CCH ALIENS -- For Immediate Release

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steelmnkey

climber

Vision man...ya gotta have vision...

Aug 31, 2006 - 01:44pm PT

Tgreen...I'm curious after reading your posts...in what capacity in which you're now associated with CCH. Are you a lawyer?

Locker-style edit: I'm pretty sure the piece wasn't dimpled, regardless of whatever you're trying to extrude from the photos.

TGreene

Trad climber

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Topic Author's Reply - Aug 31, 2006 - 01:51pm PT

Not at all, I'm just a climber that cares enough to assist both CCH and the entire climbing community iun regards to getting to the bottom of things, as well as striving to see that steps are in fact being taken in regards to providing the safest gear possible from the point of the recall forward.

TGreene

Trad climber

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Topic Author's Reply - Aug 31, 2006 - 02:10pm PT

In regards to being dimpled or not, it's honestly too tough to call w/o somebody actually having this cam in their hands to verify... There is a clearly a mark of some sort that's visible in the area that would have been dimpled, but again, it's too tough to tell.

I will say that there were a number of cams sent back to CCH that had vastly different dimples on them, that ranged from being barely perceptible indentations, to some that looked like they were stamped with a die.

Dimpling is not done with a die and press, but rather is done by hand, and the degree to which it's marked would depend upon the force of strike, sharpness of tools, and whom was actually doing it at any given moment, which can easily be attested to by anyone whos ever worked around a machine shop.

Mr_T

Trad climber

Somewhere, CA

Aug 31, 2006 - 03:28pm PT

Follow up question on aliens. I placed a normal/properly brazed size green alien in a vertical, but shallow crack. The crack was real shallow, so the long axis of the cam stuck out of the wall. The small axis (with the lobes) was in the vertical direction of the crack. In the event of a fall, the bottom two lobes would push back against the back of the crack, while the upper two would torque, holding all of the fall. The long axis would be pulled at an angle, not downward. Parallel sided crack, lobes were in there good.

Anyone have an intuitive guess how big a fall this cam would hold before cam was dammaged? Before failure? I'm about 160lbs.

steelmnkey

climber

Vision man...ya gotta have vision...

Aug 31, 2006 - 03:36pm PT

You (TGreen) wrote:
"A close examination of the 2nd image would indicate the distinct possibility of it actually being a dimpled Alien."

I took this statement as somewhat of a defensive stance for CCH with regard to this cam, but now that I read it again, maybe just an observation.

You also said:
"Dimpling is not done with a die and press, but rather is done by hand, and the degree to which it's marked would depend upon the force of strike, sharpness of tools, and whom was actually doing it at any given moment, which can easily be attested to by anyone whos ever worked around a machine shop."

I know exactly what you're talking about here, especially when you're talking about hardened metals and a dull punch. The first thought that comes to mind when you say this, however, is this: If there were any doubt as to the ability of the cam owners or businesses out there to clearly identify a cam that had or did not have a dimple on it, then CCH should have extended the recall to ALL cams within the identified timeframe.

Please take this as discussion, not accusation.

Personally, I took my Aliens outside in the bright sunlight and checked 'em out for dimples under a magnifying glass. But after this happened, they're in the laundry bag for good. Life is worth more than a $60 cam. I have an orange Alien from August of 2004. Me 'n Russ are gonna test that sucka good one of these days.

TGreene

Trad climber

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Topic Author's Reply - Aug 31, 2006 - 03:44pm PT

I couldn't begin to answer your question, because I've yet to have to place any type of cam in the manner in which you described...

I just grabbed my Green Alien and tried to picture the placement that you've described, then glanced down to my Yellow Zero, and quickly realized that (soley from my perspective) you used the wrong cam for that placement.

TGreene

Trad climber

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Topic Author's Reply - Aug 31, 2006 - 03:49pm PT

Again, if there is even the slightest question SEND THEM IN FOR A TENSILE TEST...

As of about 1 month ago, every single cam that leaves CCH will have been thoroughly tested and will now be stamped to indicate as such.

climbingbuzz

Trad climber

SF, CA

Sep 5, 2006 - 01:28pm PT

TGreene, Any idea when the notice on the CCH website will be changed to indicate that ALL cams made from Nov04 through Dec05 are recalled? How else is CCH disseminating this information? Thanks.

TGreene

Trad climber

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Topic Author's Reply - Sep 5, 2006 - 01:41pm PT

In all honesty, you'll have to ask the guys that beat me down to the point that I walked away from it all...

dirtineye

Trad climber

the south

Sep 5, 2006 - 02:04pm PT

HEY Tim, DOn't let the fvcking internet buttplugs get you down man.

Cause they sure will try, and they got NOTHING better to do, or to contribute for that matter.