3 Strand

[Lumberjack]

I mostly use Super braid, but I was wondering if anyone uses 3 strand, and if so what for. In rigging not lanyards!

Carl

 

[NeTree]

I use 3/4" 3 strand for light rigging with the porta-wrap; 7/8" double-braid for everything else heavy.

And I can splice the three-strand easily, for lanyards and eye-slings. Still haven't quite got the other stuff down yet.

 

[Stumper]

I've got a couple of 3 strand ropes that I use regularly. One is a 7/16 hard lay nylon that I use as a pull line when felling and the other is a 3/8ths Poly-plus that I use for light lowering. The 7/16ths is superb for what I use it for-the 3/8ths is doing fine for a cheap line but willl be replaced with a small Doulbe braid soon. I prefer 3 strand for lanyards but for other applications it generally is functional but hardly superior.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Three strands typically have more stretch too. Another reason to move to more modern ropes, 12s and 16s.

Tom

 

[UNBforester]

Our forestry crew uses a lot of three strand poly-propelene ropes for pulling trees over or pruner cord. We use it because the company buys spools of the stuff and our foreman likes using it due to its di-electric properties. The di-electric part I can understand.

Personally I hate using the poly because its not good rigging rope, the 1/2" has a WWL of 620 lbs and my favorite knot (running bowline) diminshes that strength even more. For rigging I stick to the 1/2" herzog (9,800lbs) or 3/4" herzog (21,000lbs).

But hey, the 3-strand poly is cheap and expendable.

 

[xander9727]

I occassionally use three strand for light work if it is raining and/or muddy. I hate to dirty up my expensive ropes if I don't have to. I have several three strand ropes but I won't replace them with like kind as they become unservicable. I wouldn't use them for heavy work or where higher shock loads are possible. It's easier to wash expensive ropes than to replace expensive property.
My .02

 

[UNBforester]

RockyJSquirrel:

I only say cheap and expendable because the 1/2" 3-strand poly is only used for pulling trees over when no mechanical advanges are being used. If it gets nicked or cut then it becomes tie down rope or discarded. If pulleys are being used the 5/8" arborplex comes out or when rigging is required the herzog is used. Rarely do we ever need to change or work plan because we don't have the ropes. If anything I have too many ropes on my truck but they all have a purpose ay one time or another. Eventually I'm phasing out the poly crap on the bucket truck, when it gets tossed I'm replacing with herzog.

Our 3/8" 3-strand poly is primarily a pruner cord or a training tool for guys wanting to practice splicing.

I have to agree with you though on the mentality of it all. The big "orange and green" do run cheaper and inferior equipment and the workers have to take the brunt of it. Been there, hated that.

Dave

 

[underwor]

Okay, call me an old timer, but I still like to get out my 3 strand esterlon occasionally for a little recreational climbing. With a good old tautline hitch you can swing from limb to limb, dropping 15 to 20' vertical on the way and never get a hint of smoke or melting. The last time I competed in an ISA event, 1995, I used 3 strand and placed 3rd out of 20 even though I was 48 years old. Also used a monkey fist instead of a throw bag. In competition you have to go with what you know works and you are familiar with. My students get all frustrated when they try that rope and get the big collection of pigtails below them on the way down. They just have not yet learned to work efficient and use the leftover time to straighten out the little things.

I show the students how to use the newer ropes, knots, hitches and other goodies, but I still remember the good old days of almost free falls speeds out of a big tree on 3 strand manila. Perhaps that little wisp of "hemp" smoke you got off the knot is what made the memories so fond.

Have fun, climb safe, but don't forget the past. Once in a while the answer to a current problem is there.

Bob

 

[geofore]

fond memories

Yhea, the good old days of three strand manila (made from the fibers of banana tree leaves) and hemp ( the real stuff made from the fibers of male hemp plants), pulling those near invisible splinters out of your hands that always broke off the new ropes. You had to get those splinters out right away or in a day or so you hands would fester just enough you'd feel like you were picking up porcupines covered in buzzard spit if you touched anything. We'd revee the new ropes up on a set off blocks and hang them out in the weather with tension on them for a few days to relax them. They'd swell up if it rained and be so heavy you'd need an extra grounman to help you lift the ropes into the tree. This would happen every time it rained and you didn't get the ropes in fast enough. That rope could suck up 5x it's weight in water if it looked like rain, even more if it rained.

About the time the ropes were broken in and worked as smoothly as they were ever going to, the splinters were about gone, it was time to replace the rope and start over again. Then they came out with this new fangled nylon rope that could haul more weight but the splinters were gone. That stuff could burn the skin off your hide in a New York miniute. The old ropes didn't heat up that fast. Oh, they'd leave a blister but it at least gave you time and warmed up slowly. The nylon would scorch you so bad there was no skin left to blister and so fast you were burnt before you knew you were touching skin to the rope.

Then they went to polyester and Disco was invented. People were smoking the hemp that they didn't make rope with (female hemp). My knees are too far gone to Disco any more but I'm still buying polyester (rope that is). I went to Blue Streak, 16 strands, runs smooth, twice as strong and I don't miss the splinters one bit. It lasts longer, you can get it colours, less stretch. The good old days, before they came up with all these thingamabobs and whatchamacallits I spend a fortune on to be able to glide through the trees, life was simpler. Yhea, the good old days.

 

[NickfromWI]

I second the motion that 3 strand is a good rope for safety lanyards. I don't reccomend it for much more than that.

love
nick

 

[rahtreelimbs]

The only time that 3 strand gets used is in the Maasdam Rope Puller. These little gems were designed for use with 3 strand. I have used 12 strand in the rope puller only to have it slip on the puller wheel, 3 strand has never given me this problem.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I still have lengths of my esterlon climbing rope from over 20 yrs ago. I use it as a tow rope.
I can't imagine climbing with a 3 strand today. I would probably use a grass rope instead.


I'm having second thoughts about my Fly, though. It seems to wear a lot quicker than my old Safety Blue.

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

Before using tress chords; i used split tails made from 3 strand, crossed over to tress chords from a distel made in 3 strand, to one made with chord. i still have/ use 3strand lanyards, made from SafetyBlue HyVee. Also, 100' or so left, so prolly will have more, disapears faster with a mini JP model (19') though......

In short link (tails, lanyards, prusiks etc.) i never found twisting to be a problem, the 3 strand to be a good gripper (on lines and wood). In such lengths, some stretch is not overwhelming but potentially helpfull i would think compared to less dynamic lines with only a few feet of dampening available (or in long lines when extreme dynamic loading- truck pulling etc., to preload the rubbgerband for more pull in tandem of line stretch and truck, or to absorb shock on sudden loading saving connections and anchors from worst shox?). 3strand splices easier, quicker, shorter, taking less line than 16's, less special tooling requirements etc. Either splice is better tapered in 1/2" than temporary barrel/bowline etc., though an old 3 strand splice is easier to inspect..... i think; plus the curling of knotting under load can bring 3 strand line closer to hockling etc. IMLHO. So least problems in short, eye spliced 3 strand perhaps.....

Over the years a few comments from Sherrill splicer, catalog and an ArborMaster tape have kinda reinforced my observations for me: 3 strand tails/ lanyards (harder lay) wearing longer, especially in these friction circumstances, cheaper and having unique grip/release properties (different stiffness etc.)when joined with braids; has a different footprint of contact on the other line (braided) than braid on braid (1/2" on 1/2")- allowing different bite and heat dissipation(?) etc, especially with 3 strand as prusik and not host line in system (?).

The power puller is made to walk/grip the unique 'tread' in the footprint of this line. i think this ol'line still has some uses; and perhaps even some unique properties as yet unexploited.


Orrrrrrr something like that!
:alien:

 

[tjk]

I use double braids when rigging through false anchors. I know several arborist that use 3 strand for rope tools and natural crotch rigging for its durability reasons.