CAM-EXTRACTOR

Darren Mabe wrote: are there that many stuck cams in indian creek? i must be getting on the wrong routes.

He was thinking Potash.

Sonoran, have you actually sold any of these things? How'd you fund this project? who invested in it?

The number of out of reach cams I've seen over 10 years of climbing I can count on one hand. In my experience most stuck cams are small (purple TCUs in particular), close to the surface, and absolutely welded. They stay stuck for year after year because the only way to get them out would be a sawzal.

This is the best joke ever!

Well, I hope it's a joke...

Brendan Blanchard wrote:I read all of this thread on accident. Can I get my 10 minutes back?

All returns are subject to a 20% restock fee. Sorry.

Jeff Kent wrote:I have been climbing for twenty years. In that time, I have left one cam behind, as a bail piece.

Haven't lost a cam in 5 years of climbing (knock on wood), and the majority of stuck cams I've seen...they aren't going anywhere. With or without that tool.

Wow, I'm not the only person in the universe who still owns a Friend of a Friend! Though it was designed to extract rigid-shafted Friends, since they were all that existed then, it does indeed work very well on flexible SLCDs, too. At $25 (plus being a gift, anyway), it's paid for itself many times over, mostly in the hands of inexperienced seconds. Always amazes me when people ask what that gizmo is that's hanging on my harness; amazes me more that something so-o-o functional went out of production.

cam extractor $110.
#5 bd camalot $110.

hmm....
i guess it could be good for the big guy who can't get into the
off-width deep enough, at where his skinny friend placed the #5.

So you're advocating being a dick. Cool!

Sonoran Climbing Gear wrote: With that in mind, let me break down the "economics." Take that device to Indian Creek one weekend Julius. The first half of the morning you'll rescue enough cams to pay for the cam-extractor. The remaining day and a half you'll most likely rescue enough cams to pay for your trip and provide you with lunch money (depending on where you enjoy dining out)

See, the problem is, I just don't believe you. I've been to the Creek. I don't see how I'm going to retrieve 5+ cams in one morning, even assuming every stuck cam I saw could be retrieved with this tool. There just aren't that many stuck cams. Paying for the extractor, my trip, and lunch.. hmm... maybe that would be 15 cams? In one weekend? (and that isn't even taking into account that most cams you would rescue at the creek are old and would need new slings and probably aren't worth much).
And, if this tool works as well as you claim, wouldn't the first person bringing one to the Creek extract most of the booty, removing the incentive for everyone else to get such a device?

Also, I'm not exactly clear on how you carry one. The larger size is 30" (2.5 feet). Presumably you clip it by the loop to a carabiner to your harness. At that length, it would be down by your feet. It seems like something you would only want to carry if you knew there was a stuck cam on a route that needed it (ie, you would not just carry this on a multi-pitch route "just in case")

Good for you for taking the initiative and starting a business. I'm not trying to be rude. But I simply do not believe the economics makes sense. This is an "insurance" device to protect against a very rare event (cam loss) and the insurance costs much more than the risk.

I think if you sold a similar device for under $25 that was smaller and easier to carry(yes, you couldn't get a cam 2 feet inside a crack, but most cams aren't that far back) then maybe it would be worth something.
If I'm going to haul a 3 foot device up a route to get a cam, I may as well bring up some tools and a coat hanger, etc.

Matt N wrote:Be honest - this was like a senior school project, right? And now you're trying to sell it?

The funny thing is, several months ago a student posted on here that they wanted a project for an engineering class. I suggested building a cam extractor, and someone mentioned that the "friend of a friend" already existed. This looks like a decent attempt to make a new version of that, and if it was someone's school project, then good for them. Nothing wrong with the basic idea (although carrying this device seems impractical). But from a marketing perspective, I just don't see many sales at $117.

Maybe I am wrong.... but 90+% of stuck cams I have seen have not been perfectly placed cams that just happen to be out of reach like the demo on their website shows. Most cams that are stuck are overcammed and have other issues. Sure, extending the trigger might help, but I seriously doubt you will be bootying cams by the dozen.

Julius Beres wrote: Maybe I am wrong.... but 90+% of stuck cams I have seen have not been perfectly placed cams that just happen to be out of reach like the demo on their website shows. Most cams that are stuck are overcammed and have other issues.

^^^ +1. Most cams I've had to struggle with are because they are overcammed with minimal left to pull on.

I can't remember if I ever had issues with a cam that was too deep, so that probably means 0-1 times.

Maybe IC if a cam walked into a deep parallel, but lot not for $117.

What happens if the extractor gets stuck?

Daryl Allan wrote:What happens if the extractor gets stuck?

The cam extractor extractor is now available for only $750, made in the USA from aircraft grade titanium and commercial grade diamonds for durability and light weight.

Pays for itself in one weekend at the creek - in the first half of the morning, you'll rescue enough cam extractors to pay for your cam extractor extractor, gas and food, gym membership, car payment and mortgage.

Ya I can't ever recall seeing a cam that was stuck because it was too deep here in the East... They are always overcammed.

CaptainMo wrote:Ya I can't ever recall seeing a cam that was stuck because it was too deep here in the East... They are always overcammed.

I can't recall the pitch, but somewhere in the first third of The Nose, there was a pitch where I saw somewhere between a half a dozen and a dozen cams that had been lost deep in the crack. It looked as if they were too small and had just been dropped in there. At least one or two of them were not even oriented to the crack, they were oriented the other way.

GO

lets just call a spade a spade and a stick-clip a stick-clip. i am just wondering why they aren't stick clip lengths? why not make this unit extend to 12-18 feet?

also, what is the smallest cam it can accomodate? looks like the trigger hooks are wider than a finger crack. how would this thing do with anything other than a C4? like a C3 or an alien?

Darren Mabe wrote:lets just call a spade a spade and a stick-clip a stick-clip. i am just wondering why they aren't stick clip lengths? why not make this unit extend to 12-18 feet? also, what is the smallest cam it can accomodate? looks like the trigger hooks are wider than a finger crack. how would this thing do with anything other than a C4? like a C3 or an alien?

it wouldn't, only works on cams down to half an inch.

But I don't see this as a total loss. They could apply the technology to other inventions. Say,.. an Elenor extractor?

Daryl Allan wrote: But I don't see this as a total loss. They could apply the technology to other inventions. Say,.. an Elenor extractor?

SHHHHHH!!!! You know what happens when you say her name 3 times!!

Don't say it!

the best trick that i use is to pre rigg the cam on black diamond c4 there are to small holes on each side of the trigger you can knot a wire and loop through other hole so you basically extend he trigger by pulling a long looped wire in stead. works awsome especially when pumped