ROCK EXOTICA UNICENDER User manual

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UNICENDER USER INSTRUCTIONS
062017
Rock Exotica Equipment LC
POB 160470
Freeport Center, E-16
Clearfield, UT 84016
USA
801 728-0630
801 728-0667 (fax)
WARNING!
For expert use only!
MORE WARNINGS
This Manual assumes you have a solid understanding, and working knowledge of
rope climbing techniques and the ability to judge safety risks at all times. If you do not
have these skills, seek out training from someone who does, before using the
UNICENDER. You must be medically fit.
This manual does NOT teach you everything you need to know! It also does
NOT tell you everything that can go wrong or be dangerous as there are too many ways
to explain or imagine.
The UNICENDER must be used with the proper rope. It was designed for use
with ropes typically used by arborists, but you must test it with your rope. If the rope is
too stiff it will not work well and if too soft or too small the UNICENDER will slip and
will not hold a load.

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The UNICENDER was not designed to catch a fall and must NOT be shock
loaded. Keep slack out of your system at all times to avoid the possibility of shock-
loading.
Do not use on icy ropes. Do not use on twist constructed rope. Use braided ropes
only of the correct diameter. Remember your climbing system is only as strong as its
weakest link. Check all equipment before going aloft. The UNICENDER is intended for
one user. Do not load it with more than one person. Do not lend it to someone else.
Make sure all your equipment is compatible with each other. Realize that some
equipment can lever against the gate of a carabiner and break it open. You must avoid
this at all times. Always keep equipment properly positioned.
The UNICENDER will eventually wear out and will slip rather than hold a load,
so you must be aware of this and inspect it with this in mind. When it is worn out we can
rebuild it for you –contact us for current costs.
READ & UNDERSTAND THIS MANUAL CARFULLY
If you do not understand it, you must not the device.
DESCRIPTION
The UNICENDER is a versatile rope climbing tool that features:
Ascending and descending with both doubled rope technique (DdRT) and single
rope technique (SRT).
To descend, the top and bottom handles are squeezed together. There are two
ways to do this (in both DdRT and SRT). :
1.CONTROL MODE. The rope is wrapped around the handles and used
to release by squeezing them together. This is the safest method because
you are holding the rope under tension and this makes it harder to lose
control.
2. ADVANCED <CAUTION> MODE. You can release by squeezing the
handles together with your hand. But it will release more suddenly and if
you panic you will continue holding it and will fall uncontrolled, causing
injury/death. You should not use this mode unless absolutely necessary.
We recommend that you never use this mode; we are including the
information about it because users will quickly discover it and we want
them to know it is extra dangerous.
When descending you must always control the free side of the rope with your
hand just as you would when using a figure 8 or other rappel device. DO NOT
depend on controlling your descent only with the UNICENDER.
Auto advance in DdRT: When ascending using doubled rope technique you
simply pull the rope exiting the UNICENDER it will automatically advance ahead
of you.
THINK SAFETY.
Start low and slow when learning how to use your new UNICENDER climbing tool.
Stay close to the ground until you are very experienced with it.

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First familiarize yourself with the components of the UNICENDER climbing tool.
To use your UNICENDER climbing tool you will need a lanyard to connect it to your
climbing saddle.

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The lanyard in this picture is just an illustration of a simple adjustable lanyard.
The UNICENDER climbing tool does not come with a lanyard
There are a myriad of options when it comes to choosing a lanyard, everything from a
fixed length sling to a custom spliced adjustable lanyard.
Consider these points when selecting your lanyard:
The lanyard is suitably strong ( Z133.1 safety standard is 5400lb breaking
strength or better)
Attached securely. Attach your lanyard to the advance handle of the
UNICENDER climbing tool with a locking carabineer or suitable knot such as a
figure eight.
Ease of use. Having your lanyard easily adjustable during a climb can be helpful
particularly with activities like limbwalking where a short lanyard is required to
keep the UNICENDER climbing tool within reach.
Correct length for the climber using it.
Adjust the length of your lanyard so the UNICENDER climbing tools upper handle is just
within reach when you are seated in your saddle.
ATTACHING THE UNICENDER CLIMBING TOOL TO THE ROPE
Hold the UNICENDER climbing tool vertical and next to the climbing line.
Hold the top clamping block away from the others enough to expose the slot.
Slide the rope into the slot.

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Now hold the next clamping block away from the first and third to expose its
slot. This slot is on the other side of the block. Bend the rope to allow it to
slide into that slot.
Proceed in this manner inserting the rope into the alternating slots all the way to
the last one.

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Then position the rope within the “L” of the bottom handle.

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DETACHING THE UNICENDER CLIMBING TOOL FROM THE ROPE
Follow the attachment process in reverse; starting from the bottom and work your
way up, separating the clamping blocks enough to enable you to remove the rope from
the clamping block slots. With some practice you can attach and detach the
UNICENDER climbing tool from the rope in a matter of seconds.
FIRST CLIMB WITH DOUBLED ROPE TECHNIQUE (DdRT)
The UNICENDER climbing tool is not like any other tool on the market, so don’t assume
you know how to use it. Start low and slow and get a feel of how the UNICENDER
climbing tool works before climbing high. Doubled rope technique uses both sides of a
rope over an anchor point. One side is attached to the top of the UNICENDER climbing
tool at its end and the other is threaded through the UNICENDER climbing tools
clamping blocks . You have made an adjustable rope loop over a secure anchor point,
(such as a tree branch). The UNICENDER climbing tool allows you to lengthen and
shorten the loop to move you up or down. The best part is the rope slides over the anchor
point like a pulley and gives you a two to one advantage while climbing. It also halves
all the forces on the clamping blocks which makes the UNICENDER climbing tool easier
to control. When first learning how to use your new UNICENDER climbing tool, double
rope technique is the place to start.
With a rope through a secure anchor point, attach the working end (the bitter
end) of the rope to the top attachment point of the UNICENDER with a triple
locking carabineer or suitable knot such as a figure eight.
Attach the UNICENDER climbing tool to the standing part of the rope, as
described above.

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Attach the UNICENDER climbing tool to your climbing harness with an
adjustable lanyard using a suitable triple locking carabiner. Adjust the lanyard
so the top handle of the UNICENDER climbing tool is just within reach when
you are seated in the harness.
Now pull on the rope which is exiting the bottom of the UNICENDER
climbing tool.
The UNICENDER CLIMBING TOOL WILL AUTOMATICALLY
ADVANCE sliding up the rope and then lock when you stop pulling.

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Pull yourself up off the ground using just your arms (or add a foot lock or a
second ascender.) At a couple of feet off the ground, STOP.
Now for coming down.
FIRST DESCENT WITH DOUBLED ROPE TECHNIQUE (DdRT)
There are two modes of descending with the UNICENDER climbing tool.
-CONTROL MODE
-ADVANCED <CAUTION> MODE
We will start with CONTROL MODE because it is the safest.
CONTROL MODE
Take the rope exiting the bottom of the UNICENDER climbing tool and wrap it counter
clockwise over the upper handle, notice that the rope runs under the arm of the lower
handle. Pull down on the rope, this releases the UNICENDER climbing tools grip on the
rope.

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The friction of the rope over the handles holds your weight.
Control the speed of your descent by moderating your squeeze on the rope with your
hand. To return to ascending, quickly flip the rope off the top handle.
There is a slight jerk when transitioning from ascending to descending and back again.
This is normal and takes some getting used to. Practice CONTROL MODE until you are
comfortable with using it.
Notice : if you weigh under 120 lbs or if there is too much friction at the anchor point,
CONTROL MODE may not allow you to descend. In this case you may have to use
ADVANCED <CAUTION> MODE to get down. In this case you may find certain ropes
will work better, otherwise you may want to consider whether you should use this device
at all.
ADVANCED <CAUTION> MODE
Reach up with one hand. Grab the upper handle with your fingers.
Squeeze against the lower handle with your palm while holding the rope exiting the
bottom of the UNICENDER climbing tool with the other hand down by your hip.