OX Block

[shongaloo]

Just wondering if anyone out there owns, has used, or knows someone that used buckinghams ox block and in what type of application they have used it in feel free for show and tell.

Thanks, Shongaloo

 

[imagineero]

kinda pricey for what they are. Couldn't see myself buying one.

 

[sgreanbeans]

Another way to skin the same cat. Neat, but unnecessary, could replace a mini porty in the tree.

 

[shongaloo]

I thought they were a little high and yes sgreenbeans there have been several occasions I would have like to have had one in the tree with me and I'm not a big fan of hard linking equipment together so the aspect of it all being intergrated with a swivel is I think what caught my eye

 

[imagineero]

The swivel isn't worth a damn. This is a device aimed squarely at lineman who may need to lower off one or two items of limited weight. The device is going to twist the hell out of your rope, so it isn't suitable for multiple lower offs.

In tree work you're going to go one way or the other. If it's a big tree with a lot of rope work, you're going to climb it to the top and rig one or more pulleys then get back down and start rigging out with the rope being controlled at the ground via a porty, drum or whatever - lots of control there. If it's a smaller tree, or a tree with limited need for roping then you might consider roping out the few limbs yourself. Particularly if you are short staffed as is common on smaller jobs and your groundie is busy dragging brush. In that scenario, the common response is to natural crotch the tail of your climb line over a stub which has been left for that purpose, then take wraps on a second stub which was also left for the purpose. You can quickly and efficiently rope down limbs in that way while ascending and easily add or subtract wraps or remove the entire rope and carry on since you have pre planned it and used stubs. In neither scenario is there a use for the ox block

 

[Groundman One]

Kinda pricey for what they are. Couldn't see myself buying one.

I saw a price for $358 US. That's ridiculous. I'm seeing around $200 or so as a reasonable price.

On the other hand, it's a neat little toy for when the climber wants to control a light to medium weight situation. (Meaning the load itself or how the load is to be handled by the groundman.) Looks fast to install and use, and easy to haul around. We'd use this thing if we had one, but probably not often.

 

[tomtrees58]

man that thing is$ 450.00

 

[Groundman One]

$450.

What a fantastic price to make me want to not run out and buy one.

 

[shongaloo]

I'm a very small company being a full time firefighter so I only have one ground man and I'm all about making the work load lite on him so just lowering small limbs let him dc them and while he is moving the brush I could have it coming back to me and retying for the next lower. Don't know just might have to be something I chew on for a while but most definitely price is a little much but again if it make w

 

[shongaloo]

Makes work easier is it to much

 

[shongaloo]

Might just because its new?

 

[Pelorus]

I don't know how I've managed to get by all these years without one.

 

[Zale]

Do not be tempted by the bright, shinny toys.

 

[sgreanbeans]

Thats the thing, they always come out with "new" stuff and it does nothing new, just looks different and its cool looking! So gear junkies buy it. I keep thinking about what would be revolutionary for our trade, I come up wit.......... nutin. Still think trained squirrels would be good. $450 is a ripoff.

 

[squad143]

Still think trained squirrels would be good.

Trained squirrels would be awesome. I guess they'd work for................ peanuts

Sorry, I could resist


As for the shiny new device, I'd use an 8 or a mini portawrap and save my $ for some other shiny piece of tree gear.

 

[treeclimber101]

Thats the thing, they always come out with "new" stuff and it does nothing new, just looks different and its cool looking! So gear junkies buy it. I keep thinking about what would be revolutionary for our trade, I come up wit.......... nutin. Still think trained squirrels would be good. $450 is a ripoff.

Right now I am working on battery operated saw pants and a jacket to keep you warm , made of the material from a electric blanket and powered by a battery similar to a drill !

 

[shongaloo]

Elect. Pants and shirt i like it! oughta be good for y'all up north but down here with louisysiana weather it's does a 180 from the time your in the tree. uncle buck may i make a recommendation for added protection and warmth old used fire dept turn out gear I have 2 sets of pants and jacket on the truck for me and my ground man. it's used so its broke in thick for warmth and maybe you could run the elect pants and jacket inside if you took out the inner layer

 

[Zale]

Right now I am working on battery operated saw pants and a jacket to keep you warm , made of the material from a electric blanket and powered by a battery similar to a drill !

Sorry 101, check out Cabelas. They sell jackets, socks and gloves with your idea. Very expensive.

 

[treeclimber101]

Sorry 101, check out Cabelas. They sell jackets, socks and gloves with your idea. Very expensive.

Well mine will have a vibrating crotch .......

 

[shongaloo]

Not much work getting done with that