Horizontal Spools

It may be dangerous to generalize, but spools provide the smoothest operation of any descender class. This is one reason that spools are the preferred lowering device for the ascending races at the NSS convention each year. Their disadvantages offset their advantages, and they are seldom used for caving. The biggest problem is their weight, and to a lesser extent, their size. They are also incremental friction devices at best, since one can only change friction by changing the number of loops that the rope makes around the spool. Some designs allow this to be done on rope, others do not.

Some spools are susceptible to having the rope come off if the user is not careful. I've marked the worst offenders with a warning icon.

ID Device Description Acquired Weight Height Width Thickness Std. volume

579 Cuddington Spool Chrome-plated steel spool, guide coils John E. Weinel, Inc., 2000 1272 225 129 92 2679

418 Forrest Rope Rider Al tube on steel frame, Al rope retention pin John E. Weinel, Inc., 1985 412 219 122 39 1042

419 Forrest Rope Rider Jr. Al tube on steel frame, Al rope retention pin John E. Weinel, Inc., 1985 300 170 76 39 504

420 Garre A. Connor Al spool and 3 Al bollards mounted on Al back plate. Noncommercial. John E. Weinel, Inc., 1985 719 300 91 57 1556

550 Lewis Spool Steel tube /w welded steel bar eye arm and rope guides. Noncommercial. Warren Lewis, 1998 1462 272 114 142 4403

424 Rappel Hammer, Version A Galv. pipes welded in "T" shape, with end plate rope guides. Noncommercial. Dr. Gary D. Storrick, 1991 1957 250 160 110 4400

1071 Rappel Hammer, Version B
Hammer shaped, 1018 steel Noncommercial. Dr. Gary D. Storrick, 2007 2263 340 82 75 2105

1137 University of Virginia Rappelling Log Wood spool bolted between angle-iron sides, cold shut eyes Dwight Deal, 2007 1927 304 204 78 4851

427 Storrick Spool SS spool, SS arm /w eye, SS guide coils, rope retention bolt. Noncommercial. Robert W. Storrick 1264 170 108 113 2075

423 Vertical Supply Rappel Tube SS tube sliding on SS shaft /w eye & rope guide, two vertical pin guides, cooling sponge Vertical Supply, 1993 498 145 112 49 796

422 Vertical Supply Rappel Tube Prototype SS tube sliding on SS shaft /w eye & rope guide, two horizontal pin guides. Vertical Supply, 1994 438 168 84 100 1411

ID	Device	Description	Acquired	Weight	Height	Width	Thickness	Std. volume
579	Cuddington Spool	Chrome-plated steel spool, guide coils	John E. Weinel, Inc., 2000	1272	225	129	92	2679
418	Forrest Rope Rider	Al tube on steel frame, Al rope retention pin	John E. Weinel, Inc., 1985	412	219	122	39	1042
419	Forrest Rope Rider Jr.	Al tube on steel frame, Al rope retention pin	John E. Weinel, Inc., 1985	300	170	76	39	504
420	Garre A. Connor	Al spool and 3 Al bollards mounted on Al back plate. Noncommercial.	John E. Weinel, Inc., 1985	719	300	91	57	1556
550	Lewis Spool	Steel tube /w welded steel bar eye arm and rope guides. Noncommercial.	Warren Lewis, 1998	1462	272	114	142	4403
424	Rappel Hammer, Version A	Galv. pipes welded in "T" shape, with end plate rope guides. Noncommercial.	Dr. Gary D. Storrick, 1991	1957	250	160	110	4400
1071	Rappel Hammer, Version B	Hammer shaped, 1018 steel Noncommercial.	Dr. Gary D. Storrick, 2007	2263	340	82	75	2105
1137	University of Virginia Rappelling Log	Wood spool bolted between angle-iron sides, cold shut eyes	Dwight Deal, 2007	1927	304	204	78	4851
427	Storrick Spool	SS spool, SS arm /w eye, SS guide coils, rope retention bolt. Noncommercial.	Robert W. Storrick	1264	170	108	113	2075
423	Vertical Supply Rappel Tube	SS tube sliding on SS shaft /w eye & rope guide, two vertical pin guides, cooling sponge	Vertical Supply, 1993	498	145	112	49	796
422	Vertical Supply Rappel Tube Prototype	SS tube sliding on SS shaft /w eye & rope guide, two horizontal pin guides.	Vertical Supply, 1994	438	168	84	100	1411