37
votes
Accepted
How do I tell if this single climbing rope is still safe for use?
I have always been told that if you are not sure a climbing rope is safe it is deemed unsafe and should be discarded, and many people do it in such way it can never be used for climbing anymore.
You ...
- 3,579
26
votes
Accepted
How to clean and refurbish a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife?
When mine gets too bad I use WD40 to free it up, then clean with soapy water and a brush. Mine also goes through the dishwasher sometimes, with the blades partially open. If it gets gummed up with ...
- 26.1k
19
votes
How do I tell if this single climbing rope is still safe for use?
You should replace your rope. 5 years is a long time for a climbing rope. 6 weeks of daily use in wet conditions (especially if it's a not a dry treated rope) is a fair amount of stress for an old ...
- 4,043
15
votes
How to clean and refurbish a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife?
The producer offers a page of care instructions on their website (here) (PDF). The gist is:
don't use a dishwasher, that might be too aggressive
open and close the blade multiple times in warm water
...
- 1,451
11
votes
Accepted
Relation of ski edge sharpening to skiing ability and snow conditions
TL;DR
Don't do it. It is really easy to ruin a perfectly good pair of skis. A great way to handle ski maintenance is to wax your own skis, touch up the burrs with a fine grit diamond stone (400-grit ...
- 4,179
11
votes
Is is okay for a SUP-pump to get wet?
I'm assuming you have some sort of barrel pump like this one pictured?
In short, it is fine but not great if it gets wet. The pump will work better and last longer if kept dry. Water will mess up the ...
- 4,043
10
votes
Should one store a tent loose for prolonged periods between uses to maximize its lifetime?
Storing tents follows the same rules as storing anything basically, with a couple of important additions:
Keep away from sunlight. UV radiation will damage many materials after extended exposure, so ...
- 12.7k
10
votes
Accepted
What is the difference between a sac liner and a dry bag?
The soft dry bags aren't as good as the stiffer sort anyway. My traditional plasticised dry bag can handle long periods in the water if it's been rolled down properly, but my nylon ones eventually let ...
- 26.1k
10
votes
How to touch up scratches on a black anodized aluminum flashlight?
How to touch up scratches on a black anodized aluminum flashlight?
Try using black nail polish on your flashlight 🔦. But make sure it is a good quality nail polish and not something from the Dollar ...
- 9,619
9
votes
When should I use spray-on versus wash-in waterproofer for treating DWR garments?
Contrary to what a lot of people are saying, the wash-in treatment won't block pores of multi-layer fabrics (unless it's really dirty).
The chemicals used are designed to break down particulates as ...
- 99
9
votes
Is it ok for my climbing shoes/chalk bag to get wet?
In addition to @Liam's fine answer: The usability of both chalk and shoes will be severely limited while wet, e.g. friction is extremely reduced and you will slip. Chalk will lump.
Your shoes will be ...
- 1,451
8
votes
How to prevent strap slippage through buckle?
The solution on my backpack/bike helmet is a rubber band/hair tie like cord around the straps just below the buckle. In order to readjust the buckle you have to loosen the elastic cord around the ...
- 69.2k
8
votes
How do I tell if this single climbing rope is still safe for use?
I searched for the source of the chart posted by Noah (hoping to find a somewhat better quality version) and found this excellent page How Many Years Does a Climbing Rope Last? .
The article is well ...
- 428
7
votes
Cleaning the plastic residue of the inside of my old backpack
Soap / water / kitchen brush (not wire for me) + 30 minutes of listening to good music and scrubbing.
- 71
7
votes
How to store a knife
Oil the knife, then leave it alone until you are prepping your outing. Oil doesn't evaporate, it dries. When it's dried, it has the same and perhaps even better protective properties than fresh oil. ...
- 4,802
7
votes
Accepted
Should wax for G-1000 be continuously applied?
I own a couple of different Fjällräven items (trousers, jacket, hat, duffel) and a number of my friends do as well. While my personal experience with the Greenland wax is limited, it is my ...
- 12.7k
7
votes
Accepted
Get the bad smell out of sheep wool
When you think of the amount of wool we normally wear and use - and how it behaves - the only reason a wool garment would stink is that the wool hasn't been properly processed. This document is bit of ...
- 3,916
7
votes
Can or should you season titanium cookware?
Seasoning is done for two reasons,
To prevent rust/corrosion.
To prevent sticking.
While titanium can rust, in the process it creates a layer of titanium oxide which creates a protective layer that ...
- 69.2k
7
votes
How to prevent strap slippage through buckle?
If you've got the strap to the perfect length and want to maintain that length, you can sew a small fold in the strap, similar to what's used at the end to stop the whole strap running through. ...
- 26.1k
7
votes
How do I tell if this single climbing rope is still safe for use?
Just have a look at one of the the countless guides out there or if you prefer visual media, have a look at one of these.
Basically run down the length of the rope and check for irregularities.
How ...
- 1,077
6
votes
Accepted
Via ferrata equipment maintenance
For storing the harness, REI recommends
Transport a harness in its supplied bag and always keep it away from sharp objects, ice screws, crampons, direct sunlight, corrosive substances (e.g., battery ...
- 69.2k
6
votes
What is the difference between a sac liner and a dry bag?
Rucksack liners don't require as much sturdiness as a dry bag since they go inside a rucksack/backpack, which gives it protection and structure. As such rucksack liners weigh less than dry bags and ...
- 6,291
6
votes
How to touch up scratches on a black anodized aluminum flashlight?
"How can I [make] it completely black?"
Cover it with something black.
Drawing on it with a black marker will work, but that might rub off after serious use. You could use black spray paint, but ...
- 1,119
6
votes
How to prevent strap slippage through buckle?
I find that simply tying a half knot below the buckle keeps it from slipping:
- 589
6
votes
How to prevent strap slippage through buckle?
Double-back your buckles as on a climbing harness?
If you can weave the strap around the bars in the buckle differently, you can change the level of friction at the expense of convenience. Here's a ...
- 1,124
6
votes
Removing pickle smell from a tent
One important detail that should not be overlooked is how cleaning will affect waterproofing, particularly if cleaning would affect the fly or walls. Different materials with different water-repellent ...
- 163
5
votes
How to wax a bow string
Just another option to OddDeer. I was taught to use a block of beeswax. Make sure the string is dry and rub the block up and down the string while the bow is strung. Very cost effective, one block ...
- 3,175
5
votes
Accepted
How to wax a bow string
First of all, yes, you should absolutely wax your bow string. Especially if you've this kind of setup.
The good news is, that it's extremely easy.
Get a bow wax
Purchase an appropriated wax from ...
- 23.5k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible