bungee saw lanyards?

[imagineero]

Hi all,
just wondering how many are climbing with these. I've always just used a straight webbing style lanyard, 4' long with an eye in each end. I've seen a lot of these bungee style lanyards on websites lately though I've never seen one in person and wondering if they're worth having. Specifically I'm looking at the Dale Jury lanyard pro.

How do these things actually work, does the saw end up just bouncing up and down like a yoyo? That sounds pretty annoying! I'm guessing that it hangs pretty well at full length but retracts a bit while you've got the saw in hand to stop all the slack getting in your way. If so I'd imagine the tension is pretty critical ; too much and you're fighting it to reach out for a cut, too little and it wont be of any use.

Opinions?

Shaun

 

[derwoodii]

Used one a while back, I can see the advantage but oddly it kept gettin in my way as it curled up. Also felt wrong in ma hands, never sure it was right as I slipped saw down. Still have a go may suit you, but not me. I much prefer my long serving loop end webbing as we have grown to know each other well.

 

[winchman]

they work

This is the one to get:

Chainsaw Lanyard : SherrillTree Tree Care Equipment

I don't know about the one you are talking about, haven't used that one, but the one I linked to is the only style I use. Why breakaway? Because if the saw gets stuck in the back cut as the tree top goes over, your webbing sling doesn't end up pulling your saddle along with it.

The bungee action is minimal - you shouldn't let it hang all stretched out anyway, regardless of which one you buy. That is why there are two rings. The small ring at the end stays on your saddle, the large ring gets unclipped only when you are cutting. That way it doesn't get stretched out, or hang like 5' below your belt.

The breakaway style is great, but if you are in the (bad) habit of dropping your saw after you finish a backcut, it may not be for you. My climber, who is still learning, kept dropping the saw onto it as he would cut the top of the tree off, and the lanyard damned near broke away several times. You don't have to be dainty with the things, just understand how to use them correctly and they are great.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

They have good points and bad, I prefer the flat sewn ones, but can see reasons for using the break-away; beyond the safety aspect.

The biggest is wear & Tear on the saw, if the climber is the type who drops the saw onto the lanyard. I did that once with a 346 and broke a couple body mounts. was my favorite saw.

I too find that the curling of that style gets in my way, and the cover tends to catch on the cutters more often.

 

[TreeAce]

Let me see if I understand this...U guys are talking about just dropping the saw after making a cut, I am assuming a good sized cut, and just letn the poor saw drop to the end of the lanyard!! And just bang against the tree? I would b horrified if someone did that on my job or with my saw anywhere. Please tell me i am misunderstanding this.

 

[winchman]

dropping the saw

Treeace,
Believe me, I was not pleased when my new climber did it. He ended up only slightly messing up the 346 (sorry to hear about your worse luck JPS), the throttle cable got disconnected -quick fix.

Dropping the saw into the lanyard is not a suggested practice, but I was still training the guy to not get scared when the top goes over. He was panicking, dropping it, thinking that the elastic was there to absorb the shock of dropping it. I corrected him, he stopped doing it.

Not good, don't do it, don't suggest it, I wouldn't.

 

[TreeAce]

Treeace,
Believe me, I was not pleased when my new climber did it. He ended up only slightly messing up the 346 (sorry to hear about your worse luck JPS), the throttle cable got disconnected -quick fix.

Dropping the saw into the lanyard is not a suggested practice, but I was still training the guy to not get scared when the top goes over. He was panicking, dropping it, thinking that the elastic was there to absorb the shock of dropping it. I corrected him, he stopped doing it.

Not good, don't do it, don't suggest it, I wouldn't.

LOL..I got ya...I was alittle confused about the "type of climber" part. I know I have let go of a lanyard alittle early before . Mostly when roping down a big spar.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

My primary climbing saw is the 020, which takes a lickin. I normally will hit the break, grab the lanyard and let go of the saw, then lower it onto the lanyard. Sometimes I want two hands right away and expediency calls for dropping the saw. Not that I would do this with the 385 x 30in bar...

 

[RacerX]

I use a break away bungee lanyard just like the one winchman posted. It's nice not having 5' of slack hanging around to get caught up on stuff like you would with a straight lanyard. If you're using a 200T or 020T the attachment point on the saw is rated to breakaway so a breakaway lanyard isn't necessary.

 

[Arbor Vision]

In certain situations I have pulled saw out of cut and simultaneously turned it off and let go of it and catch the lanyard right behind the saw, then let slide threw my hand until it comes to full length and hangs......I can do all of this in like a second or two...do this when I need both hands right after i make a cut. don't think a hunger lanyard would work well doing this, I considered buying one but don't think it would allow me to do my free hands saw drop without jarring my saw.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

In certain situations I have pulled saw out of cut and simultaneously turned it off and let go of it and catch the lanyard right behind the saw, then let slide threw my hand until it comes to full length and hangs......I can do all of this in like a second or two...do this when I need both hands right after i make a cut.

That is my general MO for cut-n-chuck or pushing a piece off.

I like the very long lanyards, because i like the running saw below my feet. With a 39 inch inseam....

 

[tree md]

I have been using one for about 4 or 5 years now. Very rarely do I drop a saw anymore. Usually only when I am caught off guard by something and have to get rid or the saw quickly to use my hands. Can't remember the last time I dropped one. I use it like Winchman as well. Normally I will just clip it back into the aluminum biner that I hang it from on my saddle when I am finished making a cut. I have grown to love the bungee lanyard. I did have one break away onetime when my 200 got caught in the kerf of a chunk I was bombing(rookie mistake). It broke away just as it is designed to do. Thankfully I was not too far off the ground and my 200 was unharmed. Before the bungee lanyard I was using a dog leash that was light enough to break away. Wouldn't want to go back to that.

I prefer to let the larger saws hang as I don't like to clip them to my saddle. You can see my 044 hanging from it here:

 

[squad143]

It does not matter which saw I'm using, they all get the 2-in-1 Chainsaw Lanyard (the one Sherrill sells). I like them.

Just don't leave them on the saw while you're bucking wood on the ground or they'll end up as a 2 peice chain saw lanyard.

 

[Panama]

It does not matter which saw I'm using, they all get the 2-in-1 Chainsaw Lanyard (the one Sherrill sells). I like them.

Just don't leave them on the saw while you're bucking wood on the ground or they'll end up as a 2 peice chain saw lanyard.

+1 The lanyard on the saw means it does not get used on the ground, ever.
I have had the 460 unclip and fall onto the bungee lanyard once, and it held. Replaced it (the lanyard, not the saw) that night.

 

[tomtrees58]

thear a pain to short get a 48" or better

 

[JohnH]

I use one and like them. The guys at work use them too. If you drop a saw at work without one on you own the saw. We dont have a lot of droped saws anymore.