Natural crotch rigging rope

[pdqdl]

Tenex does not melt so easy, and it seems to be the best rope around for making slings. I don't know the melting point, but it is very tough.

Some years back, I bought a stretch of 3/8" Amsteel. Just on a whim, I tried climbing a tree in my front yard with it. It did not turn out too well as a climbing rope. I have done some incredible vehicle recoveries with it, but it never sees tree work.

Just the heat from my friction hitch was causing damage, and I was only coming down very slowly. As you may know, Amsteel is incredibly slick, and knots do not hold well with it. If you make the unwise decision to tie it off, then you should be prepared for it to pull down so tight that it squeezes itself in half.

 

[bootboy]

Amsteel is the marketing name of a product made by Samson rope. It is spun from dyneema sk-75 fibers which is the brand name of an Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber made by DSM of the Netherlands

High density PE plastics typically have glass transition temperatures (functional melting point of plastics) of about 250-350 degrees F.

Tenex is a rope also made by Samson that is spun from Poly-ethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers (the same stuff that type 1 plastic bottles are made out of) Commonly known as polyester, though just one of many compounds classified as polyesters.

Semi-aromatic polyesters like PET, have glass transition temperatures of about 380-420 degrees F.

 

[bootboy]

Amsteel is designed to be used as a static pulling line. It has near zero stretch which makes it a poor choice for dynamic and shock load applications. It's way too expensive to be an economical choice in high abrasion applications.

Tenex is dirt cheap in comparison and it's greater bulk and high tenacity fibers make it well suited for such applications, although it also has poor shock absorbing qualities.

Now I'm rambling. What was this thread about again?

 

[pdqdl]

Threads wander sometimes. We were talking about different ropes.

Amsteel is one of the preferred ropes for the maritime industry. The rope is as strong as steel cable, it doesn't rust, it is easy to splice, and it floats. I think a lot of the logging guys use it for winch lines also, mostly for the same reasons.

 

[rtsims]

Stable braid is terrible for natural crotch rigging. The best I have found yet is 5/8 Yale XTC, its green and white. I have not been able to find the 5/8 anymore though, but they still offer 1/2".
PS: its a 16 strand rope for what that's worth to you

 

[pdqdl]

Stable Braid is my preferred bull rope, and we seldom break out the pulley. Most of our work is natural crotch rigging on removals. The pulley doesn't come out until the limbs are off and the big wood starts to come down; and only if there is no drop zone to work from.

 

[rtsims]

Well I'm glad you have had good luck with it. It's designed specifically to run through blocks and lowering devices. If I have to, I may use it on a smooth barked tree, but anything else it plucks and frays.

 

[pdqdl]

It is tougher than any other variety of rope I have tried. Better friction resistance, and better heat resistance than most. Every now and then we will smoke a rope, but that does not automatically put them out of service, it just makes them a bit scalier to handle.

 

[squad143]

Try some tenex. It is just as easy to splice as amsteel, it is far more durable to friction and heat, and it is actually stronger in a splice. Amsteel is incredibly slippery and requires a longer bury to be reliable.

Plus...Tenex is a whole lot cheaper. Twice as bulky, but better by far for making slings.

Thanks. Next time I'm at the Arborist Supply store, I'll see if they have some.

 

[TreeBoi4Life]

I natural crotch rig often and 3 strand 5/8 to 3/4 bull rope is best and there are many good inexpensive brands made by Sampson, New England ropes& teuf...for short, and I have never had any problems using, pulling, etc. Just order a catalogue from a vendor like Sherrill Tree, Bailey's or Wes'Spur. I used 3 strand pro master in this pic to pull over 4 large oaks. Hope this helps. I also got a few rigging videos on my youtube channel also my username on this site. They are in a playlist. im

 

[treeman75]

I natural crotch rig often and 3 strand 5/8 to 3/4 bull rope is best and there are many good inexpensive brands made by Sampson, New England ropes& teuf...for short, and I have never had any problems using, pulling, etc. Just order a catalogue from a vendor like Sherrill Tree, Bailey's or Wes'Spur. I used 3 strand pro master in this pic to pull over 4 large oaks. Hope this helps. I also got a few rigging videos on my youtube channel also my username on this site. They are in a playlist. imView attachment 329848

Welcome to the site

 

[TreeBoi4Life]

Thanks its a really nice site and smart phone friendly.

 

[treeman75]

Thanks its a really nice site and smart phone friendly.

You do a good job on your vids.

 

[TreeBoi4Life]

You do a good job on your vids.

Thanks I appreciate that.

 

[pdqdl]

I natural crotch rig often and 3 strand 5/8 to 3/4 bull rope is best and there are many good inexpensive brands made by Sampson, New England ropes...

I can't stand working with 3 strand. Sure...its strong and pretty tough. In fact, it is excellent for groundies to hang on to, 'cause it has so much texture.

The problem is all those twists. Heavy log sections coming down start twisting; then, when you untie the log, the whole damn rope starts hockling up because it twists different now that it is unloaded. Because of the twist construction, you cannot ever use the rope and plan on being without twists and loops on it when it is unloaded.

Weight changes how the rope behaves. I hate the stuff.

 

[NYTREECLIMBER]

Triple braid has way to much stretch for my liking. I've been using sta set from New England mostly in pulleys but in some cases natural crotch and it has held up darn good. If I'm exclusively natural crotching 12 strand is what I will use

 

[Pelorus]

I usually dismantle a conifer by removing limbs as I ascend, and use Arbormaster for natural crotch lowering, often several limbs at a time. (Using slings and steel biners). Arbormaster lasts well; far better then Stable Braid for doing that. Safety Blue High Vee also a good tough 16strand for natural crotch rigging.