Help with a small block

[clifforion]

Hi there I have a question I hope I can get some opinions on. While I am at work I use a bucket truck 100% of the time, and we use a cmi 3/4 block for all our rigging ( even with 1/2 rope). 99% of the time we just set the block under a branch notch and let it fall, or we do the normal blocking of the pole. I have now started to climb on the weekends and most of the trees I have been doing are small ( I know small by some of you people mean big by others!) I did a birch the other day that was 16" dbh and it tapered really quick as it went up by the time I got up in it I think the biggest branch couldn't have been over 6" prob. closer to 4", by the time I walked out on the branches I had to and cut there was no weight left. I know a lot of people would say cut and throw.....eh I have done that and can, just would rather rope stuff. I have been using a cheaper "pulley" that I got when I ordered my spurs ( from a reputable site that a lot of people use) and its been holding up good so far, but.....not sure for how long. I was wondering what others use for the small stuff other than an arborist block? I don't want to spend a million dollars but I don't want to use what I have been using either. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time, Keith
Edit: Sorry I just read my post again and it was vague as to my question I think.. I want to still block stuff and drop branches like I do at work but use a lot lighter block/pulley and was wondering what would hold up to "small/light" shock loads. Sorry about the vagueness, Keith

 

[dts99]

i use the 4 inch aluminum sheeve pully from cmi, its like $70 it can handle a good bit. i usually have that and a few loop runners i take with my 1/2 line. i also use it for a redirect off my bigger block when angles get to crazy, or you can take a half hitch or just natual crotch. like most people do

 

[Pelorus]

I'm using a small Rock Exotica Omni swivel block attached to a short 1/2" dia rope lanyard for light rigging.
It works nice.

 

[Blakesmaster]

Natural crotch. Quick and easy. Way less gear. For light duty rigging I use old climb lines so I'm not exactly worried about abrasion.

 

[Kottonwood]

Natural crotch. Quick and easy. Way less gear. For light duty rigging I use old climb lines so I'm not exactly worried about abrasion.

I use a rescue pulley from cmi on a homemade tubular webbing sling for light duty rigging. I also just use the sling and a steel caribiner frequently. Works great. Also natural crotching is a tried and true method. No need to be carrying a block up a tree unless you are riggin big. Know (and abide by) the limits of your gear and it should last you a long time.

 

[benn]

Pinto Rig pulley!

 

[clifforion]

wow lots of good advice

Wow got a lot advice thanks everyone for your input. I never really gave much thought to natural crotch rigging due to having double braid ropes, which I have always heard really shouldn't be used for natural crotches. But if I bought a cheaper rope might be the same cost as pulley and sling and would prob. work just as well or better, and be lighter. Thanks everyone for all your great input wasn't really sure what anyone else used for the small stuff now I have a few ideas for both pulleys or just natural crotch. Thank you all Keith
Edit: I didn't put it in my response but I was looking at 3 strand rope in one of the catalogs (it is cheap!) and was wondering if that would work for natural crotches or would a 12+stand work better? Thank you all again!

 

[Garden Of Eden]

3strand for natural crotch for me. Also, I use the cmi block, not the pulley. Love mine.

Jeff

 

[Tree Pig]

small stuff that can not be bombed Ill either natural crotch or use the 4" cmi as mentioned. Works well you can attach it fast with a webbing sling and a biner, cant go wrong for the money... also works well to set up mechanical advantages and what not.

Tree Stuff - CMI RP107 Heavy Duty 5/8" Rope Pulley

 

[no tree to big]

check out double esterlon its a double braid and works pretty well in natural crotch apps(braided much tighter then most) I think wesspur is the only place that carries it that I've seen. if you plan on using the 3 strand with a porty at all you'll hate yourself it twists up real bad and gets kinks in it

 

[clifforion]

So many good responses

I have the yale double esterlon(sp) and use that with a cheaper pulley from wesspur, it works great honestly but like I said earlier..the problem is not sure how long this pulley is going to last. I have a nylon sling I use so I am not worried about bombing huge loads into the pulley, or rope. I like my set up a lot just when I ordered it I didn't want huge block and had a small job to do for a friend so it worked great at the time. I know that I could natural crotch the rope I have but right now its the only rope I have so I really didn't want to do that. I am just getting started with my own gear so that was why I was trying to get some ideas. I don't want to buy something and have to replace it or get something else to compliment it, kind of like I already did. I don't do any huge removals mostly just small stuff. I have kinda a bum elbow and shoulder so I really don't want to cut and throw stuff like some people plus if possible I do like to keep both hands on the saw due to my elbow. I think the best bet right now would be to just to get one of the above mentioned pulleys, that seems like a pretty good consensus, but then again knowing me to get the free shipping I might get some 3 strand rope and the pulley and see if the natural crotch or false crotch is better for me lol. No really the next order I do I really think I going to get the cmi pulley and more climbing gear to get the free shippin. Thank you all again for your time and efforts Keith

 

[oscar4883]

I have used rescue pulleys in the past but ditched them in favor of a sling and steel biner. For the loads I use it for I am not worried about the sewn sling or the bend radius. The sling and biner is always with me and works great for redirecting the rigging line when used with a block as well. For a block I have the steel CMI version. Great for the price. A little file/dremel work rounded the edges nice. I natural crotch a lot but the IMO one of the best things about a block and lowering device being installed is the consistency. With a good climber dictating the number of wraps to be taken even an inexperienced groundman can run ropes very well. The CMI rescue pulleys are nice though. For the 250 bucks or so the Port-a-Wrap and block cost I can't imagine how so many guys work without them in my area.