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Last night made a static line jump from a 190' A. I usually just tie the break chord around the railing and then to an overhand knot in the bridle. Because this A has a big square railing that requires a lot of break chord I figured id try to attach the break chord to the railing with 15 wraps of electrical tape then tie it to the bridle. Just because I've never done this before I tied off a second time with just the break chord around the railing attached to the bridle. Jump went fine, but when I pulled my shit out this morning I was surprised to see the break chord still tied, unbroken, to the bridle (see picture). So obviously the 15 wraps of electrical tape broke before the break chord. This ever happen to anyone else? Does this speak to the strength of break chord, weakness of electrical tape, or both?

were you using the 80lb electrical tape or the 60 lb?
maybe be some fishing line instead? or an old phone cord?
~J

I only ever use electrical tape for static lines and find that sometimes older rolls of tape that you have had lying around shouldn't be trusted. If it's been a while I just pick up a new roll from a gas station on the way to the jump.
15 wraps seems a bit over kill though. I would think you would have felt that much tape breaking.

Also, why bother with the break cord at all if you are relying on the tape anyway? Stick with one method or the other.

I didnt do it to use both methods... i usually use break chord and my buddy usually uses electrical tape. because the railing is so big its kinda a waste of break chord to tie off to every time. I figured 15 wraps of electrical tape wouldn't break, and would essentially be the same as tying off to a smaller bar. It was just an attempt to save break chord

Was just saying it seems a little silly to use the tape and not tape off. Either stick with the tape on that particular jump or waste a little break cord, not like it's expensive any way.

No one else here seems concerned that you're going to kill yourself, so I'll give this a shot.

You shouldn't be tying your break cord directly to the rail. Not that it's very expensive, but it wastes break cord and more importantly it increases the chance of premature breakage which leads to "going-inage".

Get yourself a length of dacron big enough to wrap around the rail and then some. Fingertrap a loop into each end, make one of them big enough to pass a carabiner through.

While at home before the jump, use a piece of break cord to tie the carabiner to the small loop on the dacron. Go to object, climb it. Tie the dacron to the rail by wrapping it around the rail and passing the carabiner through the big loop. Clip carabiner into your bridle, check all connections. Have fun.

You've left the dacron on the object, but you were also planning on leaving the electrical tape. Not a big deal because its better than killing yourself. Make two of the dacron static lines so that the next time you go up there you'll have one prepared for the jump and you'll remove the old one and put it in your pocket for the next jump. Replace when they become worn or weathered.

When you get comfortable with this setup, look into making yourself a "carry with you" static line.

Don't die.

HOMOSEXUAL!!!!