Ice Screws ?

[Jimmy M]

I saw these mentioned on one of these threads..............does anyone have
information on them...pics? ..drawings?
Winter's a coming !

thanks....Jim

[DonC]

Cheaper ...drill hole in ice, tie a rope to 2' lenth 2x4, push 2x4 down hole let freeze

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=n ... ice+screws

[Portage Creek]

http://www.rei.com/product/761270

Here is a link to a photo and retail prices. I bought mine on ebay for 6 for $100.

Yes Don, I drill holes and put ropes with sticks as semi permanent tie downs. The ice screws work fast. I cary a set in the cub and a set on the snow machine.

The ice screws melt out in full sun unless you pile snow on 'em.

GR

[Jimmy M]

These would only be used if I'm away on an overnite fishing trip, at home base
I use proper tiedowns.
If I can get a good picture I'll make my own.
Thanks guys...................Jim

[Zzz]

If I can get a good picture I'll make my own.

[GroundLooper]

http://www.rei.com/product/761270

The ice screws melt out in full sun unless you pile snow on 'em.

GR

Ice screws will also melt out under tension.

You might consider anchoring to an Abalakov V thread. Take a screw, drill two holes that intersect in a V. Thread a piece of webbing through the holes (a straight piece of coat hanger works great for pulling the webbing back up the 2nd hole. Tie ends together using a water knot. Anchor to the loop of webbing or splurge on a carabiner. Note: carabiners can be used to open a beer bottle.

Tubular climbing webbing is really strong and not very expensive. The 5/8ths stuff is more than strong enough, or use some perlon cord: 6mm or 7mm, again, more than strong enough.

Craig

[denalipilot]

SOP for me in winter. I second all the advice that has already been offered. If you want more security, use two per wing- one each forward and aft from each strut. I use one on the tail as well. They will pressure-thaw, but not drastically or catastrophically. More of an issue if you are hanging from one at a belay on an ice climb during a really, really slow pitch, or during load-hauling or high-angle rescue. Piling snow on top definitely inhibits solar melting. Be sure to have a shovel to dig them out, but of course you have one in your plane in winter anyway, right? Last advice- Be sure to bang the ice out of them as soon as you remove them, or they will be clogged and useless until the next thawing opportunity. To do this, hold them upside down and beat the hanger (the eye) on hard ice until the ice core inside the screw falls out. Oh- and it is not the angle of the placement that creates holding power, it is the threads themselves. So place them directly in line with the pull, instead of tilting away. A lot depends on the integrity of the ice. For the guy that carries them on the sno-go: They work as well or better in frozen moss or tundra, if you can't get good ice.

Wire gate biners such as Black Diamond Hotwires or Livewires are a good bet in winter- the gate on them doesn't freeze in place like a solid aluminum gate tends to do.

V-threads are legit. Mostly used where you need to rap off a climb and can't go back to break down your anchor and get your screws back, or, if you're running low on screws. If you have a few anyway, it's generally faster and easier just to place 'em, and clean 'em when you go. Freezing almost any kind of random dunnage to the ground works fine, if you don't mind leaving junk behind when you leave.

-DP

[denalipilot]

If I can get a good picture I'll make my own.

By the way, you can usually get low-end screws for cheap at an army-navy store. And if you never try a nice one like in Zane's picture, you'll never even know what you're missing

[M6RV6]

Looking at Z's pictures, The 90 degree cut on the thread appear to be on different sides of the thread, depending on the brand?
which holds better? or does it matter, The dunage in the ice has always worked.
Have not tried the spikes on the claw yet? I did beat them into some frozen gravel, they won't take that to many times!
GT

[denalipilot]

Looking at Z's pictures, The 90 degree cut on the thread appear to be on different sides of the thread, depending on the brand?
which holds better? or does it matter...

I noticed that too. The first photo is of Black Diamond screws. I carry Charlet Moser screws in my plane. They both have the same cut of thread. I think the screw in Zane's 2nd photo is an older Omega Pacific, if I remember correctly what those look like. If so, they are also a reliable brand, so I would trust them for ice pro. And if I'll climb on them, I'll anchor my plane with them. My hunch- doesn't make a huge difference. The OP style might be intended to direct the force of a pull into a greater area of ice surrounding the screw. Or it may have more to do with ease of placing and cleaning them. If you want to optimize ice screws for a tie-down kit, get mid-length, lightweight titanium ones, and don't worry about the thread style. And get a wire-gate biner for each screw.

-DP

[Zzz]

Charlet-Moser is now owned by Petzl, who markets them as Petzl/Charlet ice screws. I've always really liked Petzl, they've made bomber stuff for as long as I can remember.

This video on their site shows some good footage of ice screws in action, as well as the above mentioned Abalakov "V."

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/k6jrXaKGYaOZqBUcmN