Rope

[django]

Hey guys, I am going to invest in some rope to aid in felling some moderate size trees. (36" dia. 50-60 feet tall) What do you recommend? Size? Type?
Just a note: I do not intend to use it to climb. I don't climb.

 

[NickfromWI]

If it's just a hand line, never to be pulled by truck or tractor, it doesn't need to be beefy. 3/8th is definately strong enough, 7/16th will be easier on your hands. Half-inch is the most popular. Bigger would be overkill for your purpose.

love
nick

 

[NeTree]

Otherwise try some 5/8" or 3/4" Double-Braid.

 

[Stumper]

How much do you intend to use the rope? Are you trying to counter heavy leans with highly loaded pulls or just normal taglining?
Its easy to spend a lot. For "normal" use there are some cheap 3 strand choices that are adequate for occassional use. Probably the most versatile choice for a very reasonable price is 1/2 inch Arborplex. It won't cost much more than the cheapest choices and will last long while handling decently.

 

[NickfromWI]

I maintain that if you are pulling only by hand, you'd be better off with a smaller/more affordable sized rope. 120' of sta-set, 3/8th inch, well, RockyJ can get it for you for 22cents/ft. That should come out to around 25.00!

Can't beat that.

Unless you have some guys that can pull with more than a few thousand pounds, this would be a great place to use a smaller line!

love
nick

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

You have to understand the loads you will be applying first, then choose the rope.

How and where in the tree do you plan to set the rope if you do not climb?

 

[MasterBlaster]

Buy yourself a 150' hank of 1/2" Super Braid Plus for $115 and be done with it.

After you check that out you might wanna bump up to a 5/8, or larger. But you can do a lot with that lil 1/2"!

 

[SilverBlue]

Sharp eye ther John, Django is a 36" tree really moderate in Ohio?

 

[Stumper]

Nick, I don't really disagree with your idea. You are off on the price though. 5/16ths Sta-set is what we were getting for $.22per foot. The 3/8ths sta-set costs about the same as 1/2 inch Arborplex. I recommended what I would probably buy for general use on sizable trees. I use a Z-rig a lot. That makes it possible to generate some substantial loads by hand. I also prefer hauling on 1/2inch rope compared to 3/8ths. The 3/8ths is a little easier to drag into the tree of course. The next line I purchase will likely be Arborplex -I haven't had any in several years but I've been at this long enough that it was my first synthetic line that was actually designed as a climbing line. (I climbed for several years on Manilene/Unmanila. That never let me down but I was glad to find Arborplex.) What I personally use for pull lines are as follows:
3/8ths Poly-plus(3 strand polyester over polpropylene- 3000 lb tensile) for small trees/quick rigging,
7/16ths 3 strand nylon military spec rappel rope- I use this for most trees,
1/2 Safety Blue-for when the loads are heavier.
If I were told to pick new ropes I would buy 5/16ths Sta-set, 1/2 inch Arborplex and 9/16ths Stable braid. However, the 'old' stuff works too well for me to run out and replace it yet.

 

[django]

Thanks Gents,
Yes, I use a tractor. I get the rope in the tree using a throw line, and pulling the larger rope with that one. I have been using a borrowed silo unloader rope and have to give it back. Yes, 36" is moderate for certain species in my area. There are plenty of 4' trees around. But that is mostly silver maple and cottonwood.
I bought a 5/8 all nylon twisted rope on ebay last night. Should do it.
Thanks.
Django

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

The loads a tractor will generate would break most of the ropes suggested so far. I would suggest a minumum 3/4" bull rope.
Actually, I would suggest not using a tractor to pull, but to use it as an anchor and use a less powerful tool to do the pulling.
Do a search on truck pull and you will find a big thread where we hashed it out.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Originally posted by RockyJSquirrel
django-
Make note of the tensile strength of your rope, then figure 10% to 20% for 'working load'.... snip.... This would give you a working load limit of 1,200 to 2,400 lbs max.

How does he calculate the load his tractor is putting on the tree? What can his tractor pull? How can you recommend a rope without knowing the factors involved? Is he cutting them or ripping them out by the roots?

 

[django]

Generally, I throw the line, pull it just snug with the tractor, make the face cut, and back cut, drive a couple of wedges, leaving a little more hinge than if I was just falling the tree, and pull it over.It is nice to have the rope to look at to see if I am getting any back lean, without having to look up, and the rope will keep it from leaning too far back if the hinge is good.
If I was an accomplished arborist, or feller, this would be unnecessary, but with leaning tree's, I like a little insurance.I am paranoid by nature. I am definitely not pulling them over by the roots. I use a Ford 4000 tractor that weighs about 5000lb. Not a Cat D-9. And I don't want any more stored energy in the tree than necessary.