Good Ole Tire

[Tom Dunlap]

Troll-ing

You're getting lots of good advice here. I've never had the need for any kind of shock absorber but I like the thoughts that are being shared. Spydey's pics are always interesting.

You asked what a Troll is. The term has some different connotations. First, think of someone riding in a boat with a bait on their line slowly dragging it along in hopes that something will bite and they will get a BIG reaction. Now, think what happens when someone posts a, seemingly, innocent thread in the hopes of stirring up a fire storm for no purpose than to make a fuss. That's a troll too.

Now, think about those ugly, nasty, stinky creatures that live under the bridge and reach up to grab you. If you're careful and stay in the middle of the bridge you would stay out of reach of those nasty trolls.

Either connotation, stay away from Trolls unless you want to get a bad reputation. You picked up on the fact that Trolls aren't something positive.

Tom

 

[TREETX]

The thing being missed in these threads is using a good "Ground Man". I mean a professional, not just labor to hold a rope, drag brush, and be an underling to the climber.

One of the guys I regularly use as a ground man is also a good climber. He is very seasoned but not as fast as I am. That means he runs the ropes. He has an understanding of what it is like to be up in a dead tree with questionable integrity and have an idiot that doesn't let the rope run.

We removed a large dead oak last week. Poetry in motion, I would tie off and drop big pieces, he would let it run and lower it fast without even the slightest sway in the tree.

A good ground man eliminates a lot of this discussion for the need of a shock absorber type device.

 

[Lumberjack]

I just ran it out. I had 1 guy in the basket, and I ran the rope. I worked fine. I think I have a seperate idea that yall may like better, involving 2 portties.

Carl

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

i think that the properly ranged 'snubber rubber' would expect a 500# load, and be stiff enough not to give until dynamic load of 1250+#; too compressed to buffer anymore @ 3000# or whatever. Anyway, if the spikes can be clipped from the loading graph the instant they happen; things would be safer, lines would have higher cycles of use to failures etc. And possibly make a great groundman better!

Realistically as is pointeds out, proper setup, good groundman (and mostly dynamic lines); intelligent free falling etc. tackles most jobs without such extravegances. Though, in higher loading or some super convenient form, the dynamic buffering idea has merit IMLHO. It is used too many loading points in industry not too...

Orrrrr something like that!

:alien:

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

About those tight crotches...

If the leads seperating have you concerned, justt ake a rope up there and tie them together. If they can't peel apart, they should be pretty strong.

Did you say if the tree was dead? Dead pines best not be climbed. If you do need to climb one and it's bark is loose, the support the tree with three guy ropes so it can't fall over with you in it.

One more thing, if you want to be a pro, you gotta act like one. Put the tire back on your rusty ford escort work truck and use the proper tools.