If Camming Device Damaged, Toss It

Sun., Dec. 14, 1997

Q.I have a CCH Alien spring loaded camming device that I took a fall on. The cam pulled out on the fall, and left some gouges in the aluminum. The gouges created burrs on the sides of the cams which, not only are sharp, but impede the wires attached to the trigger. I figured I have three choices - I can file the burrs down myself, send the cam back to CCH to get it fixed, or I can toss the thing. What would you recommend I do with this little guy? Grant Bremer

Take that Alien, get a firm grip on it, and fling it as far as you can off a very tall bridge. Don’t even THINK about trying to re-build it or just use it. Figure that rascal saved your bacon once, and to ask to do it once more is, well, unreasonable. If you don’t want to toss it, fine, mount it on apiece of plywood, shellac the hell out of it, and nail it to your wall. C’mon. Think about it. This is your life we’re talking about. So you save $80 be re-using it. Then you’re out climbing, and you’re really run out, and that last piece of pro happens to be that old battered Alien. And you start thinking, “I wonder if it will hold.” And your knees start quivering a little. Toss it, my man. xxxx

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