Vertical caving terminology and methods > Rigging methods and equipment
Lower quality anchor, using a "spit" nut which is star drilled into the rock using a bolting tool and hammer (electric drills are not required). They are then hammered into place, with a wedge to split open the end of the spit nut so that it bites into the rock, keeping it in place. A bolt is screwed into them, attached to a hanger. You need a spanner to add your hangers during a trip and remove them afterwards, since the hangers are not normally left in the cave. Spits are generally older technology, used on expeditions when a pitch needs to be rigged quickly, or when drill batteries are at a premium. They rust over time, and need to be replaced regularly when they rust. However, they normally cannot be removed from the rock after installation, since the threads will strip out before enough force can be applied to remove the spit nut. Normally, the only way to replace them is to add a new one nearby, which often results in bolt rash, so users may need to try several rusted spits to find ones that are still usable (yay!). Despite being the weakest type of anchor, a properly installed spit can still hold over 2 tonnes. However, this strength will depend on the quality of the rock they are installed in, their placement in that rock, and whether they have been oriented correctly (perpendicular to the direction they will be pulled). Because they are only short, the rock needs to be relatively strong, since all the force is concentrated on a very small depth of rock. A poor quality rock will crumble and break, leaving the spit nut with nothing to bite into.
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