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Moof
Big Wall climber
A cube at my soul sucking job in Oregon
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 14, 2008 - 12:56pm PT
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Off topic, climbing related.
Here's the deal. I'm making garage shop Russian Aider Cuffs. Price is $60/pair (intro price), plus $5 shipping to US (contact me for elsewhere). Cuffs ONLY, get the aid trees from Russ. 1" sturrups are standard, 2" ones are $5 extra because they are a real PITA. There is a thread over on mountainproject.com in the for sale area with slightly more info.
The length of padding is adjusted to the calf circumference you tell me for maximum comfort, but all will fit up to at least ~19" (larger on request). Skinny folks are asking for ~13.5", medium folks are asking ~15-16.5".
A few pics:
Some webbing choices:
Intro price goes to $80/pair on February 1st, so get your order in before then. I've shipped 4 pairs of this design to the field, and there are 6 more in the queue. When the market is saturated I'll shut it down (I stand by my assertion the market is 12 dudes tops). Get them while you can.
Quick FAQ:
1. Bar tacker. I don't have one, but my sew job is plenty burly for the application. I use a single stitch heavy duty industrial sewing machine. If you insist on bar tackers go bug Russ and get him to make them (hint: he's transcended annoyed regarding russian aiders).
2. Where do you get XYZ? Email me, I'll happily send you URLs to all the piece parts I use to make these. These are not rocket science. I've started a Open Source Russian Aiders thread over on bigwalls.com. Over time I'll add pictures so that anyone with time to waste and a burly sewing machine can make their own. Hints: strapworks.com, innermountainoutfitters.com, seattlefabrics.com, onrope1.com.
3. Is the webbing climb spec? Funky webbing is NOT, but is plenty for body weight gear like this. Plain colors are the flat and tubular webbing you get at REI or equivalent, so are climb/mil spec or whatever.
4. What's the lead time? I have 6 people in the queue as of 1/16, and figure 2 pairs a week I can crank out, so 3-4 weeks to ship. Presently I am waiting for padding and some buckles to come in, plus there are 2 people in the queue (plus Healyje is sitting on the fence, and since I owe him 2 six packs, he gets to cut in line).
5. Are you a profesional? HELL NO! I am a dude with a sewing machine. At $60/pair I'm making about 1/10th what I gross at my day job. When they stop being fun I'll jack up the price or stop making them. I make them burly and wall worthy. They are NOT super pretty, and are NOT pull tested. I've reefed and bounce tested mine, and since I'm a fatty, I'm plenty confident they'll not fall apart for you. If they do I'll fix/repair them, it's the best I can do.
A couple comments from folks that have recieved theirs already:
Billcoe said:
"Thanks Sean! To all, they walked in the door unannounced this morning and look so fanfriggantastic I almost peed myself once I looked at them! (good timing as the wallet had green in!)
"Have an order for trees in house with Russ and I'm twitching thinking about climbing on these when they get in. Moof, you might check to see how many trees Russ has left and if you can make the trees when he runs out before you commit too big to mass production.
"Damn these look good."
Andrew Said:
"I'll second BillCoe's comments. Moof- the cuffs look great - much better than expected, very professional, very well made. Now I just need those trees from Russ' gang. I can't wait to get on them - me and the captain have a date this winter.
andrew"
sqwirrl Said:
"Just got home and saw my camo aiders. They look awesome. Thanks a bunch Moof.
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Moof
Big Wall climber
A cube at my soul sucking job in Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 16, 2008 - 12:58pm PT
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Presently I have shipped a bunch, and have 6 people in the queue. Price goes up by $20 in 2 weeks. Present lead time is about 3-4 weeks if you order now.
Shipped:
-John in Colorado got the Rev 4 prototypes using the BD cliffhanger hooks.
-I am keeping the Rev 5 protos (they have a couple cosmetic oopses, and are unsaleable, and besides, I like the Zebra/Jaguar webbing!).
-Todd in ANTARCTICA (holy schiza!) got a standard pair.
-Andrew in Utah got a pair with the 2" stirrups.
-Matt got the funkalicious camo pair shown above (shipped this Monday morning). Move it soldier!!! Haul!!! Haul!!! Haul!!!
-Bill got a standard pair yesterday morning (sorry to just drop in like that!).
In the Queue:
-Joseph saw my pair Sunday at Beacon and liked them, but asked to have his pair put on hold after seeing the Fish aid trees and scratching his head. (Note: I owe him 2 six packs, so he gets to cut in line when he commits)
-Steve in BC is getting a "as wild as you can make them" pair.
-John in Portland is getting a custom pair made using his Ural Sport hooks. Should be interesting...
-Mark wants boring colors with 2" stirrups.
-Pete owes me a calf size, gave no color preferences (bwuahahaha!)
-Pete in the UK stopped emailing me once I quoted him shipping, but I'm holding out hope he'll come through.
-Paulina is getting a pair using her mystery hooks, supposed to be similar to Trango vertical slot. I'm curious...
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artmusicsouth
climber
VA
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Jan 16, 2008 - 01:45pm PT
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Have you met your quota of "12 dudes tops"?
Mark
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Moof
Big Wall climber
A cube at my soul sucking job in Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 16, 2008 - 02:17pm PT
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I count 10, including myself, then 2 more (UK Pete and Joseph) that aren't committed yet. So I think a dozen is about right. If interest dries up I'm fine with it, I'll shut it down for the season and fire it back up next winter.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Jan 16, 2008 - 02:21pm PT
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Oh, I'm committed - I just want to think through the hooks, loops, and trees for a short bit...
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Moof
Big Wall climber
A cube at my soul sucking job in Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 17, 2008 - 12:52am PT
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For grins and giggles, here are Open Source instructions to make your very own Ghetto Aiders:
http://www.bigwalls.com/forum2/index.php?topic=312.0
Warning: Lots of pics, high BW recommended!
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Moof
Big Wall climber
A cube at my soul sucking job in Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 4, 2008 - 03:53pm PT
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Sign up sheet is CLOSED for the season.
The waiting list is:
Pete
UK Pete
Paulina
Joseph
I already shipped to:
John M
Todd
Matt
Andrew
Steve
Bill
Mark
John R (well, I'm handing them over next time I run into him at the gym)
So the total came to a Dozen folks, with no inquiries in a couple weeks, so the market is saturated. If there is renewed interest next winter I might fire it back up again, but for now I need to reclaim my evenings and weekends to get back into shape for the spring season.
Thanks all for playing!
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spyork
Social climber
A prison of my own creation
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You better not spend all winter sewing. I expect some training to get ready for the captain!
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Moof
Big Wall climber
A cube at my soul sucking job in Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 4, 2008 - 05:20pm PT
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Well, the ankle is up to about 70-80% so I am able to to light running on it. But, yeah, I really need do something more strenuous than sewing. Besides, my wife is getting annoyed by all my crap spread over the cutting table. Guess she wants to sew too...
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