I'm getting ready to buy my first lowering device and have been shopping around. One of the sites lists an ISC port-a-wrap for $125.00 and a buckingham port-a-wrap III for $150. The two devices are quite similar in appearance and rated workload, the former lists a WLL of 1.1 ton and the latter 1 ton. Are there significant differances in performance or ease of use? I've seen the merits of the port-a-wrap lauded repeatedly on all the boards but now i'm afraid i may be confused as to which one everyone's referring to. Also, are there other similar devices i should be looking at?Thanks in advance for your input.
ISC Port-a-wrap vs. Buckingham pot-a-wrap III
- Thread starter Timbeaux
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treemandan
Tree Freak
I imagine either would be about the same.
mattfr12
The Bulldog
ive used both thier almost identical in how they work and thier limits. i personally like the buckingham better it is alot simpler design and works just as well if not better. every company i have worked for used the buckingham.
in my mind a port a wrap is a must have for any tree company it just makes life some much easier wraping a trunk takes to much time and just beats up your rope.
as far as equipment it was one of my best investments other than the GRCS system
in my mind a port a wrap is a must have for any tree company it just makes life some much easier wraping a trunk takes to much time and just beats up your rope.
as far as equipment it was one of my best investments other than the GRCS system
Last edited:
John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
Large - 3/4” Capacity - 2,000 lb. WLL $127.00
The Al model will dissipate heat better, but will also wear faster. I like the large PWIII powder coat steel, the above is from the Wespur catalog
http://images.google.com/images?q=port a wrap III
Thanks. That's the one i was looking at. On a related note, as i said earlier, this is my first lowering device. I've always used natural-crotch and wrapped the trunk. Does the use of a lowering device always call for a block in the tree or is it still ok to use a matural crotch at times?
gr8scott72
Addicted to ArboristSite
Large - 3/4” Capacity - 2,000 lb. WLL $127.00
The Al model will dissipate heat better, but will also wear faster. I like the large PWIII powder coat steel, the above is from the Wespur catalog
http://images.google.com/images?q=port a wrap III
I Just bought one and love it. I got the Nickel plated one in the size shown here. Also got it from Wesspur. Was about $200 with a whoppie sling and a carabiner in with it.
I've used it a few times to tie off to the front of the skid steer grapple. Makes it much quicker than trying to tie a knot and is much easier to pull loose after.
gr8scott72
Addicted to ArboristSite
Natural crotches still work fine.
John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
As stated above, crotches are fine most of the time. With big wood you may be more likely to burn the rope though. I like to lace the rope through several small crotches so that there is a small amount of friction at several dispersed locations to keep the rope cooler. I find that it is when you have one long contact surface is where ropes get damaged.
Spend the extra money and buy the nickle plated devices. Better heat dissipation than paint, no rusting at all, and it won't melt or wear off, either.
I have never seen a nickle plated variety that didn't still look brand new. (I'm sure they exist somewhere)
I have never seen a nickle plated variety that didn't still look brand new. (I'm sure they exist somewhere)
gr8scott72
Addicted to ArboristSite
I'm glad to hear this. I just bought the nickel plated one because it just seemed to be the best one. I had no prior experience. It was just a guess.
John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
I never had problems with rust on my powder coat, and the good thing about the wear-marks is that new-bees can tell which way to wrap it 
I don't think my newbies are smart enough to read the rope-trails in the paint.
When I bought my port-a-wrap a while back, and started making the crew take it with them every day, it did me no good at all. One day I came up on our crew trying to do some ignorant rigging, using our 12k crane to lower a big limb (in a particularly stupid way, too).
After much yelling and gesticulation, the port-a-wrap was put into use, and OTJ training was provided again. Easy job, no tricks whatsoever.
When I bought my port-a-wrap a while back, and started making the crew take it with them every day, it did me no good at all. One day I came up on our crew trying to do some ignorant rigging, using our 12k crane to lower a big limb (in a particularly stupid way, too).
After much yelling and gesticulation, the port-a-wrap was put into use, and OTJ training was provided again. Easy job, no tricks whatsoever.
