Well, yes : it is all that friction that enables
But for a NOOB like me, and perhaps others,
it might be useful to know quite how much that can affect your cordage.
I know at an intellectual level that friction can cause damage ...
Others, such as me, who in trying to move a large
(30" diameter? x 6' long) log by convincing it w/webbing
to roll ... , found I'd severely cut into some of the tape!
<ack!> (And the log ultimately won, too
--no Pyrrhic victory for me, just a doubled loss.)
((And so I have come to find a reason why it's
maybe best that the log remain in place
--I like my grapes sour.))
And with similar webbing (lubricated, soft weave,
polyester cable-hauling tape), I saw that I could
suspend 62.5# vs. 50#, and even 67# vs. 50# held,
w/at most some slight movement?! (maybe it was
that with the lesser difference induced movement
would cease, but not with the larger difference;
and both when set at no-movement would hold!?)
.:. quite some difference (50 vs. 125% of 50!) with
smooth tape & (1cm round stock, oval) carabiner,
too --not some made-in-the-cordage sheave!
--dl*
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