up), but I am not worried about it breaking when I eventually rappel from it (it will spend its remaining days relaxing on a rappel station in the desert, taking in the sun, and occasionally holding a few hundred pounds.) A reward for a life well served. Ahhh retirement.

Greg D wrote: If I am reading this correctly, it appears you guys wouldn't trust these biners for normal use (ie critical link in the safety system). But, you would use these biners for bail (ie critical link in the safety system). Is this so?

Correct. I know the whole deal about visual inspections and strength of binners. However, for $6 if I don't trust something I would rather not use it all the time. For me it is just mental. I don't like the feeling of being above a piece that I don't have 100% confidence in.

I have had a 100% healthy looking biner break on the top of its major axis. I had dropped it weeks before about 30' onto a lime stone slab. I thought that since it fell into a sliding fall into sand it would be fine. No real scratches or damage. Weeks latter I took a small five foot fall and it broke on the point were it comes in contact with the hanger on its major axis. It was not cross loaded and had no protrusions in the rock to alter its normal weighted position. I use old biners to rap but I would never use a dropped biner alone

All the old time climbers I know will never ever use a biner that has fallen more than a few feet onto rock. Metal can get micro fractures in it very easily, I would say any unnecessary vibration, impact or scratching should be avoided at all costs. A little paranoid, but there is that timeless old saying, better safe than sorry.