Done

Darrel Tomer Brake Bars

Tomer #1

Tomer #2

Tomer #3

Tomer #4

Tomer #5

Tomer #7

Tomer $8

Tomer #9

Tomer #5 Tomer #7 Tomer #8 Tomer #9
Tomer #1 Tomer #2 Tomer #3 Tomer #4
 
Tomer #1 Tomer #2 Tomer #3 Tomer #4
Tomer #5 Tomer #7 Tomer #8 Tomer #9
 

Tomer #1
(#475)

Front: Closed Front: Open for Rigging Front: Rigged
Front: Closed Front: Open for Rigging Front: Rigged
 
Rear: Closed Rear: Open for Rigging Rear: Rigged
Rear: Closed Rear: Open for Rigging Rear: Rigged

Darrel’s Comments:

This was my first attempt to make a brake bar that wouldn't heat up. It was fastened to a carabiner by a screw that went in the end of the longest leg. I decided the fins were running in the wrong direction as the relative wind on descent would usually be vertically upward.

My Comments:

The screw has been lost, so I need to find a replacement.

There are fins on the back as well. The fins are not optimally shaped. I suspect that the fins don't do nearly as much as the extra mass unless one uses a water bottle to cool the brake bar, since the convective heat transfer coefficient probably isn't all that great.


Tomer #2
(#476)

Front: Closed Front: Open for Rigging Front: Rigged
Front: Closed Front: Open for Rigging Front: Rigged
 
Rear: Closed Rear: Open for Rigging Rear: Rigged
Rear: Closed Rear: Open for Rigging Rear: Rigged

Darrel’s Comments:

The next version of fin cooling. It is put on the carabiner by taking out the little screw and sliding the mutilated cotter pin a bit. It seemed a little crude.

My Comments:

It isn't clear in the photo, but there are fins on the left and right sides as well as the back.


Tomer #3
(#477)

Front: Closed Front: Open for Rigging Front: Rigged
Front: Closed Front: Open for Rigging Front: Rigged
 
Rear: Closed Rear: Open for Rigging Rear: Rigged
Rear: Closed Rear: Open for Rigging Rear: Rigged

Darrel’s Comments:

This one works a little nicer. To open it for rope insertion, press the end of the round pin.

My Comments:

The pin Darrel refers to is spring-loaded. Note the sleeves that keep the carabiner gate from ever opening.


Tomer #4
(#478)

Front: Closed Front: Open for Rigging Front: Rigged
Front: Closed Front: Open for Rigging Front: Rigged
 
Rear: Closed Rear: Open for Rigging Rear: Rigged
Rear: Closed Rear: Open for Rigging Rear: Rigged

Darrel’s Comments:

Why I made one for a pear carabiner I have forgotten. It locks on the carabiner with a simpler system, but the retainer wire tip needs to be filed off just a bit to make it work easier.

My Comments:

The wire retainer appears to have been made from a large cotter pin.


Tomer #5
(#479)

Front: Closed Front: Open for Rigging Front: Rigged
Front: Closed Front: Open for Rigging Front: Rigged
 
Rear: Closed Rear: Open for Rigging Rear: Rigged
Rear: Closed Rear: Open for Rigging Rear: Rigged

Darrel’s Comments:

News got around about carabiner gates breaking, so I made this one to use on a carabiner with the gate missing.

My Comments:

This brake bar is reversible, with high and low friction sides. WHile it does not snap closed on the gate, it cannot be rigged backwards except with extreme stupidity.


Darrel’s comments: No number 6.


Tomer #7
(#480)

Front: Closed Front: Open for Rigging Front: Rigged
Front: Closed Front: Open for Rigging Front: Rigged
 
Rear: Closed Rear: Open for Rigging Rear: Rigged
Rear: Closed Rear: Open for Rigging Rear: Rigged

Darrel’s Comments:

This one looks a bit classier than #5 and it works great on a dry rope, but on a damp rope, I couldn't get down except by pushing rope into it.

My Comments:

The V-shaped notch greatly increases the friction.


Tomer #8
(#481)

Front: Closed Front: Open for Rigging Front: Rigged
Front: Closed Front: Open for Rigging Front: Rigged
 
Rear: Closed Rear: Open for Rigging Rear: Rigged
Rear: Closed Rear: Open for Rigging Rear: Rigged

Darrel’s Comments:

This was my first attempt to get a variable friction into a descender that didn't load the gate. It couldn't be adjusted on rope and it took a lot of adjustment to make a noticeable difference.

My Comments:

This idea isn't practical, but you never know until you try.


Tomer #9
(#482)

Front: Closed Front: Open for Rigging Front: Rigged
Front: Closed Front: Open for Rigging Front: Rigged
 
Rear: Closed Rear: Open for Rigging Rear: Rigged
Rear: Closed Rear: Open for Rigging Rear: Rigged

Darrel’s comments:

A further unsuccessful attempt to get a descender that was adjustable. This one could be changed after getting on rope, but like the previous one, the difference was way too small. This design didn't stress the gate either.

My Comments:

Adjusting this on rope is not easy to do quickly.


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