I use a figure 8 as a rigging device to lower smaller limbs with retired arbor plex. I only have 120' of it though and want a 200' rope to lower further. I'm interested in the tenex tec because of price and break strength. Just wondering if anyone has tried using it to lower limbs with a figure 8 and could tell me if it would work as good as the arbor plex.
Figure 8, Tenex Tec, Rigging Question
- Thread starter jtc16
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Pretty much nothing works WELL with a figure of 8 as a friction break.. Tenex TEC picks extremely easily, and has very little stretch. Probably better for slings. But.. That's not to say it WONT work. Just won't work well.
JeffGu
Antagonist/Heckler
Tenex-TEC will flatten out too much, as well. A low cost 12-strand SOLID braid like Forestry Pro (All Gear) will work for you, but really... you should consider the AFB TS-1 or the Rig 'N Wrench for doing this. The figure 8 is too hard on ropes... the bend radius is terrible.
Forestry Pro is $130 for 200' and for $30 more you can get two sewn eyes on it.
Rig 'N Wrench is $200 and is very easy for a climber to lower pieces to the ground (you will still need somebody to unhook the load so you can pull the rope back up). Virtually no friction pulling rope up, you can even lift with it. I usually use it as a redirect, with the Omni-Block 2.6 as the main block.
AFB is also $200 and is a little harder to pull back up, especially with 3 wraps. I've lowered pieces that were several hundred pounds with it, with 3 wraps. Don't negative block with it, though. It really isn't designed for those kind of shock loads, if the pieces are over about 200 lbs.
I use both devices with Forestry Pro, Arbormaster, and XTC (all 1/2") and with Sterling Atlas (9/16") ropes.
Forestry Pro is $130 for 200' and for $30 more you can get two sewn eyes on it.
Rig 'N Wrench is $200 and is very easy for a climber to lower pieces to the ground (you will still need somebody to unhook the load so you can pull the rope back up). Virtually no friction pulling rope up, you can even lift with it. I usually use it as a redirect, with the Omni-Block 2.6 as the main block.
AFB is also $200 and is a little harder to pull back up, especially with 3 wraps. I've lowered pieces that were several hundred pounds with it, with 3 wraps. Don't negative block with it, though. It really isn't designed for those kind of shock loads, if the pieces are over about 200 lbs.
I use both devices with Forestry Pro, Arbormaster, and XTC (all 1/2") and with Sterling Atlas (9/16") ropes.
What're your thoughts on Atlas, Gu? I love sterling products, but have heard mixed reviews. (On Atlas)
JeffGu
Antagonist/Heckler
I use it when I need something that handles shock loading well... Atlas does. I've heard complaints that it hockles worse than other ropes. About the same as any other rigging doublebraid rope with a nylon core, as near as I can tell. Lay it out behind you, away from the friction brake, and smooth it out as you're doing this to take out any twist. Like you should do with any other rope. I have also heard that it doesn't handle natural crotch rigging very well. No kidding. Neither does any other doublebraid rope. Actually, neither does any rope, period. It's not exactly easy on any of them. But, if you gotta rig that way, then buy a decent three-strand, polyester rope for that. Nothing compares to them for abrasion resistance with natural crotch rigging. But be prepared for the load spinning. You'll want a tag line on most large branch loads.
Overall, I like the rope a lot. It's very tough and handles shock loading better than the polyester 1/2" ropes I use so much. People sometimes complain about things because it didn't perform like they expected, and often it's because they bought the wrong product for the wrong reasons. Like complaining about what a lousy stump grinder a lawn mower makes. Or how their toaster oven couldn't keep up with heating the whole house last winter. There is no single rope that fills every need... that's a pipe dream.
Overall, I like the rope a lot. It's very tough and handles shock loading better than the polyester 1/2" ropes I use so much. People sometimes complain about things because it didn't perform like they expected, and often it's because they bought the wrong product for the wrong reasons. Like complaining about what a lousy stump grinder a lawn mower makes. Or how their toaster oven couldn't keep up with heating the whole house last winter. There is no single rope that fills every need... that's a pipe dream.
Fair enough. The hockling and milking were the negatives I'd heard of. I'm a double braid man, myself. For rings or blocks. I use ½" 16's rig wrenching, and I find they hold up well to natural crotching if they're not running a mile. Thanks for the input.
JeffGu
Antagonist/Heckler
Yeah, doublebraids milk... if the cover and core are two different materials, they seem to do it more. It's no big deal to me, I cut off the extra cover, re-melt the end and throw a bit of shrink tube on it.
The 16-strand climbing lines are the bomb with the RnW, I must agree.
The 16-strand climbing lines are the bomb with the RnW, I must agree.
I don't like the idea of tenex as a rigging line, especially through an eight, due to the melting point.
Thanks for the help. I think I may try the forestry pro. I don't know about the rigging wrench for my needs though. I work alone so I tie one end of rigging line in the tree then through a sling/biner attached to the limb then up through a rigging biner on another point and then down through the figure 8. Double soft lock it then cut the limb. That way I lower the limb then I can pull my line back up through the biner attached the sling on the limb. It might work I'll have to find a video about how its used.
