3/4" or 1"

[Lumberjack]

I was wondering what sized rope do yall use for your heavy work, like in my thread with the tire. I use a double-braided dacron 3/4" with a rating of 19k.

Carl

 

[ORclimber]

5/8's works for me.

 

[Stumper]

Brian is spot-on. I haven't used anything above 1/2 inch in years. I don't like big pieces.

 

[treeman82]

I use a combination of 5/8" stable braid and 1/2" climbing line for my rigging ropes. If I am only taking small pieces then I stick with the half inch line. However if I am going to be taking out any wood or larger branches then I switch up to my 5/8" line. I think that 5/8" is MORE than enough to use in a tree. I would hate to have to pull a 3/4" rigging line up into a tree on a regular basis

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

1/2", 5/8", then Crane.....

i try to stay small (ok i have no choice) too, 5-600# per leg of 1/2" line on load, or move up to 5/8". 10% of 7000#test is 700# so that gives 10/1 SWL after a 1000# of strength is degraded (kinda unreal). i've had the 5/8" StableBraid for years, actually very lil use between 1/2" and crane......

Though the styrength of the 1/2" isn't as high as the 5/8" it does have better dynamic properties i think, but then i try not to use it that way, by prestretching the line, letting the load stretch the line further as it slowly sinks on hinge etc.

 

[SilverBlue]

I am trying to go lighter so 1/2 DB" is normal for small stuff, and I do back up Brian, it's just common sense. Supporting rigging equipment includes a Vertical Pro wrap that works so much better than a PW111 and hopefully soon a lock block. Anything really heavy get's broken down into smaller peices.

 

[Lumberjack]

For light stuff I use the 1/4" Black Widow, for medium stuff I use 1/2" Super Braid Plus, for heavy stuff I use the 3/4" Stable Braid. I like knowing that I have plenty of WS to spare.

 

[ORclimber]

Originally posted by RockyJSquirrel

To be honest, I try to avoid rigging out massive pieces. Too much strain on too many unknown variables. I'll go out a little farther and rig out smaller pieces to minimize shock loading on the entire system. I've riggrd out some big stuff on ropes and I've also seen ropes and trees fail under load.

Advice to stay alive by. Nothing beats rigging big pieces with a crane(with a good operator).

 

[MasterBlaster]

1/2" Super-Braid Plus will do most everything. Heavier stuff can require a 5/8 line. I don't use 3/4 much, but when I do the groundmen usually run screaming into the woods.

 

[NeTree]

Originally posted by Lumberjack
I like knowing that I have plenty of WS to spare.

The bigger stuff may be a little harder to handle, but as you said you'll have WS to spare and then some. If you're comfortable working with it, by all means use it.

I use mostly 1/2" safety blue for rigging small stuff, and 3/4" 3-strand for anything I feel needs it, like pulling trees over, swinging BIG tops, etc.

I don't think you'd ever find yourself asking "Why didn't I use a SMALLER rope..."

 

[cjohnson]

I use 9/16 samson stable braid it has a tensile strength of 13,300 lbs. and a working load of 2660lbs. I have rigged down 800# pieces of oak with the rope was a little worried about the first piece we cut loose but when the rope held it was an awsome sight to see them being slowly lowered to the ground. Most ropes have a safe working load that is 20% of the tensile strength.

 

[kf_tree]

i'm another fan of a 9/16 line..... we have 1/2 9/16 5/8 and 3/4 stable braids.... the 1/2 9/16 and 5/8 get used on the day to day basis......the 3/4 only gets used to rig tree's off buildings.

 

[rbtree]

1/2 inch 12 strand or 16 strand for light stuff, next 1/2 inch double braid, then 9/16, and 3/4 for heavy work, lowering big wood, or suspending whole trees off another. For heavy pulling or speed lining, the 1/2 inch plasma line comes out, 36000 lb tensile, near 0 stretch.

Lumberjack, it is ok to use that Amsteel "Black Widow" for light lowering, but don't do any slam dunking on it, you'll overstress your anchors, both the tree and the sling, due to the 0 stretch characteristics of high tech synthetic fibers.

My friend David Stice is halfway through doing a 51 inch dbh 180 foot tall Doug fir. He rented my Hobbs, I loaned him my new 7/8th 12 strand sling rated at about 30,000, and he was going to break out the 1 inch bull line. But the customer allowed a tall stump to be cut, so now he has a drop zone, and may not have to lower the big wood. Good for him!! I've never lowered wood that big, and hope i never have to.

Has anyone noticed the great sale Bishop is having on the top of the line ISC colored aluminum rigging blocks?

 

[Lumberjack]

Cjohnson the standard is 10% of the mbs

Where can you buy plasma rope?


Carl

 

[rbtree]

My supplier in Seattle offers good prices on Samson line, but much better on Puget Sound Ropes. They deal in huge quantities, as they supply our huge fishing industry with finished product...nets, specialty made spliced lines, etc.

I don't know if they are interested in doing any mail order. I'll ask. And I'm too busy right now to get stuff for you.

Plasma is pretty much the same as Amsteel blue...and as you can see from Sherril's price on "BW", mighty pricy at retail.

A line I'm considering for winch line is their DS Composite...synthetic core with polyester cover. Should wear better than pure spectra.

psropes.com

 

[Koa Man]

I use 1/2" stable braid almost exclusively. Rarely use 5/8. I never had to lower anything bigger than 36" diameter. On trees here, usually by that time you are low enough to drop the pieces or have some groundmen yank the piece in the direction you want it to go. If I am going to do that, I always have them stack piles of brush in the drop zone to avoid the piece rolling or putting holes in the yard. I have also quartered a big trunk while in the tree to get it small enough to get it down safely.

 

[NickfromWI]

Originally posted by SilverBlue
...I am trying to go lighter so 1/2 DB" is normal for small stuff, and I do back up Brian, it's just common sense. ...

I disagree. It probably depends on the situation. But it seems if you can get it on the ground faster, why waste the time. Know the limits of the materials you're working with, and take advantage of them.

love
nick

 

[NickfromWI]

It just seemed you guys were saying that as a rule you like to take as small of pieces as is reasonable. I would rather take as large of pieces as is reasonable. But you're right. I've never climbed a florida tree.

love
nick

 

[Gord]

small pieces vs large pieces... what's the point of spending 10 min rigging a limb with taglines and rigging lines and spider legs just to have to wait another 5 min while the ground men de-rig it, buck it up etc. when you could just rig it out in a coupla small pieces, or maybe just cut and chuck, less risk, less futzing, less time for the ground men to stand around.

i like my toys as much as the next climber but i use them when they're the best way to do the job, not to impress clients or ground men with their pretty colors.

 

[ORclimber]

Taking smaller pieces is SAFER than taking big pieces. If a 40lb pound limb hits a climber it will hurt, a 400lb limb could kill them. :angel: