Rope retrieval devices?

[Ghillie]

What are you guys using? I guess I mean, other than a pole pruner.

I worked on an oak today, clearing the dead out of the tips of the limbs mostly and cutting them back from the house, wires, and neighbors garage.

Most everything has to by rigged and lowered and it was becoming time consuming to walk out each limb to rig it.

I had a 3 section pole for a paint roller and an old paint roller. Took the cage off of the paint roller and bent the rod in several places. Worked great for setting half hitches and running bowlines exactly where I want them. Even changed my rigging point 16' above my head in a crotch. Saved the hassle of trying to throw a weight directly over my head.

Not needed every day, but it sure came in handy today.

 

[woodchux]

Here is a mod i did to my old polesaw.

I also like to use the 'sidekick'.

 

[kennertree]

The sidekick. They are great and worth every penny.

 

[Ghillie]

I looked at the sidekick, but I already had the extension pole and roller frame. The one downfall is the length collapsed but having 16' (I think) of extension is great.

Here are the pictures.

 

[Ghillie]

The bend in the end is for lifting ropes. I put a bowline on the end of my rigging rope and an overhand loop about three feet up the rope. Hooked into the over hand, lifted it up over a limb dropping the bowline over the crotch. Then hooked the retriever into the bowline and pulled it back to me.

 

[Ghillie]

Here is a mod i did to my old polesaw.

I also like to use the 'sidekick'.

All I see is red x, what did you do?

 

[Ghillie]

Do you guys keep the side kick on your harness while climbing or hangit in the tree with you?

 

[ATH]

How about a retreever from Sherrill. For what it is, $41 is a little pricy, but I get a lot of use out of mine.

I went to check out what a sidekick is. It is $49 at Wesspur and few feet shorter than the retreever. I can't recall if the Retreever is 12 or 14 feet fully extended...

 

[Ghillie]

How about a retreever from Sherrill. For what it is, $41 is a little pricy, but I get a lot of use out of mine.

How much of an obstruction is it hanging off of your harness moving around the tree?

I've seen those at Vermeer.

 

[squad143]

I have a retreever. Good for retrieving lines, not so great for setting them. When retrieving, if you pull too hard, the flexible end will straighten.

They are not that noticeable while climbing. Once, while climbing I did not notice mine extending on it's own while I was climbing down, it caught a branch and one of the extensions bent, thus making it useless. I bought a new one and attached a Velcro "holder" to fasten it in the closed position so it does not accidentally happen again.

If I have to set lines (running bowlines, etc.) I'll use the pole pruner.

 

[Fireaxman]

I tried Sherrill's "Retreever" and got so aggravated with it I trashed it out so I would not be tempted to use it again. Love the "Sidekick", rarely climb without it, and if I do I always wish I had brought it along. It does get in the way a little, occasionaly catches a branch and extends itself, occasionally I step or sit on it (hanging from the loop on the back right hip of the dragonfly) but it is worth the occasional trouble. It only reaches 9 feet, but it is surprising how often 9 feet is just enough.

For longer reaches I did the same thing you did. Painter's pole with the roller snapped off. I did not bend the hook as creatively as you did though, think I'll follow your lead.

I also have a "Wire Raiser" for my Jameson poles, but it is heavier and more bulky than the painter's pole, and the U fitting on the end gets in the way more than it helps.

 

[Ghillie]

I have a retreever. Good for retrieving lines, not so great for setting them. When retrieving, if you pull too hard, the flexible end will straighten.

They are not that noticeable while climbing. Once, while climbing I did not notice mine extending on it's own while I was climbing down, it caught a branch and one of the extensions bent, thus making it useless. I bought a new one and attached a Velcro "holder" to fasten it in the closed position so it does not accidentally happen again.

If I have to set lines (running bowlines, etc.) I'll use the pole pruner.

I wondered about the end straightening on you, probably especially bad when trying to pull a few more feet of rigging line over a limb.

 

[Ghillie]

I tried Sherrill's "Retreever" and got so aggravated with it I trashed it out so I would not be tempted to use it again. Love the "Sidekick", rarely climb without it, and if I do I always wish I had brought it along. It does get in the way a little, occasionaly catches a branch and extends itself, occasionally I step or sit on it (hanging from the loop on the back right hip of the dragonfly) but it is worth the occasional trouble. It only reaches 9 feet, but it is surprising how often 9 feet is just enough.

For longer reaches I did the same thing you did. Painter's pole with the roller snapped off. I did not bend the hook as creatively as you did though, think I'll follow your lead.

I also have a "Wire Raiser" for my Jameson poles, but it is heavier and more bulky than the painter's pole, and the U fitting on the end gets in the way more than it helps.

Let me know how you like the bends. I might have to put another bend in a stiffer part just for raising wires...Thanks for the input!

 

[ATH]

I have a retreever. Good for retrieving lines, not so great for setting them. When retrieving, if you pull too hard, the flexible end will straighten.
...............

Yeah...that does get annoying. Since the flexible part is basically a hollow coil, I have thought about trying to feed a more rigid thick wire through it to stiffin it up. It is nice to sometimes have a plain hook, other times to have a S-curve, and others to have an eye. If I had to have one permanent end, it would just be a hook...

As far as climbing with it: I don't. I usually have it in my gear bag in the tree near me otherwise I'll have the groundie send it up. If I were to keep it on the saddle, I'd shorten the cord.

 

[squad143]

I only climb with it when the job entails alot of rigging, and I agree on shortening the cord.

I found it invaluable on this job. In this pic. I am just bringing in the blue line.

 

[Slvrmple72]

mini grappling hook on some accessory cord and a sidekick.
I will have to find the website link for the grappling hook... its not the one you are thinking of.
Found it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1OcoBs5sls

 

[squad143]

I also just purchased a Hook Fox for my new Hayate.

Have not had a chance to use either yet.

 

[tree md]

I also just purchased a Hook Fox for my new Hayate.

Have not had a chance to use either yet.

I assume the hook fox will fit the hayauchi as well? What did it run you, if I may ask?

 

[Ghillie]

I assume the hook fox will fit the hayauchi as well? What did it run you, if I may ask?

Yes, it will. And the longboy also.

 

[treemandan]

I looked at the sidekick, but I already had the extension pole and roller frame. The one downfall is the length collapsed but having 16' (I think) of extension is great.

Here are the pictures.

Oh I am dying. Did you pick that out of the trash?

I was going to try something with a few ski poles but after seeing this fine remarkable example of engineering I was hoping they would go on sale


Nah, if that's what the job needed that is what it needed. I have begged for a nice cheap hook on a pole before. Just one thing; how did you come up with the design for the bends in the roller head?