Black Widow

[MasterBlaster]

Has anybody out there tried Sherrill's new Black Widow micro bull line? I'm thinking about ordering it for light roping tasks, but I'm not sure. Also, why is it so hard to find a floating dee butt - strap saddle with suspenders?

 

[Reed]

Lots of folks - even some with plenty of hours, even days of saddle time on horseback complain about a sore butt and thighs after a few hours ride time.

Same goes for saddles in trees. The butt strap is touted as more comfortable if you're up all day, the leg straps as not. I differ on this. Straps are uncomfortable, as bosin seats are, to anyone who doesn't spend much protracted time up - a little longer each day, use everyday, and muscle structure compensates.

I have been used to leg straps for every application but unfortunately I lost my Weaver sliding D back east when things went weird, had to quickly get a usefull but restrictive Butt strap Klien here to use - still using it but it sucks. Reminds me of someone needing to pee and holding their legs together. They are completely restrictive (even with a spreader hook) and the hours aloft might be easier 'cause we're sittin' on our *****, but lost mobility is the issue. Even dangerous when movement is crucial.

Don't sucker for the Butt job - in my opinion. Weaver has a low-cost legger that - if you use it enough - won't make a jack bit 'o difference to your "comfort zone" and will provide the necessary freedom to expand your abilities. A butt job won't. Even if single spar removals and gaffs dictate your work, nix the strap and what I call "lazyboy" seat. The suspenders are also something it takes getting used to. Might want to retro-fit those for later, if weight and beer drinking history is a factor for choice.

Last Tuesday I applied my new combo, you might consider this....I have an ABC nylon rock leg saddle, fitted under my Klien 'piece of junk' with the butt strap, but butt strap hangs uselessly until I might want to hook it up. Best of both. I keep the Klien because of hook-ons - 020T, lanyard w/ Petzl, spare ascender, two locking caribe's, one none, scabbard and d-handle Fanno, roll of tape, bottle of H20 in place of paint can, Prussick from Bluestreak, gym towel for sweat, and a lucky squirrel foot, stuffed.

Get the Sherrill cataloge - or on-line it. Can't beat that Weaver price ANYWHERE. The small is for non-beerdrinkers only.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Butt - straps

I've tried leg strap saddles, but they allways ride up my crotch too much and bind me. My only complaint with butt strap saddles is when riding the ball (crane) for extended lengths of time it can get uncomfortable. I have a Traverse with a bosun seat that I use just for that. Otherwise, I prefer my regular Weaver butt strap saddle - I just hate having to rig the suspenders up myself.

 

[hillbilly]

The Austria Duo has both leg straps and a butt strap and
suspenders if you wish. I've never tried it, but there are some
arbos over here using it. They say it's very comfortable.
I'm a big fan of the Butterfly though, no butt strap and no
suspenders.

Here are some links to those who sell the Autria Duo, Sherrill don't
as far as I know:

www.proclimber.com
www.freeworker.de
www.drayer.de

 

[Stumper]

I've started climbing on a Ness Work saddle from New Tribe. No crotch pinch. No hip pinch. Comfort!
If you just gotta stick with a butt strap. Weaver has the model 01139-Wideback leather ,4D,buttstrap wide leg strapp and suspenders:
the model 01140-Wideback, floating D butt strap wide leg straps and Suspenders.:
Model 01135 Wideback, 4 D, buttstrap with neoprene leg straps.
Those are all newer models with gear loops in addition to snaps and rings.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I could see it when working tips and needing a very long line where the weight of 1/2 inch becomes a problem.

 

[dbeck]

MY PERSONAL OPINION: The setup w/ the blackmax line is an advertising ploy to get you to buy something that is not necessary. Sure, it is great that the manufacturers cancreat aline that is so small, but strong. Think of your hands if you pulled, how many times have you tried pulled on your throwline to set a rope and pinched, if not cut your hand? I agree you would have to set a pulley each time. What happens when your pulley is to big to handle the small line? Line so small it gets caught on between the sheave and cheekplate? Sounds like a hassle to me...
get out the downgraded rigging line for light duty purposes, use it for what it can handle, anything heavy use the line that replaced the old line and save yourself a chunk of money!

 

[ok2climb]

austria duo

I went from the traverse with two sliding d's to the Komet butterfly and now i've been climbing on the Austrian sitzgurt duo. Sherrill had it in 01 catalog and i managed to get one of the last. It's the most comfortable saddle i've had. Weighs in at 4lbs, has a single sliding d, has attachable butt seat, comfortable leg straps, and was well worth the $300. The new tribe work saddle is another winner, leg straps are super supportive and no pinchin'
in the vital areas.

 

[Lumberjack]

I use the Black Widow Line and it is great for pulling or lowering medium limbs, if you can use an 8 or wrap it around the limb in the natural crotch. I like that it doesn't weigh very much and is very strong. I tie a butterfly for a hande on the rope.


Carl

 

[rbtree]

Spectra is very soft and not very abrasion resistant, so I would not recommend using it in a natural crotch unless the tree is smooth barked.

 

[Lumberjack]

It seems that when my blackck widow pulls tight and I haven't hade any problem with it snaging the fibers. Also Sherrill list the Black Widow as excellent abrasion resistance. It actually cuts into the limb on some removals.


Carl

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

It looks like AmSteel with the caoting on the yarns prior to being woven.

We used it a lot in VA for pulls and quick rigging.

For anything where you would be taking some weight, i would not like it, too small. 700# SWL and 180ft + bag is like 3 # It's a neat too lo keep in the truck. I might try to get a longer section of it.

 

[MasterBlaster]

No, I never got it. Lumberjack did, he said he liked it. I think I can do without it.

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

Originally posted by rbtree
Spectra is very soft and not very abrasion resistant, so I would not recommend using it in a natural crotch unless the tree is smooth barked.

Also, it is less heat tolerant for such friction compared to nylon and polyester.

 

[a_lopa]

butch,im using 5/8 spearmint its probably the best work line ive used,great for crutch rigging and good on the groundies hands,i also have new england 1/2 but the 5/8 is better,you can use this line as a life line so before using it for rigging you have to whip each end.1/4 is too small.IMO

 

[a_lopa]

Originally posted by TheTreeSpyder
Also, it is less heat tolerant for such friction compared to nylon and polyester.

why have it then?

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by MasterBlaster
No, I never got it. Lumberjack did, he said he liked it. I think I can do without it.

I did and do like it, however I could also live without it. My most commonly used rope now is my 200' piece of saftey blue, which i use alot for natural crotch rigging.

I also seem to use my 5/8" double braid alot recently...

Personally I would rather have 2 150' pieces of Safteyt Pro (a real good rope for natural crotches, IMO, but sherrill didnt sell it in 200' hanks, so i had to get the saftey blue, which is holdin up well.) for $174 than one 180' piece of Black Widow for $180.

I still think that Black Widow would make an awesome bail out(such as a bucket ect..) kit that packs really small, but I find its uses deminishing in the standard day to day work.