Q: Is there a life-span for carabiners?
A:  Look for deformations in the carabiner; is it out of its original shape due to cross-loading or excessive force applied? If so, throw it out. Check the gate operation. If you've cleaned it, lubed it and it still doesn't open or close as it's supposed to, it's time to retire it. Are there deep and obvious grooves (big ones, not just superficial scrapes) Has the carabiner been subjected to excessive force through misuse? Otherwise, it's probably safe to assume that your carabiner good.

Q:  Should I retire my carabiners after a certain number of falls or years in service?
A:  Repeated falls on a carabiner really don't contribute to diminished strength. Start with frequent examination: look for burs, marks or deep scuffs that might catch or abrade your ropes and webbing. Take a very fine-grit sandpaper or abrasive cloth and smooth out any of those features you might find. Then work the gate back and forth to feel for any grime or dirt that might be caught up in the works. If the action isn't smooth and clean, it's time to clean up your carabiners.

Q: How do I clean my carabiner?
A: Soak them in warm, soapy water and scrub the spring, pusher and gate assembly with a retired toothbrush. Dry them completely and allow them to air dry for an hour or so. Then, spray them with WD-40 or a silicone spray lubricant and shake off any excess.

Q: And what's the best way to care for carabiners?
A: We've seen a rise in the use of waxy lubricants lately and highly recommend that you DO NOT use them on your carabiners. White Lighting (or any other paraffin-based lube) operates by coating the device with a thin layer of waxy material. In theory, it helps to reduce the amount of dirt and grime it'll pick up. While this may work great for bike chains (these lubes are sold in bike stores, mostly), they're not very effective on carabiners. With carabiners, there is not enough tension to reliably return the gate to the notch as that waxy buildup occurs.

Q : What if I have already used a paraffin lube on my carabiners?
A: Try cleaning them first. If that does not work you may have to boil your carabiners in water to completely melt out all that waxy material. After doing so, follow the procedures outlined above. Performed regularly, these steps should keep your carabiners operating well for years and years!

www.RescueTECH1.com

Q: Is there a life-span for carabiners?
A:  Look for deformations in the carabiner; is it out of its original shape due to cross-loading or excessive force applied? If so, throw it out. Check the gate operation. If you've cleaned it, lubed it and it still doesn't open or close as it's supposed to, it's time to retire it. Are there deep and obvious grooves (big ones, not just superficial scrapes) Has the carabiner been subjected to excessive force through misuse? Otherwise, it's probably safe to assume that your carabiner good.

Q:  Should I retire my carabiners after a certain number of falls or years in service?
A:  Repeated falls on a carabiner really don't contribute to diminished strength. Start with frequent examination: look for burs, marks or deep scuffs that might catch or abrade your ropes and webbing. Take a very fine-grit sandpaper or abrasive cloth and smooth out any of those features you might find. Then work the gate back and forth to feel for any grime or dirt that might be caught up in the works. If the action isn't smooth and clean, it's time to clean up your carabiners.

Q: How do I clean my carabiner?
A: Soak them in warm, soapy water and scrub the spring, pusher and gate assembly with a retired toothbrush. Dry them completely and allow them to air dry for an hour or so. Then, spray them with WD-40 or a silicone spray lubricant and shake off any excess.

Q: And what's the best way to care for carabiners?
A: We've seen a rise in the use of waxy lubricants lately and highly recommend that you DO NOT use them on your carabiners. White Lighting (or any other paraffin-based lube) operates by coating the device with a thin layer of waxy material. In theory, it helps to reduce the amount of dirt and grime it'll pick up. While this may work great for bike chains (these lubes are sold in bike stores, mostly), they're not very effective on carabiners. With carabiners, there is not enough tension to reliably return the gate to the notch as that waxy buildup occurs.

Q : What if I have already used a paraffin lube on my carabiners?
A: Try cleaning them first. If that does not work you may have to boil your carabiners in water to completely melt out all that waxy material. After doing so, follow the procedures outlined above. Performed regularly, these steps should keep your carabiners operating well for years and years!

www.RescueTECH1.com

Q: Is there a life-span for carabiners?
A:  Look for deformations in the carabiner; is it out of its original shape due to cross-loading or excessive force applied? If so, throw it out. Check the gate operation. If you've cleaned it, lubed it and it still doesn't open or close as it's supposed to, it's time to retire it. Are there deep and obvious grooves (big ones, not just superficial scrapes) Has the carabiner been subjected to excessive force through misuse? Otherwise, it's probably safe to assume that your carabiner good.

Q:  Should I retire my carabiners after a certain number of falls or years in service?
A:  Repeated falls on a carabiner really don't contribute to diminished strength. Start with frequent examination: look for burs, marks or deep scuffs that might catch or abrade your ropes and webbing. Take a very fine-grit sandpaper or abrasive cloth and smooth out any of those features you might find. Then work the gate back and forth to feel for any grime or dirt that might be caught up in the works. If the action isn't smooth and clean, it's time to clean up your carabiners.

Q: How do I clean my carabiner?
A: Soak them in warm, soapy water and scrub the spring, pusher and gate assembly with a retired toothbrush. Dry them completely and allow them to air dry for an hour or so. Then, spray them with WD-40 or a silicone spray lubricant and shake off any excess.

Q: And what's the best way to care for carabiners?
A: We've seen a rise in the use of waxy lubricants lately and highly recommend that you DO NOT use them on your carabiners. White Lighting (or any other paraffin-based lube) operates by coating the device with a thin layer of waxy material. In theory, it helps to reduce the amount of dirt and grime it'll pick up. While this may work great for bike chains (these lubes are sold in bike stores, mostly), they're not very effective on carabiners. With carabiners, there is not enough tension to reliably return the gate to the notch as that waxy buildup occurs.

Q : What if I have already used a paraffin lube on my carabiners?
A: Try cleaning them first. If that does not work you may have to boil your carabiners in water to completely melt out all that waxy material. After doing so, follow the procedures outlined above. Performed regularly, these steps should keep your carabiners operating well for years and years!

www.RescueTECH1.com