Rope questions

[jaymay75]

I bought this rope the other day, before I started reading on this forum. Is this decent rope, or is it junk. It might be going back.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47833

Also, what type of rope should I be looking at. Best bang for the buck. Mainly used for pull lines for trees. I probably won't be cutting anything over too big (over 30 inches) but I would like to have a good all around rope.

I'm also looking for a good pully (snatch block?) and a sling. Anyone know of any deals for something this. thanks for the help.

 

[My like trees]

Poly rope is not good rope to use in tree work as far as all around rope. 300 ft is too much rope. 150 is pretty good for most work. 1/2 arbour plex is what I use.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Arporplex is a good climbing rope, at a great price. There might be better choices for bull ropes, but most ropes designed as tree work ropes will be better than your choice. Sherrill, a sponser here usually has prices as low or lower than others. Get a cataloge from them. It's informative and you can see most of tools that are industry standards. If you are patient, check out their online cataloge, you won't learn near as much as from the hardcopy though. Links from this site abound.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Slick stuff

That poly stuff tends to be too slick to hang onto either by hand or say with a prussick to pull with. Also putting knots in it is a pain. Just my 2 cents worth. 150' does tend to be a good length. Remember to inspect the rope each time. Retire it if in doubt

 

[BigJohn]

Arborplex a good climbing rope? Where do you live? I wouldn't use that crap for a tire swing. This is the 2004, that **** is out dated like BestGM's daddy.

I wouldn't settle for anything less than some new england safety blue or some true blue just for rigging.

 

[Burnham]

As you suspect, the poly is junk. It has minimal abrasion resistance, very low uv resistance, is impossible to knot, and difficult to hold. It's only redeeming quality is price, and as with many things, you get what you pay for with rope.

 

[murphy4trees]

C'mon Big Jon,
You know old retired arborplex makes a good tire swing!!!

 

[Ax-man]

Big John,

Not everyone wants to shell out the extra bucks for the better rigging and climbing lines. The thread starter just wanted a good all around pull rope, he sounds like a part timer instead of full timer.

Mass isn't steering him in the wrong direction.

You have chill out a little my friend, there are alot of people on this site that don't require the ultimate in gear to get their work done.

Larry

 

[roachy]

Ax-man maybe John is a little excitable but Arbor plex ,perhaps this person is trying to learn and get better that rope will just frustrate most.I under stand it is inexpensive and if you are going to pull tress over with it then great buy a spool.But to climb with its the worst .Just my opinion but hey what do I know

 

[BigJohn]

I say what I say with no anger towards anyone. When lives and costly equipment and property are at stake there are no cheap substatutes. Why not take full advantage of what is available. I agree there is a lot crap out there that can't replace hard work and good technique. Such as the OOB or better known as the Pantin. OOB meaning out of breath.

Spend 20 or 30 more and get a good rope its just money not someones life. So you go week without a case beer or some smokes. That stuff will kill ya.

 

[Stumper]

Jaymay-You got a decent utilty rope for the price-but as already stated it is really a poor rope for tree work. Despite Big John's near omniscience he is full of prunes about Arborplex. It isn't the best climbing rope but it isn't junk.-Some of us remember when it WAS the very best climbing rope ever made-they've actually improved it since then---- but a lot of stronger and better handling ropes have been introduced. I don't think that "no longer the best" relegates a product to the category of "crap".:angel:

 

[BigJohn]

I do remember those days. I can remember having to climb on three strand and complaining why cant they get us Arbor plex. For me the arborplex just wouldn't hold up to the day after day abuse I put ropes through. And for climbing it would really slow me down.
I can't say enough about the Fly. It has definately increased my productivity. My Fly ropes have all about worn out. I had to go back to some of my 16 strand new england for the larger prunes. I'll have to save up and get some new ones.

 

[jaymay75]

Yeah, I took a closer look at that rope today and its crap. It can't hold a knot worth anything. I'd keep it if it could, but no go. I'm sending it back. Get this, I unravel 30 feet of it, and find that one of the strands is cut all of the way through. Talk about Quality control. You get what you pay for is right.

I am a part timer, but I can't stand working with junk. I'd like to order some rope form that Sherill site. Whats the best to get for the money. It needs to be pretty strong

For the most part, I'll just be using it for rigging trees. But My father has a electric cranking pully, its used to pull big wire through conduit. It also does a great job of ripping small stumps out of the ground. Pretty cool to watch too. Wrap the rope around the pully a couple times and stand back and flip the switch. Pulls them right out

So what would be the best deal for something like this. Need something strong with good grip. thanks again for the help

 

[Stumper]

The Arborplex is the cheapest that Sherrill sells (I think) it is really a good rope but as Big John alluded to-it won't wear as long as something like Safety Blue (which is a GREAT rope). If you are only buying a rigging rope and cost is a concern you might consider Pro-Master 3 strand. The new Safety Pro12 would likely make a great rigging line but I have no experience with it.

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

3/4# of material to get the same strength as our 1/2#, about half strength of nylon/polyester i think.

Harder knotting, slippery/more wraps, doesn't take dynamic loading well, doesn't take the heat well of friction(about 1/2 the heat tolerance) of lowering and even knotting, kinda harder/more brittle fiber; really stiffer in freezing temps i think.

3 strand design must use larger sheave/branch size for same strength compared to braid, then even more for increased rope diameter of 3/4", then even more for increased stiffness of line.

Professional tree lines are laid and combed to not snag and tear up as much in the tests of running over branches etc. that normal lines would fray at in normal tree work.

i think Samson ArboPlex and the matching Wall ArboPlus both have the poly fibers in them as hamburger helper to give weaker line in 1/2# package, so TrueBlue is stronger, even though dyed 12 strand from same company. i think the stiff, prickly, plasticky rough fibers on the surface that stick out busted are the poly fibers in older ArborPlex etc.

Or something like that
:alien:

 

[rbtree]

While I don't much like Arborplex, I just got 600 feet of the 1/2 inch. Sold most of it, kept 150. I kinda prefer the NE Ropes Treeline, which has a softer lay, versus the too stiff Arborplex. But as it is stiff, it wears like iron, certainly longer than the Treeline (now replaced with the nicer cored 12 strand-but pricier). Sorry Stumper, but that's the truth. I have had some old stuff for 14 years, a bit of it left that was old back then. Even with badly abraded spots, i can still recall it breaking only a couple times. One was when I had a contractor hop on his tractor to pull over a tree. He started pulling before I started the backcut. Hmmm, I think the rope broke, my memory's fuzzy.

I only use it for a light rigging line, and only buy it if I'm short on the right length of retired climb lines. Hardly ever climbed on it, cant stand it for its stiff kinky qualities, poor knot tying and holding.....

 

[NeTree]

ArborPlex is rated even less than that crap he got off of Harbor Freight (5400 vs 7650). And for what it's worth, I think ArborPlex is complete crap too. Period.

Sorry, but this is one place where going cheap NEVER pays. If a cheap saw quits, WGAF. If a cheap rope breaks... EVERYONE'S FUC*ED.


Jay, spend some dough, get yourself a GOOD bullrope. It may cost you now, but it's cheaper than having a lesser quality rope break, ain't it? And of course, it'll last you awhile.

 

[Stumper]

I won't argue RB. I personally have never worn out a piece of Arborplex-Though I did climb on it for several years. Since Big John said it didn't hold up as well I assumed he was correct-for the way he abuses ropes-I never ran it fast over natural crotches. My own experience with Safety Blue has been that it is a very long wearing rope with a nice hand. I like my Yellow Jacket but I had more visible wear on it in 6 months than I got on Safety Blue in 3 years. It is nice to have so many choices.

Anyone have any experience with Tree Pro red?

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Big John, as usual, your full of it. You think fly outlasts arporplex? Wrong. Will a beginner be able to tell the difference, not likely. In fact the fatter arborplex will be easier to grab. Will he be unsafe climbing on arborplex because of the breaking strength? No. I do not know of one death caused by a modern climbing rope, in good condition, failing do to the climber overloading it.
After going through a few hanks of Fly, I still climb on Blue Streak, Arborplex, and XTC once in a while. The difference is noticable, but not enough to get all worked up about.
Arborplex is a good rope at a great price. For a guy tugging trees over with a come-a-long, I'd say it's a fine choice. He might want to spend a few more bucks and get a double braid like Samson's Stable braid. He could also spend big bucks on some fancy new high modules rope like Ultra Tech.

 

[SilverBlue]

I am not sure that jaymay is going to climb but I hope he is not thinking of buying one universal rope for both climbing and rigging as I can see him thinking that’s what some are eluding to and giving the false idea to a newbie.

Jaymay check out a few sites below and spend a few extra bucks for real gear that will do the job safely and give you value in the long run.
http://www.okarboristsupply.com/
http://www.wtsherrill.com/

And if you want the cheapest price try Canadian arborist supply
http://www.canadianarboristsupplies.com/catalogue.html