[TheForge] [OT] Cats, boots (Was: chickens)

[Andrew Vida]

Paul N wrote:
> Can I ask what collapsed the toe?
> 
> I recently bought a new pair, and while they're rated at 2500 lbs, I 
> believe that is  static 2500 lbs, and I don't really know how much that 
> relates to say a 200lb anvil falling 2 feet onto my toes.

There is a BIG difference between a gently applied load and one with a 
high impulse.  Dropping a 200# anvil from, say, 24" is probably going to 
hurt vis-a-vis gently resting 2500# on the toe.
> 
> My old pair saved countless minor injuries of heavy stuff dropping on my 
> foot. BTW, composite toes with the 2500 lb rating are also available. 
> I'm not sure what their failure mode is.

If by "composite" you mean carbon fiber, the failure mode is 
catastrophic.  CF is incredibly strong, but when you go past its yield 
point the material disintegrates.  At least this was the case as of a 
few years ago.  Whether improvements have since been discovered, I do 
not know.  CF is incredibly stiff, however.