Climbing Knots

[G.I. tree guy]

I am presently using a blakehitch on a split-tail climbing system.I am thinking about changing to a closed knot(Prusik or Klemhiest).Do they function smoother?Can 1/2in. line be used or is smaller diameter rope a must? Any advice would be appreciated. THANK YOU.

 

[Rob Murphy]

Knots

Have you tried
http://community-1.webtv.net/acutabovetree/RopesSplicingKnots/
Do you have a copy of 'The Tree Climbers Companion" a must have text, handy in the field.
Spyder post him some old threads ...you keep up with all that.
Hope this helps mate!

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Welcome to the site. This is a really common question, we kick it around about twice a month. go back a couple of weeks in the archives and look for any related threads. There is a really long one on the "Blake's hitch"

The search feature will keep you reading for a while.

tom

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

They all work fine if made well in 1/2" line, the evolution for smoothness etc. goes beyond the Blake's i beleive is the general opinion. For me that stops at the distal, others have other pre-refrences, even MM!

i am wondering if we can get some reaction here form the 'usual suspects', as we step towards a referal list for some questions answered many times in many ways:
{http://www.arboristsite.com//showthread.php?s=&postid=43040}




why blakes over taut line? :
{http://www.arboristsite.com//showthread.php?s=&threadid=4726}

Distal - Swaybish problem ??? :
{http://www.arboristsite.com//showthread.php?s=&threadid=4310}

French Prussik :
{http://www.arboristsite.com//showthread.php?s=&threadid=4031}

knot question :
{http://www.arboristsite.com//showthread.php?s=&threadid=3461}

schwabisch vs. distal :
{http://www.arboristsite.com//showthread.php?s=&threadid=3547}

schwabisch prusicks :
{http://www.arboristsite.com//showthread.php?s=&threadid=2359}

SRT:{http://www.arboristsite.com//showthread.php?s=&threadid=4313}

Clove/girth lacings {http://www.arboristsite.com//showthread.php?s=&threadid=3281}

Frenchy:
{http://www.arboristsite.com//showthread.php?s=&threadid=3118}

Tree Climbing Tips:
{http://www.arboristsite.com//showthread.php?s=&threadid=1039}

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I think the next step in friction hitch is a distal or swabish.

I tried the various MT/VT styles and was not happy with the mechanics.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

dist-E-l not dist-A-l as I was corrected by Hubert...

Tom

 

[Kevin]

I use the Distal tied with kernmantle cord on my flip line and use 1/2" rope for my climbing hitch.
I`m very pleased with it.

 

[Nickrosis]

No one listens.

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

Huh?

 

[Nickrosis]

Tom writes: dist-E-l
Kevin writes: Distal

Just wanted to be discreet...kind of a side thing, if you know what I mean...

 

[Kevin]

I don`t know Hubert and Tom needs tweaking every now and then.

 

[Nickrosis]

Well, what's correct and who's to say it is?

 

[Kevin]

It`s Distel.
I read it in Sherrills catalog.

 

[Nickrosis]

Distel it is. If Sherrill says so...

 

[Kevin]

I don`t remember seeing it in the Tree Climbers Companion, is it that new ?

 

[FSburt]

I just changed from a using a Blakes to a Distel yesterday and am pleased as punch with how smooth and easily it slides up but will lock securely and decends very nice without locking up. Tried the swabisch but it locked up too much so for now i'll stick with the Distel for my lifeline and lanyard. Question? Is Bluewater static line too stiff to climb on I heard in another thread that you need some dynamic qualities in case of a fall makes sense to me.

 

[coydog]

I remember reading some stats either on this forum or another concerning the destructive force on the body caused by falling with a static line, would be interesting if anybody remembers, to my recollection it was pretty alarming, a fairly short fall can cause some pretty massive internal injuries, particularly to the back and kidneys. The only time I climb on static or semistatic line is if I gaff up a stem for removal, set a rigging rope, and descend with a munter hitch, and I'm sure I'll catch flak for admitting I do that

 

[Nickrosis]

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?threadid=2950&highlight=blair+rule

Look where you see Tom Dunlap writing about the Blair Rule of Thumb...also referred to on this site as the Blair ROT.

 

[rbtree]

Actually, coydog, tree climbing lifelines are kind of in between static and dynamic.
Ours stretch under bodyweight between 1.1 and about 1.6%. I'm not sure of the stretch at break figures, but think it is around 20-30%.
Dynamic mt climb rope stretches 5-8% under load, and up to 70% at break. They are designed to absorb energy in any length fall to well below the danger level.

Thus, I would not want to take a factor 2 fall on tree line. That is, a fall from x feet above a tie in to x feet below.

Static caving, top roping lines stretch under about 8% at break. Spectra lines at under 5%.

Most of the specs are available on the web, at mfr's sites, I've read them, but am rusty on specifics...

 

[hillbilly]

Nice thread you referenced to Nickrosis, I always wondered
when that discussion was gonna put up, thanks.