Has Anyone Used these New Style Rawl Bolts?

Thomas Beck wrote:These are 1/2" dia by 3 1/2" long Powers Rawl bolts bought on Tuesday. What a surprise when I opened the box this evening! They are a little awkward to assemble. I wonder about the plastic end.

I would not use the PowerBolt+ in the 3/8" version period. It is only rated for 17kN in 8000PSI concrete, with a 4kN safe working load. The UIAA requirement is 25kN. The original Power Bolt in the 3/8" x 3.5" version is rated to a whopping 39kN. In fact, the 3/8" PowerBolt is actually slightly stronger than the 1/2" PowerBolt+ making the new PowerBolt+ a step backward, not forward.

Is this thread still active?

The last comment by Administrator is critical......that the new Power Bolt+ is not as strong as the old, especially in the 3/8" size.

Engineering test data and performance specs are complicated to decipher.....perhaps Powers is using a new protocol to test their bolts and list the results?

It's always been hard to compare the strengths we need in our anchor/belay systems with the regular engineering world. Even the official UIAA specs are not easy to apply out on the crag.

It seems we need a re-evaluation of this popular bolt, by an experienced climber - engineer, before we start merrily placing them for all and sundry to use?
We certainly don't want another 1/4 stud type situation......

Meanwhile, perhaps we should just use glue-in bolts, made by a climber/manufacturer, which are way better anyway and designed specifically to keep our butts off the deck!

These bolts are no longer being manufactured and should no longer be used for rock climbing life support anchors. Not only are they inferior in strength , but they will not hold up to rust and corrosion as long as others. They also don't torque out enough to keep bolts from spinning. Anywhere I have put these in the wall I have replaced them with better product. No reason to debate this fact. Just don't use them. It's not worth its future issues.

Now this is a hell of a post...

D.A. LeBaron wrote: These bolts are no longer being manufactured and should no longer be used for rock climbing life support anchors. Not only are they inferior in strength , but they will not hold up to rust and corrosion as long as others. They also don't torque out enough to keep bolts from spinning. Anywhere I have put these in the wall I have replaced them with better product. No reason to debate this fact. Just don't use them. It's not worth its future issues.

Fixe still sells these garbage bolts in 3/8.    I also see them poppIng up at crags.  So your post about not being manufactured seems incorrect.

http://www.fixehardware.com/shop/bolts/powers-ps-3/8-x-3-5-piece-bolt-6913-sd/

Inadequate specs can be seen on page 4:

http://www.fixehardware.com/specs-manuals/Powers-Power-Bolt-Specs_6930SD.pdf

dnoB ekiM wrote:

Fixe still sells these garbage bolts in 3/8.    I also see them poppIng up at crags.  So your post about not being manufactured seems incorrect.

http://www.fixehardware.com/shop/bolts/powers-ps-3/8-x-3-5-piece-bolt-6913-sd/

Inadequate specs can be seen on page 4:

http://www.fixehardware.com/specs-manuals/Powers-Power-Bolt-Specs_6930SD.pdf

dnoB ekiM wrote:

Fixe still sells these garbage bolts in 3/8.    I also see them poppIng up at crags.  So your post about not being manufactured seems incorrect.

http://www.fixehardware.com/shop/bolts/powers-ps-3/8-x-3-5-piece-bolt-6913-sd/

Inadequate specs can be seen on page 4:

http://www.fixehardware.com/specs-manuals/Powers-Power-Bolt-Specs_6930SD.pdf

Oops!! I was told that by a nationwide distributor. Even if they did stop making them, they would be in circulation for quite some time. And it wouldn’t be something that would be recalled like a carabiner. Either way they suck. I’m not sure if I mentioned in previous posts that they are also highly susceptible to crevice corrosion. It’s important that developers are increasingly aware and concerned of the longevity of the hardware they use. Cheers everybody :)