Couple Homemade Porta-wraps

[oldirty]

The ratcheting bollard Hobbs requires a bar be inserted into slots in the capstan for tensioning/lifting. Appx 17-1 mech advantage. pretty much requires two men. Works well with 3/4 inch line and smaller. Best for lowering heavy loads.

GRCS utilizes a 46-1 two speed self tailing Harken winch. Far superior to the Hobbs for all tree work but heavy wood lowering. Comes with a fixed bollard for heavy work--which doesn't allow tensioning the line, so the Hobbs is still best if tensioning is desired.

I have both.

thanks for the info bud.


are these tools something that you wouldnt be able to go without?

and why do you own both? different applications?

thanks

 

[Bigus Termitius]

Nice work.

My contact with the electric co-op that I'm contracted is a working forestry and ROW specialist with 25 years experience that I intend to glean from. He built one similar a couple of weeks ago for me, but he gave me his trusty older unit since he hadn't tested the new one yet.

Nice gift.

He tells me he has held half of hell with it, LOL, but I know it has its limitations.

I have yet to use it for myself. Maybe this week.

I'm looking forward to building one someday as well, but that's on the back burner right next to rope splicing.

 

[Nailsbeats]

Nice work.

My contact with the electric co-op that I'm contracted is a working forestry and ROW specialist with 25 years experience that I intend to glean from. He built one similar a couple of weeks ago for me, but he gave me his trusty older unit since he hadn't tested the new one yet.

Nice gift.

He tells me he has held half of hell with it, LOL, but I know it has its limitations.

I have yet to use it for myself. Maybe this week.

I'm looking forward to building one someday as well, but that's on the back burner right next to rope splicing.

Rope splicing; yeah, I could see doing that when I'm 50, kind of like knitting isn't it. lol

Hey Oldirty, I found something I can't do.......yet. HaHa.

Actually it seems far off, but I will probably find a need for it and master it in the next five years. The list of things that you can learn and do yourself is endless.

 

[2FatGuys]

Here's a picture of the steel porta-wraps me and my brother wipped up. We fabbed these with high expectations, since many on here use them. Steel for strength, red for visibility. I think they should work fine. What do you think?[/IMG]

Nails - That is an awesome job! Way to save some $$$ and probably have a little fun doing it too. If you ever want to have someone else "test" them for you, let me know...

 

[Nailsbeats]

Nails - That is an awesome job! Way to save some $$$ and probably have a little fun doing it too. If you ever want to have someone else "test" them for you, let me know...

Save money is right. I saw the price on the factory ones and just about sh1t myself. It was ridiculous. Of course the family size of Bushes beans I ate the night before didn't help either. lol.

 

[2FatGuys]

Save money is right. I saw the price on the factory ones and just about sh1t myself. It was ridiculous. Of course the family size of Bushes beans I ate the night before didn't help either. lol.

I about did the same when I saw the price on the factory ones. Why do you think I'm offering to be your personal testing agency?!?!?

Could I hide the begging any better?

 

[oldirty]

That's about the same reaction that I had when I read about your first spikeless climb!

lol

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

No. I have seen them and we are kind of kicking the idea of getting the GRCS around.

Just bring me up there for a couple of days

are these tools something that you wouldnt be able to go without?

I do not use my GRCS every day, but it gets used a couple times a week.

Does anyone actually use the smallest one?

I've used them up in the tops when groundies are unskilled and I need to self rig. They rung better then and 8 or carrabiner and munter

 

[Magnum783]

Nails if you want to make sure those are in tip top shape you can take them to be x-rayed. I built my own bollard like the one Kumerling sells and when I built it I took it over to the local gas line shop and they x-rayed it for me. I had one little pice of slag in the peg but never did anything with it. Not a weight bearing place. X-raying an item is quite picky but I figured it was worth it.
Jared

 

[pdqdl]

Loose the paint !

I think you will regret having painted them. All that paint will come off on the ropes, and it will add friction and heat until it wears off.

Paint also will slow the cooling rate, but that probably would never matter. You'd have to really be dropping a lot of wood real fast to overheat a rigging device.

What kind of steel and welding rod did you use ? If only mild steel, cold rolled: don't be surprised if you bend it every now & then.

 

[Nailsbeats]

I think you will regret having painted them. All that paint will come off on the ropes, and it will add friction and heat until it wears off.

Paint also will slow the cooling rate, but that probably would never matter. You'd have to really be dropping a lot of wood real fast to overheat a rigging device.

What kind of steel and welding rod did you use ? If only mild steel, cold rolled: don't be surprised if you bend it every now & then.

Yeah I know the paint isn't going to stay on, but aren't the factory ones painted?

The straight rods were TIG welded into place and the bent rod was MIG welded with flux core to the 3" pipe. We'll test it and inspect, I ain't afraid to throw them in the scrap bin and make new ones. Cold rolled is pretty tuff, we'll see.

 

[pdqdl]

The one I have (factory made), has some sort of electroplated, shot-peened finish on it. A very predictable, relatively high friction, surface. Pretty cool stuff, actually.

No paint, though.

 

[Nailsbeats]

That gives me an idea, I should just sandblast those babies. Good, even friction surface. Oh yeah I'm all over that.

 

[Magnum783]

I must see you laboratory their nails. It seems as thought you have a never ending supply of tools. You have got to be a hoot to hang out with. I think I would ponder the idea of taking a trip to Michigan just to hang out with nails and friends.
Jared

 

[oldirty]

I think I would ponder the idea of taking a trip to Michigan just to hang out with nails and friends.
Jared

i dont think you are going to get an invite to hang with him now that you have insulted him with the michigan comment.

he's a cheesehead through and through.

lol

 

[eljefe]

Reply to tree MDS

Hi, Yes, I learned of Magna Fluxing when there I was next door to a business that built motors-race car, hot rod, street rod, etc. They had a Magna Fluxing machine which I fooled around with it a bit. Over the years I have tried several modifications to my Klein back and butt seat belt. My latest is to counteract the way it pinches my legs together when I am ascending on the line- I use a triple crown knot on an accender for my feet and a kleimheist for the belt. I put a piece of circut board (epoxy glass board), about 14 inches long on the butt seat and taped it in place. This keeps the butt seat from pinching my legs together. I found the tape was too slick and I tended to slip off the thing. Not too good. I took a piece of webbing and girth hitched it in the middle of the butt seat and then each end up to the D ring and clove hitched it to the D ring. This way I can not slide out of the butt seat. I found that the tension of the webbing up to the D rings works better that expected and it really works very well. I stay more balanced in the belt while ascending. I covered the ends of the circuit board with leather underneath the tape to keep them from abrading the fabric of the butt seat.
I do see your point that if one D breaks you are still held by the other. Unless it is one of the flipline Ds and no other line at the time. That will be a wild ride! Still I'd not care to have it happen when throttled up with the saw. I think I will take my own advice and have my belt and spurs checked. Ah, the days of big block Fords and Chevys!
ElJefe

 

[Nailsbeats]

I must see you laboratory their nails. It seems as thought you have a never ending supply of tools. You have got to be a hoot to hang out with. I think I would ponder the idea of taking a trip to Michigan just to hang out with nails and friends.
Jared

Mag, the sadblaster I speak of, I built that too.

If you are in Michigan just hang a left and you will find me in Wisconsin. Come on over, the beer is authentic and cold!

Oh yeah and that's Nails and friend, just one.

 

[Bigus Termitius]

I think he took the W and flipped it in his mind from being so awestruck by the multi-talented Nailmeister.

Mine came without paint, though I considered throwing a light coat on for protection and visibility knowing that the ropes would polish their domain.

 

[Magnum783]

Mag, the sadblaster I speak of, I built that too.

If you are in Michigan just hang a left and you will find me in Wisconsin. Come on over, the beer is authentic and cold!

Oh yeah and that's Nails and friend, just one.

I am sorry about the Michigan comment, I don't know what I was thinking. MY bad and I apologize. Even better Wisconsin, I have been their lot ridding snowmobile which is one of my favorite past times. Wow you built your sandblaster too, post pics of that my dad and I built one and it sucked. Didn't work worth a hoot, it took way to much air pressure to work it. It worked fine if you had in on like a construction type screw compressor but anything else not going to happen. You are quick the pro, do you have a degree or some sort of formal education on welding or metal or have you just learned it over the years?
Jared

 

[Nailsbeats]

I am sorry about the Michigan comment, I don't know what I was thinking. MY bad and I apologize. Even better Wisconsin, I have been their lot ridding snowmobile which is one of my favorite past times. Wow you built your sandblaster too, post pics of that my dad and I built one and it sucked. Didn't work worth a hoot, it took way to much air pressure to work it. It worked fine if you had in on like a construction type screw compressor but anything else not going to happen. You are quick the pro, do you have a degree or some sort of formal education on welding or metal or have you just learned it over the years?
Jared

We finally had a good winter for snowmobiling this year. The last 10 or so haven't been much to speak of. I will try to get a pic of the blaster soon, if I remember to take the camera to work.

My full time job is a welder/fabricator/engineer/foreman. My family and another have built a fabrication business from the ground up. I have been welding a lot since I was 16 or so. I have built a lot of different things out of steel and aluminum. I learned everything on the job.

My education is in Electrical Power Distribution.

My favorite work is tree work. I have done that my whole life.

I like to do everything I can myself, keeps it interesting . Most jobs have things in common with other jobs. A lot of skills cross over. When I want a piece of equipment I first see if it is cost effective to build, most of the time it is. Then I plan the job, attack and complete. Save money and learn at the same time. I have a lot more pics of stuff the put on here, just waiting for the right time. You are right though, it all takes tools.