Would you whip?

Newer trad climber who has just experienced some damage on his cams for the first time. Was wondering your thoughts on if this piece needs to be retired or not 

Yes, send it to me for proper disposal   

In reality, that's totally fine. Don't worry about it. I'd knock off the sharp pokey bit just so it doesn't catch on all my slings and clothes.

Edit: If you want to get a feel for what kind of abuse cams can experience and still work fine, go to a used gear store that has climbing gear (if there's one in your area) and marvel at the rigid stem Friends from the late 70s/early 80s that have all the teeth worn off of them, and realize that the climber who placed them did not die from cam failure (don't call me out on particulars, this is a very serviceable generalization). Cams can suffer a lot of abuse and still work fine; I'd say check that the action is still smooth, the stem isn't kinked, the axles are straight, and the wires aren't kinked either.

But, at the end of the day, it's your call! If you're spooked by the cam, go ahead and retire it. It's not going to be good for your mental game if you're worried about that hand sized piece you placed 10 feet ago exploding if you fall  

Duncan Domingue wrote:

In reality, that's totally fine. Don't worry about it. I'd knock off the sharp pokey bit just so it doesn't catch on all my slings and clothes.

Edit: If you want to get a feel for what kind of abuse cams can experience and still work fine, go to a used gear store that has climbing gear (if there's one in your area) and marvel at the rigid stem Friends from the late 70s/early 80s that have all the teeth worn off of them, and realize that the climber who placed them did not die from cam failure (don't call me out on particulars, this is a very serviceable generalization). Cams can suffer a lot of abuse and still work fine; I'd say check that the action is still smooth, the stem isn't kinked, the axles are straight, and the wires aren't kinked either.

But, at the end of the day, it's your call! If you're spooked by the cam, go ahead and retire it. It's not going to be good for your mental game if you're worried about that hand sized piece you placed 10 feet ago exploding if you fall  

I still have confidence in the piece, but never quite sure! Pretty disappointed with how little it took to cause the burr! 

C Mackay wrote:

I still have confidence in the piece, but never quite sure! Pretty disappointed with how little it took to cause the burr! 

It’s a feature, not a defect. Soft aluminum bites and conforms to the rock better. First and second generation Camalots were made out of hard aircraft-grade aluminum alloy. They experienced fractures and tracking out of placements. 

Frank Stein wrote:

It’s a feature, not a defect. Soft aluminum bites and conforms to the rock better. First and second generation Camalots were made out of hard aircraft-grade aluminum alloy. They experienced fractures and tracking out of placements. 

Would you shave the burr down? Or leave it

C Mackay wrote:

Would you shave the burr down? Or leave it

Just rub the burr on some rock, that will take care of it. Cam is fine.

C Mackay wrote:

Would you shave the burr down? Or leave it

I'd file/sand the burr down.  Not because this will have any particular affect on the cam holding in rock, but because I don't want the burr to cut my finger/pluck at cloth/slings or otherwise be annoying when on my harness, in my pack, etc.

Would whip

2/10

I’m gonna die. 

Hit it with a file or some 90 grit and send. 10/10 would whip. 

Based on your pic, it looks like you were contemplating this on the toilet.  

Mark Pilate wrote:

Based on your pic, it looks like you were contemplating this on the toilet.  

Utilized the white tile in the shower for best lightning 

Yur guna die

Duncan Domingue wrote:

 go to a used gear store that has climbing gear (if there's one in your area) and marvel at the rigid stem Friends from the late 70s/early 80s that have all the teeth worn off of them,  

I’m gonna blow your mind here. Those cams you’re talking about NEVER had teeth on the lobes.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion wrote:

I’m gonna blow your mind here. Those cams you’re talking about NEVER had teeth on the lobes.

Actually, they did. The original prototype Friends were smooth, but Jardine was convinced to add teeth basically for marketing/sales purposes, the assumption being that climbers would be squeamish with smooth lobes. The original production Friends from Ray did indeed have teeth.

Marc801 C wrote:

Actually, they did. The original prototype Friends were smooth, but Jardine was convinced to add teeth basically for marketing/sales purposes, the assumption being that climbers would be squeamish with smooth lobes. The original production Friends from Ray did indeed have teeth.

But original TCUs did not. 

C Mackay wrote:

Utilized the white tile in the shower for best lightning 

Yikes.  I try to avoid lightning in the shower!  Lol

C Mackay wrote:

Utilized the white tile in the shower for best lightning 

I too was struck by your photo and I'm inspired by it to do a series of photos: cams against a background variety of hard household surfaces.  Stay tuned...

Laundry room, pergo office floor, glass kitchen table (over rug background), bath floor tile, bath countertop, kitchen countertop, cement floor, black bath floor tile, blue glass wall tile with surprise self portrait reflection.

(I try to do something creative every day.  This was fun...)

ClimbingOn wrote:

Just rub the burr on some rock, that will take care of it. Cam is fine.