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Matt's
climber
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Aug 12, 2017 - 08:02am PT
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. Beautiful metalwork! The sling could be prettier though, what do you test those to Erick
I had the same thought--the sewing of the sling is not super confidence inspiring- density of the bar tack seems low compared to other slings-- care to comment?
Best
Matt
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matty
Trad climber
under the sea
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Aug 12, 2017 - 10:17am PT
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After reading the above comments and seeing the last picture I re-examined my cam. Several of the stitches seemed "long" and somewhat loose in that they were not super tight against the webbing.
I ran my fingernail over some of these long loose stitches near the edge several times and to my surprise they easily started to unravel. Knot a good sign! This is unacceptable in my view and uneasily forces me to wonder about other aspects of the construction. Visually the density of stitching on the Merlin cam appears to be less than the other slings from my rack that I inspected.
Awaiting Ericks response...
Matt
Blue = long semiloose stitch
Green = stitches near edge I was able to loosen easily with one fingernail.
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BLUEBLOCR
Social climber
joshua tree
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Aug 12, 2017 - 11:37am PT
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Well he obliviously hasn't a bar tacker,,,, but he's got a CNC! hehe.
i just cut that crap off, i always use an adjustable draw anyway.
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edavidso
Trad climber
Oakland, CA
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Aug 13, 2017 - 09:44pm PT
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To address the sling issues, I just sewed a sling exactly as I've sewn all the others and tested in my pull tester to 16 kN. Those who've been following the thread might recall that I posted a video of a Merlin #8 pull test where the sling broke at 12 kN. I noted on that video that I had tested using a wider spaced stitch, which I have since narrowed.
Unfortunately, I do not own an industrial bar tacking machine and instead use a manual semi-industrial Sailrite machine. As a result, most of my sewing jobs are not very pretty. They are, however, still strong regardless of how ugly they look. Each sling consists of two seams across the width at the top and bottom, which are primarily used to just hold the overlap in place while I sew the vertical seams. The seams across the width are short, discontinuous and come apart rather easily at the beginning and end of the seam where the threads end as pointed out in Matty's handy photos with the green arrows. The vertical seams, however, are either one, two, or three continuous threads across the entire width and account for nearly the entire strength of the sling. The "long semiloose" stitch indicated with the blue arrow is where I transition from one vertical seam to the next and from a forward thread to a backward thread. It is usually loose due to the horizontal and reversing movement but still continuous. There are about 180 stitches give or take per sling and if you listen to the earlier posted video, a few stitches break first but then the remainder all break at exactly the same time. This indicates that they are all contributing equally to strength and it only matters that they are there. A few loose threads/stitches will not noticeably affect strength. Perhaps someday I'll be able to buy a bar tacking machine and my sewing job will be easier and prettier.
If any of you do not want a sling or plan to cut it off anyway, please tell me so that I do not have to go through the headache of sewing it on! For the rest of you who plan on using the sling, rest assured that if you are taking a 15 kN whipper, the sling on this cam is likely to be the least of your concerns.
Khoi and anyone else who wants a Merlin #8 and/or #10, please send me an email at merlinrockgear@gmail.com. I do not think ST messaging works.
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Matt's
climber
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Aug 13, 2017 - 09:49pm PT
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Thanks for replying edavidso. This assuages my concerns.
Best
Matt
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nah000
climber
now/here
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Aug 13, 2017 - 10:16pm PT
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edavidso: just wanted to thank you for how you've handled yourself on this board.
successfully communicating thoughtful transparency with regards to a new product, as you have done while being a one person show, is, on the ole taco board, nothing short of remarkable.
if i didn't think the wide was a kind of sick degeneracy [ha!], i'd be buying your cams in a heartbeat. and while it's a little out of my price range to be buying purely as an objet d'art, i have to admit i'm damn tempted.
really impressive job, both on the process of manifestation... and equally as well with the spontaneous "marketing" and customer relations that you've had to do on the ye ole taco board...
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OlympicMtnBoy
climber
Seattle
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Aug 14, 2017 - 07:39pm PT
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Thanks for the explanation! Still be more inspiring with neater stitching, but I'm not gonna cut it off either. Sewing is a while 'nother thing I suppose, I'm way better at that than the metal bits. :-)
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Idahoan
Trad climber
Idaho
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Aug 22, 2017 - 12:46pm PT
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I received mine a month ago and had the same concerns on the stitching. The fit and finish of the rest of the cam is superb, so the sling kinda feels janky juxtaposed against it.
That said, I am sure it is functionally sufficient. I will likely extend it be some method while climbing, so it really only functions as a racking sling anyways.
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Russ Walling
Social climber
from Poofters Froth, Wyoming
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Aug 22, 2017 - 07:51pm PT
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Late to the party....
Hey CamMaker... your cams are so bitchen looking having that sling on them is just wrong. I can't imagine you run big batches, so I'll make you slings you can put on as you assemble. 1" tube or 11/16" tube, all bartacked nice and neat style. No charge for the slings. You pay shipping.
If you are putting the slings on after the entire cam is made, maybe we can work something out to sling up the batch.
I'm easy to find, so email me if you are interested
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Aug 22, 2017 - 08:44pm PT
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Sweet offer Russ, my #8 has shipped, but I am not sweating the sewing.
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Barney Rubble
Trad climber
ALAMEDA
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Aug 23, 2017 - 11:33am PT
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Just got my new toy, Merlin #8 serial number 0023!
Can't wait to go scare myself silly on something :-)
Looks solid!!!
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le_bruce
climber
Oakland, CA
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Aug 23, 2017 - 04:16pm PT
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The more pics I see of these cams the prettier they look. Trying so hard to resist... the... temptation...
If someone posts up a quality pic of one placed in Valley granite in good afternoon light, I'm done for.
I heard that a few Merlins have been up the Salathe - somebody cough up the pic on the HF!
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thebravecowboy
climber
The Good Places
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Aug 23, 2017 - 05:58pm PT
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I like my merlin purt well so far, though have been attentive to Cpt. Kasper's warning wrt buckling in off-axis sitchiashuns.
and no disrespect Cpt. David's Son, but take the Feesh up on the offer for a finer web loop. Hell though, that P-cord (?) on my VG worked just fine last new summit windmill tilt I done
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Trashman
Trad climber
SLC
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Aug 23, 2017 - 06:23pm PT
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Uh, P-cord? You're not clipping into the storage cord, are you?
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thebravecowboy
climber
The Good Places
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Aug 23, 2017 - 08:28pm PT
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nope. I mean, like, maybe. Sort of.
Just wonder what that P-cord looking shtuff is on the VG that got my standing-in-aiders ass up that Seahorse Mesa.
Clipping rando unidentified pero-purchased softgoods is cool and all, but it'd be nice to link in some solid softgoods providers for the clip-point. Not that twisted wire warps at all when clipped direct (or via P-cord) or anythin.
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JLyons
Sport climber
Cali
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Aug 23, 2017 - 08:31pm PT
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Am I the only one curious as to what the cowboy is smoking these days?
Posts have been a little derpy lately. No offense, of course.
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thebravecowboy
climber
The Good Places
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Aug 23, 2017 - 08:36pm PT
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Derp.
Sprock-dad ain't fertilized ya proper
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edavidso
Trad climber
Oakland, CA
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Aug 23, 2017 - 09:37pm PT
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Russ, thank you for the kind offer. I do, unfortunately, have to sling these after the thumb loop is in place since it is silver soldered to the thumb rest and that process would melt any sling already there. I sling them after I've assembled the stem but before axles or lobes are assembled so they're still pretty compact. But I would be interested in having you do the sewing and would be happy to pay for it. The slings are strong as I've mentioned but I do not particularly enjoy the sewing and it doesn't look very nice.
Here is the latest batch of #8's ready to go:
I still have not heard from a few people here mentioning that they they want a #8 including some on the original list. If you still want a cam, email me at merlinrockgear@gmail.com.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Aug 31, 2017 - 09:07am PT
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Received my #8, (sn 24). Nice piece of work. I had it sitting in the closed position on the countertop and my friend (non-climber) asked me what the hell it was? She guessed napkin holder, so a napkin holder it is.
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nutstory
climber
Ajaccio, Corsica, France
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Aug 31, 2017 - 09:13am PT
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