Slotted Block Belay Devices

Some of these devices look and function very much like Sticht Plate Belayers, A few have fixed shafts that keep the slot-to-carabiner distance constant while in use. Others have irregular top and bottom surfaces that perform functions like allowing varying friction for different rigging alignments or controlling how the device rides on the belay carabiner. Some of these come very close to fitting my definition of a Sticht plate while others do the same for belay tubes. All three groups work on the same princple and there is a gradation of forms between the three.

I use the following criteria to decide whether to call something a Slot Block:

  • The devices that I placed in this category function like a Sticht Plate Belayers but do not have flat and parallel top and bottom surfaces.
  • Other than a keeper, they have no moving parts (this eliminates the Simond Toucan).
  • Each rope channel is rather short compared to the thickness of the side walls defining the channel (as opposed to the Tube Belayers).

The two early examples that I use for comparison when I consider placing a device into this category are the Forrest Triton and the Wild Country Variable Controller.

ID Device Description Acquired Weight Height Width Thickness Std. volume  Slot
Length
780 Cassin GTC Forged Al, soft anodized, 2 slots, tab /w eye, cable keeper Climb Max, 2003 74 80 44 85 297  28.5
713 Faders Variable Belay Forged Al, hard anodized, 2 slots, tube/plate hybrid, cable keeper Climb Max, 1999 64 58 45 23 60 29.9
483 Forrest Triton Forged Al, hard anodized, 2 rope slots, rectangular clip hole, doubles as Titon John E. Weinel, Inc., 1985 113 60 61 61 223 38.4 
806 Graham 1997 Milled Al, unfinished, angled head /w 2 rope slots, carabiner slot Dr. Gary D. Storrick, 2005 178 81 61 50 247  36.0
807 Graham 1998 Milled Al, unfinished, head /w 2 rope slots, 2 side slots, carabiner slot Dr. Gary D. Storrick, 2005 191 91 57 49 255  35.1
862 Kong Ghost Forged Al, hard anodized, 2 rope slots, irregular clip hole, round release hole On Rope 1, 2007 66 82 47 48 184  37.3
773 Lucky Globus Stamped SS frame & rivited painted AL plate, 2 slots /w round & V ends, carabiner hole Barrabes.com, 2003 97 112 45 48 242 62 
794 Mammut Matrix Forged Al, soft anodized, 2 slots, tab with eye, plastic-covered cable keeper Mountain Gear, 2004 65 77 43 95 313 40.7 
757 Metolius BRD Milled Al, hard anodized, 2 slots, tab, cable keeper Metolius Mountain Products, 2001 83 84 79 44 292 32.9 
469, 828 Russian Bukashka-3 Milled and welded? Al?, coated, 2 slots, rib /w slot, eye, finger tab

John E. Weinel, Inc., 1990

Robert Allen Steed, 2006

81 112 60 50 336 36.6 
751 Snap Alien Milled Al, soft anodized, tube/plate hybrid, 2 slots, cable keeper Cormier Mountaineering, 2001 60 56 50 25 69  32.3
749 Snap Cyclops Milled Al, soft anodized, tube/plate hybrid, 1 slot, cable keeper Cormier Mountaineering, 2001 36 53 25 25 32 32.2 
771 Trango B52 Forged Al, soft anodized, tube/plate hybrid, 2 slots, cable keeper Trango, 2002 64 90 59 39 208  45.3
685 Wild Country Raptor, Version A Forged Al, soft anodized, 2 rope slots, slot eye Blue Ridge Outdoors, Blacksburg Va, 1995 113 88 57 54 270  35.4
850 Wild Country Raptor, Version B Forged Al, unfinished, 2 rope slots, slot eye Daniel MacKinnon, 2007 104 88 57 53 264  35.4
688 Wild Country Variable Controller, Version A Forged Al, unfinished, 2 slots, tube/plate hybrid, cable keeper Exkursion, 1995 68 57 46 26 68  28.2
816 Wild Country Variable Controller, Version B Forged Al, soft anodized, 2 slots, tube/plate hybrid, cable keeper John Campbell, 2005 71 57 47 26 70  28.1

 


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©2007, Gary D. Storrick