Big Shot

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by John Paul Sanborn
...I may tie it so that a yank on the line will untie the sack in the tree. The bag may still be caught , bu the line comes down.

I LIKE the sound of that! I'll give it a try.

 

[Joe]

I shoot the BS with it set up backwards and do just fine.

Joe

 

[MasterBlaster]

How long have you had yours, Joe?

 

[Joe]

A few months. I had some practice with it at 1 of the local tcc's. So, in a sense, I had previous instruction using it backwards. This still gave me a feel for what it could do. When I started using it a few months ago, my very 1st shot was on the money. I considered it a worthy investment because of how quick I produced using it. I've stumbled a few times since, and I was blessed by it when using it in tight quarters. By not being exceptionally picky about my choice of crotches, like accepting a lower or higher crotch makes using it a time saver.

Joe

 

[rbtree]

Big Shot bands have been known to break at the tube ends. Using it with the bands up, in case of breakage, could result in loss of an eye!!! or other facial damage.. such as cuts from safety glasses being smashed into the face.

I suggest, do NOT use the BS this way!

 

[Tree Machine]

Great tool, use it safely

Shooting a biner up into a twiggy tree is a quick way to get it snagged.

You say this with such authority as to make it sound like you know this from experience.

The reason I use, not any cheesy small biner, but rather a Black Diamond micron, the smaller of the two sizes, is that it has such a strong spring gate that it doesn't open when dragged across the unavoidable twigs in a twiggy tree. That's why I've been very specific about this piece and have given reasons for its merit.

All my ropes have spliced eyes, making the offing of the bag and the onning of the rope an instant maneuver. I focus on the parts of my job that are repetitive in nature and look for ways to boil these tasks down so I can focus more on tree care rather than futzing with gear.

If my ropes didn't have spliced eyes, my method would be bunk, and I'd go to taking off my gloves and tying and untying little knots.

I rarely get the shotbag hung up in a tree. The times I do are when I fire through a tight, vertical v-crotch, or if the bag and line wrap around the limb more than one full revolution. Occasionally the line gets caught under a piece of bark These hangups, however, have nothing to do with the biner.

Listen to rbtree! This stuff HAS happened and stitches in the face, or dameged eyes are never a good thing. Think about this the next time you fire one off 'shotgun' style -TM-

 

[Joe]

Originally posted by rbtree
Big Shot bands have been known to break at the tube ends. Using it with the bands up, in case of breakage, could result in loss of an eye!!! or other facial damage.. such as cuts from safety glasses being smashed into the face.

I suggest, do NOT use the BS this way!

Roger: I told the guys I work with what was written in your post. There was an instant change in the way the big shot was used. I think your advice was effective. Thanks for the heads up.

Joe

 

[kurtztree]

Guess what guys an Asplundh safety supervisor came out by us today to see us and he didnt know what a bigshot was I asked him why we dont have any bigshots in this company and he goes what you think im just a peon then after i explained that it is something to throw a throwbag in the tree to set your climbing line in the tree we dont have throwbags on the trucks here either. he said that is a regional thing. Just before he left he asked if i still think he is a peon. I just laughed at him

 

[underwor]

Big Shot Practice

Thought I would send along a picture I just got of Big Shot Practice in my Climbing Class on Campus this fall. At least they were all concentrating on the same thing for once.

Bob

http://165.234.175.12/photos/Forestry-Club/Climbing Class 2003/scan0009.jpg

 

[seanlarkin]

SAFETY GLASSES!!!

 

[t6140p]

I've been using a big shot for about 5 years. I'll never throw another throw ball again. Even as low as 20 feet. The Big shot is just so much more acurate. I normally shoot an 8 oz. Weaver bag but switch to a heavier bag when shooting into Shag Bark Hickorys and White Oaks and such.

T

 

[Tree Machine]

Giving a 10 year-old a bigshot

I'm planning to give my ten year-old nephew a BigShot for his birthday. Do you guy's think that is a good idea?

My sister thinks its cool idea, but my wife is violently opposed. I got the kid a harness last year, and a shotbag and 50 feet of line. He lives in Sarasota, Florida and has this humongous, sprawling live oak in his front yard.

Rocky J. Squirrell are sprawling live oaks fun to climb? If you were a ten year old, would you want a BigShot and line setup? This just wasn't available to any of us at a young age... maybe for the better. Uncle Tree Machine needs to follow Dr. Alex Shigo's saying, about every kid having the opportunity to climb a tree.... not just orange and grapefruit trees. Ya gotta graduate up at some point.

See, I feel it's my responsibility, and duty, as an Uncle to really reach out and extend some love. And how else better to do that than with a BigShot ?! -TM-

 

[Lumberjack]

I am only 17, and I can remember back when I was 10. I think that it depends on your nephew. It would be a good pasttime, if he was mature enough to be able to set everything up properly. However, I am not sure that a 10 year old is able to understand how powerful a Big Shot is, and how bad it could damage someone or something.

Like I said it depends on your Nephew, I don't know him but I don't think that a majority of the 10 year olds can consistently make decisions like that. It only takes one mistake.


Carl

 

[Tree Machine]

Let share rb's wisdom

Originally, I didn't actually post to query about my nephew and the BigShot. But I do appreciate that input, Lumberjack.

rbtree offered a cool idea in the beginning of this thread, and I have to change over the rubber tubing on my Bigshot, due to a long and useful life. It should have been retired a couple months ago.

I'm doing just what rbtree suggested early in page 1, taper the ends of the BigShot. These next shots are of trying to remove the old rubber tubing from the original BigShot head. I failed with the "roll it off" method, but succeeded with the "cut lengthwise with rope scissors" attempt". -TM-

 

[Tree Machine]

Don't try the dry-peel

Maybe a carefully guided X-acto razor would work better. rb???? What do you use?

 

[Tree Machine]

Bing.

Bing.

 

[Tree Machine]

T of the T

WMD.

 

[Tree Machine]

Safety glasses, ear and eye protection and ....

and a respirator. An apron of some sort, maybe. Use the appropriate safety gear on this maneuver, gentlemen. Be real careful.

You should have an easier time than I, since you probably won't have to one-hand the grinder, while other-handing the camera. I hope you appreciate this shot.

 

[Tree Machine]

Touched up the tips with 60-grit sandpaper on a belt sander. I don't think this step is necessary if you're smooth with the grinder (which I will be next time).

After smoothing as best I could, I wiped the tapered tips with isopropyl alcohol (also, probably not necessary).

 

[Tree Machine]

Soap.

Liquid soap. I wetted a paper towel and put just a couple drops on it...