How to: safely use micro wires

Posted by Peter Burnside on 13/07/2016
"The tiniest wires are only recommended for bodyweight". Are you feeling lucky? Photo: Alex Messenger

Would a micro wire really hold your fall? Before you trust your life to that tiny bit of metal, we got Steve Long to run you through the essentials of using micro gear.

What are micro wires?

Micro wires are the smallest pieces of protection equipment available, designed to slip into tiny cracks less than half-a-centimetre wide. They come in various shapes and sizes, but can be characterised as either a tiny alloy wedge, threaded onto a swaged wire, or a brass wedge, with two holes soldered to each end of a length of wire. Brass wires were originally handmade in Australia by the enterprising Roland Pauligk (and therefore called RPs), and were a game-changer. Nowadays, Pauligk is retired, but several companies have followed his lead.

Will micro wires hold my fall?

Before worrying about holding power, let’s look at the forces generated by a leader fall. Without getting bogged down in maths, the key factors involved are: your weight, rope stretch (the more rope that’s been paid out, the lower the impact force on the top anchor) and the distance fallen. However, the bad news is that the top runner takes far more of the loading than either the climber or the belayer – about equal to the sum of the two. What does this mean in real terms?

Imagine a climber has run out 40m of rope and is sprinting for the belay, three metres above the last runner – and takes a fall. There’s a lot of rope out, so the fall factor is reasonably small (around 0.15), however, a falling body (of say 80kg) generates a lot of energy and so we can anticipate a potential impact force on the top runner of around 5kN. Their flight will be considerably more than six metres (double the height above the runner) due to rope stretch and other factors. If they hit a ledge before the rope comes tight, that will reduce the load on the anchor, but most likely damage an ankle. Suddenly, that hairline crack at eye level seems more appealing as a potential placement. But will it hold?

How strong are micro wires?

Micro wires are impressively strong for their size. The limiting factor is the wire diameter, which is why soldered nuts are often stronger than swaged loops. The smallest wires have a rated strength of 2kN – pretty close to the force generated by just hanging from it on the rope. Hence the tiniest wires are only recommended for bodyweight, but that might be enough to allow you to lower – carefully! – back to safety. You could fall further if the wire rips, so careful down climbing on a snug rope is preferable. Once we move up to the wires rated for leader falls (e.g. the original RP2 and DMM’s IMP 2), then micro wires would stand a fighting chance of holding that 5kN load.

WATCH: How to place a nut on BMC TV

Holding power

A micro wire won’t get a chance to display its impressive holding power if the crack has brittle edges (granite has a reputation for shedding micros if a crystal breaks), and keyhole slots may be weak for an outward pull. For all nut placements, the ideal is to have both working planes of the metal in full contact with solid rock, and this is even more crucial for micros. It’s worth carrying an assortment of shapes (both standard and offset) in order to find the optimum contact surface.

Improving your odds

We can reduce the impact loading on the top anchor by avoiding unnecessary friction lower down; so double-rope technique brings twin benefits of ‘stretchier’ ropes and less rope drag, particularly if you take care to avoid rub points by extending runners. Wires are weakened by tight bends, and it’s been shown that the performance of thin wires can be improved by up to 10% by using larger-diameter karabiners.

Providing a dynamic belay is also important: a bit of give in the system, including bodies absorbing some of the force and the belay plate allowing a bit of rope to pull through, helps to significantly reduce the impact force. However, my best tip for maximising the potential for marginal gear to hold a fall is to share the load between two or more.

In the UK we generally steer away from self-equalised slings, but for running belays these are actually the best solution: the loading will be equally shared between the anchors. Sure, if one placement rips it will shock-load the other(s), but it’s far less likely to rip if it’s only taking part of the load. And, in good placements, equalised bodyweight anchors will become strong enough to hold a whipper.

Steve Long is the development officer for the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI). He works as a climbing and mountaineering instructor and guide, and is chair of the UIAA Training Standards Panel.

Expert Q & A

Calum Muskett is a North Wales trad warrior. He’s never happier than when sketching about above a nest of marginal RPs. He’s also a BMC ambassador. Find out more about Calum at www.muskettmountaineering.co.uk.

Q. Do you carry micro wires on climbs?

A. Of course! On certain rock types, micro wires can be an essential item of climbing gear. Modern micro wires (such as IMPs and Stoppers) are surprisingly strong, and even the very smallest size will hold leader falls provided enough rope is out.

Q. Any favourite shapes and sizes?

A. There are three main shapes of micro wire: thin wedgeshaped wires with a large surface area; brass offset wires which can fit awkward and flared cracks; and the more traditional RP shape, which is my favourite due to its versatility and relative strength. These can range from the width of a matchstick to larger than a Rock one.

Q. Do you carry any other special items of trad gear?

A. 95% of the time I find that the usual gear suffices, however, very occasionally, I’ll also take a skyhook or two. These are sufficiently strong and well-shaped to stay on small ledges and hold leader falls under the correct circumstances. They can also be used as “get out of jail free” cards to lower off on bold routes.

Q. Have you ever lowered off a climb from a skyhook?

A. I’ve lowered off a sky hook twice, and both times it was well positioned and felt secure as I was lowered smoothly down. More frighteningly, I’ve actually fallen onto skyhooks twice. On one occasion it held a reasonably big leader fall in the Dolomites, on the other there was little rope out and the hook snapped. On both occasions I squealed like a pig.

Q. What’s more important – a psychological runner or confidence in your own ability?

A. Confidence in your own ability is key; marginal gear is only there to stack the odds in your favour in the worst-case scenario of a fall.

AMI: Find an instructor

Want to learn more? Look for the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI) logo as assurance of high-quality instruction. All members of AMI hold one of the UK’s highest climbing and mountaineering qualifications: the MIA or the MIC. All AMI members adhere to a professional code of practice and undertake continuing professional development training. ww.ami.org.uk

 



« Back

Post a comment Print this article

This article has been read 2328 times

TAGS

Click on the tags to explore more

RELATED ARTICLES

How to climb E1: 10 tips from a rock-god
0
How to climb E1: 10 tips from a rock-god

Don't just dream. If you've been thinking of taking the plunge and getting extreme with your first E1, then now is the time. To help you on your way, we've got the BMC's very own trad warrior, James McHaffie, to give his 10 tips on how to break the E barrier.
Read more »

Calum Muskett: 5 things I wish I'd known when I started alpine climbing
0
Calum Muskett: 5 things I wish I'd known when I started alpine climbing

The alpine season has a habit of creeping up on us and being here before we know it. Advance planning is the smart way to make your alpine dreams come true. We asked Calum Muskett to share five things he wished he had known when he first started out.
Read more »

Climb skills: how to abseil
6
Climb skills: how to abseil

A look at the essential skill of abseiling. What do you need to know to get down in one piece?
Read more »

Post a Comment

Posting as Anonymous Community Standards
3000 characters remaining
Submit
Your comment has been posted below, click here to view it
Comments are currently on | Turn off comments
0

There are currently no comments, why not add your own?

RELATED ARTICLES

How to climb E1: 10 tips from a rock-god
0

Don't just dream. If you've been thinking of taking the plunge and getting extreme with your first E1, then now is the time. To help you on your way, we've got the BMC's very own trad warrior, James McHaffie, to give his 10 tips on how to break the E barrier.
Read more »

Calum Muskett: 5 things I wish I'd known when I started alpine climbing
0

The alpine season has a habit of creeping up on us and being here before we know it. Advance planning is the smart way to make your alpine dreams come true. We asked Calum Muskett to share five things he wished he had known when he first started out.
Read more »

Climb skills: how to abseil
6

A look at the essential skill of abseiling. What do you need to know to get down in one piece?
Read more »

BMC MEMBERSHIP
Join 82,000 BMC members and support British climbing, walking and mountaineering. Membership only £16.97.
Read more »
BMC SHOP
Great range of guidebooks, DVDs, books, calendars and maps.
All with discounts for members.
Read more »
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Get covered with BMC Insurance. Our five policies take you from the beach to Everest.
Read more »