Klein Tools Pole and Tree Climbers, Including Gaff Sharpening - Manual (Page 6)

6
Procedures for Inspecting Climbers and Gaffs
(continued)
8.
Destroy and replace all worn or damaged OPE
equipment.
If evidence of excessive wear, deterioration, or
mechanical malfunction is observed, replace the
equipment immediately. Never work with worn or
damaged OPE equipment. Using damaged or worn
equipment can cause serious injury or death.
9.
The inspector is the most important part of the
inspection.
Check all equipment thoroughly and follow all safety
procedures and guidelines. Do not take any shortcuts.
Should any unusual conditions be noted
during inspection that are not specified here, do not use
the suspect equipment until an individual considered by
OSHA to be qualified makes a decision on its usability.
OSHA specifies that all employers covered
by the Occupational Safety and Health Act are
responsible for inspecting and maintaining all tools and
equipment used by employees — whether owned by the
employees or by the company. Personal-protective
equipment should be inspected before each use and
removed from service if signs of wear or damage are found.
Maintenance Procedures
Clean and maintain equipment as recommended.
1.
Nylon straps.
Wash nylon only in warm water and mild detergent. Avoid
harsh chemical agents such as degreasing compounds,
turpentine, paint thinner, gasoline, and other solvents.
Allow nylon objects to dry naturally. Do not use heat to
speed up the process.
2.
Leather components.
Maintain all leather with Neat’s-foot oil or equivalent to
prolong life. Clean with saddle soap or other mild soap.
Allow leather to dry naturally. Do not use heat to speed up
the process.
3.
Leg iron, steel sleeve, stirrup, gaff, and other metal
parts.
A. Make sure all metal parts are clean and free of foreign
material.
B. Wipe metal parts dry with a clean cloth.
C. Maintain or replace gaffs as explained in this booklet
to preserve proper width, thickness, point profile, and
sharpness.
4.
Reinspect all equipment after maintenance.
It is mandatory to reinspect the equipment after
all maintenance procedures to determine if the
maintenance was done properly and effectively.
Gaff Sharpening Instructions
1.
Always use a fine-tooth file.
Never grind on a wheel, as you will create heat, which will
alter the temper of the gaff and make it dangerous to use.
A proper file is contained in the Klein KG-2 kit.
2.
File gaff from heel to point.
Place the climber in a smooth-jaw vise with the gaff as
shown in Figure 19, so that you can file from the heel to
the point of the gaff as shown by the arrow in Figure 20.
Remove only enough material to make a good point.
Never cross file. Cross-filing weakens the point, and under
load it may cause tip breakage.
3.
Remove any file marks by honing.
Work the honing stone in the same direction as the file (as
shown by the arrow in Figure 19.) A compatible honing
stone is included in the KG-2 kit.
Top
Ridge
Figure 19 Figure 20
Heel
Underside of Gaff
1/4"
Point
Side
Slope
(continued on next page)
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