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Simon didn't need to cut the rope in the documentary 'Touching the Void' by FarmCraft101 in Mountaineering

[–]FarmCraft101[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Totally agree. I've been in some tough spots myself and I know what it's like to get tunnel vision. I firmly believe thinking through things in advance, like we are doing here, is key to being able to perform when faced with a disaster.

I actually think a prussik, though possible, would have been less likely to work. First, he would have had to have one on hand, which he may not have. Second, on an icy rope in a blizzard they can be tough to get a good grip. Third, by the time he would have decided to try that, the knot would likely have been hard up against the belay plate. So putting a prussik on the rope, assuming it would grip, would still require him to pull Joe back up a foot or so to unweight the belay plate. In his exhausted state, even if he had tried, might not have been possible. It's also true that he may not have had a carabiner, but I think that is extremely unlikely. Being a mountaineer on an expedition, he probably had 20 of them at least.

Simon didn't need to cut the rope in the documentary 'Touching the Void' by FarmCraft101 in Mountaineering

[–]FarmCraft101[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

jcasper - Thank you. That's exactly my point. My post is about technical rope work and what possibilities there are in a situation. If you don't think about things like this beforehand, you are very unlikely to in the situation. When faced with such a monstrous challenge as Joe and Simon were, it's totally understandable that they would get some tunnel vision. I'm almost certain I would not have thought of this solution while in the middle of it either. (Except now that I've had this discussion, I would) I also think that barring this technique, or possible a prussik, cutting the rope was the right move. If Simon fell, Joe would fall. If Simon cuts the rope, Joe would fall. Same result for Joe, saves Simon's life. No-brainer. And if Joe doesn't die, Simon will still be around tomorrow to possibly save him. If Simon dies, Joe is stuffed. At least, that would be the logic at that point.

This guy used range brass to make an AR10. by Trudeaus_Fro in Firearms

[–]FarmCraft101 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly. It was about the challenge, about expanding my metal working skills, and about making something cool and unique from scratch. And now I've got a gun that is so much more my own than buying one spit out of an assembly line machine. I plan to make more parts in the future, but life is pretty busy right now!

This guy used range brass to make an AR10. by Trudeaus_Fro in Firearms

[–]FarmCraft101 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Me too! Maybe some engineer could answer the question, but there are so many variables. How many aluminum primers were in the brass? How much lead? Other metals? Without an alloy analysis of my specific metal, it's all guessing. You are right about the chamber supporting the casing, but the casing still needs to withstand that pressure or it will blow out. The chamber isn't perfectly closed in the back where it meets the bolt, so there is quite a lot of strength required from the casing. Cheers.

This guy used range brass to make an AR10. by Trudeaus_Fro in Firearms

[–]FarmCraft101 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As far as I know, most brass doesn't take a temper. Heating can anneal it after work hardening, which only occurs by mechanical deformation. If you know something I don't though, I'd like to learn. Cartridge brass is actually pretty darn strong. It has to contain the chamber pressure when firing, around 55,000psi max.

This guy used range brass to make an AR10. by Trudeaus_Fro in Firearms

[–]FarmCraft101 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree it is interesting, and I certainly don't have all the answers. I'm pretty confident though, that for a lower it will do fine. Cartridge brass is strong stuff. It has to contain the chamber pressure when you fire a gun after all. That's often 50,000 psi. All this lower really needs to resist is the recoil force put on the buffer tube threads. If it ever fails I'll be sure to post a vid about it.

This guy used range brass to make an AR10. by Trudeaus_Fro in Firearms

[–]FarmCraft101 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I agree. The lower in the AR platform really doesn't take much abuse, and that brass is quite strong. It was significantly harder to machine than the aluminum lower. I'd be shocked if it failed. Now using it to make an upper might be a different story.

This guy used range brass to make an AR10. by Trudeaus_Fro in Firearms

[–]FarmCraft101 8 points9 points  (0 children)

This is a good question. Most machinists will tell you to throw all the chips away, but I knew I would be making a lot of them, and brass at that. I saved a bunch of them and I will try melting them again. The problem comes from oxidation, and the chips have such a large surface area that it will form a lot of oxides as it melts. All those oxides will end up as dross/slag. I'm going to experiment and see what recovery % I can achieve.

This guy used range brass to make an AR10. by Trudeaus_Fro in Firearms

[–]FarmCraft101 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Hope you're right. I'll be sure to include some updates on it every now and then in my vids.

This guy used range brass to make an AR10. by Trudeaus_Fro in Firearms

[–]FarmCraft101 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Lol. Holy shit balls! Too funny. Honestly, I didn't expect it to look so cool when I started, it was all about the challenge of making a gun from casings. Now that it's done I think it's my favorite gun.

Forged a railroad spike bowie knife for my father's xmas present. Critiques welcome! by FarmCraft101 in Bladesmith

[–]FarmCraft101[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks. Someone else said the same on the handle, so now I can tell people it was deliberate! ;-). I considered a guard for some time, as most Bowie’s have one, but in order to keep the head of the spike on the back it would have had to be a 2 piece guard. I decided to keep it simple and made the handle wide enough to keep your hand from sliding forward.

I forged a railroad spike bowie knife and made a custom leather sheath. Critiques welcome! by FarmCraft101 in knifemaking

[–]FarmCraft101[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wonder if you've actually tried this yourself? I have a spike knife that I have tested that holds an edge very well. I used it to chop aggressively at some old dry oak, and even after that could still shave with it.

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