UKC

The earlier troll got me wondering, what rock types are safe for drying by blowtorch?

In reply to Ciro:

I think you've made a mistake. It's not the rock you dry with a blow torch, you need to train it onto your hands to ensure that they are fully dry.

In reply to Ciro:

Use a Stihl leaf-blower.

In reply to Trangia:

Thanks for your informative contribution.

In reply to Trangia:

I'd go for using it to dry the empty space between the ears. When the flame comes out the other ear you know it's well dried.

In reply to Ciro: think what they are saying is dont blowtorch the rock?

In reply to Ciro:
Serious answer alert!!!!!

Real answer is none. Almost any type of rock is going to have the potential to contain small voids or cracks that will shatter when heated.

It is a matter of degree though as gentle heat is obviously not going to damage a bit of solid rock, but gentle heat probably isn't best supplied by a blowtorch

In reply to Ciro:

I know that folk local to me do blow torch holds at a local venue. But this specific venue is under the water twice a day getting a good old battering by the tide. So honestly, you're not really going to make things worse. It's also never going to be anything more than a place locals go cause it's what we've got.

But otherwise, it's a no-no as it's going to knacker the rock regardless. If you have to dry a hold, take some extra towels. That's all you can really do.

In reply to lanky and weak:

I seem to remember watching a video a while back of some sponsored climbers doing exactly this in scandinavia, so I assumed there were certain rock types where it was safe.

Or is it just certain countries where the potential for damage from the practice is accepted?

I'm not planning to run out and do it tomorrow, just curious.

In reply to Reach>Talent & mattrm: cheers

In reply to Ciro:

This blowtorch stuff is just cause the english are jealous of proper volcanic rocks. If you get the grit and limestone hot enough it might just turn into gabbro.

In reply to tom_in_edinburgh:

Sounds like you're overdue a trip to the Lake District.

In reply to Ciro:

Just because they are sponsored doesn't make them a paragon for geological knowledge and that they will always do the right thing.

In reply to slacky:

No, but it does give the impression that the practice is followed in certain areas... I doubt the sponsors would want to be associated with a bunch of guys turning up and trashing a crag against the locals wishes. In fact, a quick check on the petzl team website shows one of their athletes proudly proclaiming the impliment as part of his basic climbing equipment:

"note the blowtorch that has turnend to be a part of my basic climbing equipment. I guess I will need it this winter in Sweden if I have any desires to touch rock before april..."

http://saidbelhaj.petzlteam.com/

In reply to jonny2vests: or Dartmoor or Cornwall or Lundy, come to that...

In reply to Ramblin dave:

or N Wales...

In reply to Ciro:

Not just sponsored climbers in Finland. I think there are a reasonable number of people doing it. The rock is granite and probably more resistant than most rock types but I always thought it was a really silly idea.

I've seen people drying holds on Normipaiva with a blow torch. It seemed a really good way to ruin a really classic problem and at that time one of the hardest in Finland.

For those who don't know Normipaiva
youtube.com/watch?v=MgtcnryUBJU&

In reply to JonC:

which is not, strictly speaking, in England....

In reply to TonyB:

Nice line indeed... so has it been trashed?

In reply to JonC:

I think English volcanic rock in N Wales is prob stretching it a bit

In reply to ripper:

I was focussing on the 'anywhere but Scotland' aspect not attempting to annex the welsh any more than they already are.

Shall I keep digging ?

In reply to jonny2vests:

I'm going to argue that's geologically part of Scotland

In reply to tom_in_edinburgh:

And this from someone who thinks if you heat up limestone or grit you might get gabbro.

In reply to Ciro:

Diamonds

In reply to Ava Adore:


You don't want to do that, being pure carbon they burn.