Mechanical Split tails

[YankeeinSC]

I've been employing more and more advanced technology to climbing over the past year or so. I've ditched the hitch entirely for pulleys b-lines and prussics. Haven't had spikes on in about three weeks now. I even ordered my most recent climb line with a factory spliced eye on one end to eliminate tie in knots as a potential failure point in my system and to help reduce clutter near my harness. I think I want to go the next step and purchase an A.R.T. (Advanced Ropeclimbing Technology) Spiderjack.

Gotta admit the near $500 entry price would buy a lot of b-lines and other tools, so sticker shock is an issue.

If you've made the technology transition and have used both traditional methods, or at least a simple split tail system and either a Lockjack or a Spiderjack made by A.R.T. (http://www.climb-art.com/english/spider.htm) I'd really like to hear your opinion before I spend the cash.

 

[MonkeyMan_812]

Ive thought about the spider jack but just never had the balls to spend the money. I watched a G. F Baranek video where he demonstrated all those things and it was very interesting. The V.T works good for me though.

 

[Cletis Oaks]

got one bout two months ago and its productive as hell. you do have to learn to trus

gott the spider jack and fell like a spoiled brat. no more double rope ascend just one end no tangleing a bit trickey bt youl get the hang of it if you got the cash to blow do it i promise you wont regret it :spiderman:

I've been employing more and more advanced technology to climbing over the past year or so. I've ditched the hitch entirely for pulleys b-lines and prussics. Haven't had spikes on in about three weeks now. I even ordered my most recent climb line with a factory spliced eye on one end to eliminate tie in knots as a potential failure point in my system and to help reduce clutter near my harness. I think I want to go the next step and purchase an A.R.T. (Advanced Ropeclimbing Technology) Spiderjack.

Gotta admit the near $500 entry price would buy a lot of b-lines and other tools, so sticker shock is an issue.

If you've made the technology transition and have used both traditional methods, or at least a simple split tail system and either a Lockjack or a Spiderjack made by A.R.T. (http://www.climb-art.com/english/spider.htm) I'd really like to hear your opinion before I spend the cash.

 

[TreEmergencyB]

Heres a video i found one day, guy named Joe Harris rips it up on a spiderjack, would love to try one out myself.

[video]http://youtu.be/GB0KZKADMTY[/video]

 

[TreeAce]

Heres a video i found one day, guy named Joe Harris rips it up on a spiderjack, would love to try one out myself.

[video]http://youtu.be/GB0KZKADMTY[/video]

That dude is OBV a good climber. No doubt better than me. Far better I am sure. BUT...I wanna see him navigate his way through a nasty Pin Oak full of deadwood. That tree he is in looks more like a day of sport climbing than a day of work. I just wonder if spiderjack would really be worth while in an actual work tree. It rare for me to climb anything that has been kept up on like that tree. I have a few clients who call every year or so and those trees are fun to work on. That spiderjack was being used under ideal conditions.

 

[TreEmergencyB]

That dude is OBV a good climber. No doubt better than me. Far better I am sure. BUT...I wanna see him navigate his way through a nasty Pin Oak full of deadwood. That tree he is in looks more like a day of sport climbing than a day of work. I just wonder if spiderjack would really be worth while in an actual work tree. It rare for me to climb anything that has been kept up on like that tree. I have a few clients who call every year or so and those trees are fun to work on. That spiderjack was being used under ideal conditions.

Indeed that tree looked like a gem to climb, would love to run around it my self, but the way the rope runs through smoothly with minimal tending is why i posted it.

Edit: them pin oaks are nasty, like 40 years old never been touched before, or been topped, i try to never navigate 'through' the dead wood. Gotta cut your way in and leave a lane to throw your cuts.

 

[Scrat]

Look into the differences for example:
the LockJack can be placed on the line at any point where the SpiderJack must have one end of the line passed through it, and not your spliced eye. The SpiderJack has a seperate brake lever.
My experience is very limited with them but I felt the LockJack was pretty much "all or nothing" in regard to control friction when descending and the SpiderJack definately was without the brake. I guess as you get used to it things improve....
Ascending and tending slack while limb walking appears to be awesome. I would like to get more time with the LockJack and see if I can get comfortable with it. If you know someone with them see if you can try them out.
Best Luck

 

[ronnyb]

I've been climbing on the Lockjack Sport for about 4 years now. it takes a little time to get the hang of it. Once you do you won't want to go back to any type of hitch. I climbed on the VT for about 3 years and there is no comparison for limbwalking with the LJ. Slack feeds right out. A little pricey, but definitely a good invesment. The SpiderJack can't be put on midline, so a disadvatage. Very smooth and consistant, no binding up like a knot.

 

[ropetek]

Look at the Unicender, more versitile tool IMO.

 

[the Aerialist]

LockJack, Unicender, Spiderjack ~ I have all three ...

I got a LockJack about three years ago and it works like a dream. This after trying out too many other mechanical climbing aids. I have a titainium Ushiba that I carry up with me for second TIPs when needed, but I've got a bunch of others that don't get much use since the LockJack.

I bought a Unicender this Winter with the idea of building an SRT climbing rig but ultimately went back to my trusty LockJack when the work started coming in.

Last week I finally bought a SpiderJack and I must say it gives phenomenal one handed control and is extremely compact. Not being able to put it on mid-line makes it slightly less versatile compared to the LockJack or Unicender but it's handling characteristics more than make up for that.

I've dedicated a 150' 12mm line with a tight eye to it and I just keep it on that line. I've used the SpiderJack on two major jobs so far, climbing over a dozen trees with it, most without spikes, but fully I expect it to use it every day, resigning the LockJack and Unicender to the gear box. It's that good.

 

[TreEmergencyB]

I got a LockJack about three years ago and it works like a dream. This after trying out too many other mechanical climbing aids. I have a titainium Ushiba that I carry up with me for second TIPs when needed, but I've got a bunch of others that don't get much use since the LockJack.

I bought a Unicender this Winter with the idea of building an SRT climbing rig but ultimately went back to my trusty LockJack when the work started coming in.

Last week I finally bought a SpiderJack and I must say it gives phenomenal one handed control and is extremely compact. Not being able to put it on mid-line makes it slightly less versatile compared to the LockJack or Unicender but it's handling characteristics more than make up for that.

I've dedicated a 150' 12mm line with a tight eye to it and I just keep it on that line. I've used the SpiderJack on two major jobs so far, climbing over a dozen trees with it, most without spikes, but fully I expect it to use it every day, resigning the LockJack and Unicender to the gear box. It's that good.

id really like to try them out sometime, shoot me a pm if you need a climber on a sat or something.

 

[VA-Sawyer]

Two questions,

Understand the SJ won't work SLT is that correct ?

Will the SJ work well with Poisin Ivy climb line at 12.7 mm ?

Rick

 

[the Aerialist]

The LockJack uses different "clutches" for different sizes of line ...

A key advantage that both the Unicender and SpiderJack have over the LockJack is that they can both be used on different sized line.

The LockJack needs the right sized line and over time the "clutch" wears down and needs to be replaced (~$35 US). You know when you need to do this because it will start to creep on you when it is worn.

 

[newsawtooth]

I've been using a Gri-Gri as a mechanical split tail recently. Not nearly as efficient as the pieces mentioned above. For under $100 though it is passable. With metal ringed friction savers it is pretty smooth. But if there is too much friction whilst natrual crotching it can be a little sticky. I'll have to try one of the others now.

 

[the Aerialist]

The LockJack and SpiderJack are DRT only ...

Two questions,

Understand the SJ won't work SLT is that correct ?

Will the SJ work well with Poisin Ivy climb line at 12.7 mm ?

Rick

Of the three, only the Unicender can work SRT, also a key difference is that the LJ and SJ should be attached as close to your harness as possible since you pull on the rope above the device to ascend. With the Unicender it's best to mount it on a tether, since you pull on the rope below the device to ascend.

As far as the rope you use the LockJack with a specific cam for the rope diameter, I use 1/2" rope so that is the cam I use. I bought 150' of Imori 12mm rope and the Lockjack wouldn't hold well on it.

Both the Unicender and the SpiderJack work well with different sized ropes, a major plus if you ask me. And both the LJ and SJ "flow" the rope through it better than the Uni. The SpiderJack is exceptionally good at this.

Another benefit of the Spiderjack is that it is very easy to control one handed using the wood braking lever along with the descending lever, and these can even be used without gloves or risk of rope burn on your hands. With the LockJack you can also use the wooden ball against the rope for braking, but you have to hold it just right or you risk rope burn on your hand.

The video posted here is what put me over the edge on the SpiderJack and so far it has been a great tool for climbing. I'm 63 years old and any device that can make climbing easier and faster for me is worth the money.

One caution about the SpiderJack is that if the decent lever gets pushed down by you or a limb you are going down. I did this with my arm while reaching for a limb and dropped a couple of feet before it locked up again. This doesn't happen with a LJ or Uni but the superb rope flow of the SpiderJack is worth the extra care needed to protect the descent lever from being inadvertently depressed.

All in all, in my opinion, the SpiderJack is by far the best device a climber can have. It has become my "go to" device after a week of using it.

 

[TreEmergencyB]

Worked with the Aerial Arborist today, got to try out all 3 of his mechanical split tails, by far the spidar jack was my favorite, Didnt like the unicender at all on a dbrt, prolly really shines on SRT. Also tried out the art positioner as a laynyard adjuster that was a sweet piece also. The spidar jack pair with my foot acensder and some good hand over hand action makes your FLY up a tree. The lockJack didnt get its fair shake at trial as the tree i used it on was in the danger range of some uncoated 3 phase. So i was climbing up and didnt have it all tight and i noticed it would move down when not siting on it. Looked at the 3 phase and hook up my spit tail. Thanks for the oppitunity to try them out and help you out as well have to do it again sometime Doug.

 

[the Aerialist]

The outcome was predictable ...

Worked with the Aerial Arborist today, got to try out all 3 of his mechanical split tails... Also tried out the art positioner as a laynyard adjuster that was a sweet piece also...

Great having you on the job Ben. Having a skilled climber was super. Made me feel kind of old and slow though, but we turned what would have been a two day job for me, into a one day affair.

Going back to the LockJack for that last tree after using the SpiderJack for a week was a pleasant and familiar experience, though and I like them both.

The ART Positioner is a great tool as well, I really like the ability to release under load in a very controllable way. Coupled with either a LJ or SJ it makes getting positioned for tricky cuts a breeze.

 

[TreEmergencyB]

Great having you on the job Ben. Having a skilled climber was super. Made me feel kind of old and slow though, but we turned what would have been a two day job for me, into a one day affair.

Going back to the LockJack for that last tree after using the SpiderJack for a week was a pleasant and familiar experience, though and I like them both.

The ART Positioner is a great tool as well, I really like the ability to release under load in a very controllable way. Coupled with either a LJ or SJ it makes getting positioned for tricky cuts a breeze.

I wouldnt say old and slow...i just hope i can STILL climb at 63, spikeless at that too. I would consider you a very good climber 40 years in the biz no major accidents or injuries and you still in the game. hats off to you, im sure when you were 25 you moved like me too.

 

[treemandan]

That dude is OBV a good climber. No doubt better than me. Far better I am sure. BUT...I wanna see him navigate his way through a nasty Pin Oak full of deadwood. That tree he is in looks more like a day of sport climbing than a day of work. I just wonder if spiderjack would really be worth while in an actual work tree. It rare for me to climb anything that has been kept up on like that tree. I have a few clients who call every year or so and those trees are fun to work on. That spiderjack was being used under ideal conditions.

That guy is no better than you, it is only circumstance which makes it appear so. In the conditions which you describe with a pin oak I know what comes through and what maybe will come through. Man, you got crap all up in your face, your hitch, saw trigger.

 

[the Aerialist]

Better equipment makes you a better climber ...

The LockJack (as well as other "Mechanical Split tails) have made me a more efficient, and therefore, "better" climber. Consider how many times in the course of a working day you tend the "free" knot on your split tail.

Even with a pulley to advance the knot as you climb there is a lot of time spent in dressing the knot and hands on manipulation of your rigging as you work the tree.

With the SpiderJack and ART Positioner my focus is in working the tree, not working my rigging.