Safebloc, any one use it?

[beastmaster]

While researching inpac blocks, I came across the safe bloc by the makers of the x rings. I was impressed.
Having a friction device up in the top of the tree reduces force by half, a big advantage in dead or compromised trees. Or so in theory . But in the real world is this device able to preform as advertised.
Would appreciate any feed back from real world users.
I'm thinking of using it for negative rigging of small tops and chunks. It priced a lot cheaper then most blocks.

 

[benjo75]

Haven't used the Safebloc. But have used the AFB. It works as should but it's harder to pull the rope back up to the climber than I figured it would be.

 

[beastmaster]

I talk to a guy who use one. He says it's fantastic for negative rigging small to medium wood.

 

[benjo75]

I love rigging with the AFB. The limb needs to be at least 50 lbs or you will have to flip the line to get the piece to inch downward. That's with the minimum wrap. I don't use 2 wraps because I have to go to the block and feed the rope back up. Even 1 wrap is a pain to get back up if there is 30 or 40 ft hanging from it. The AFB is square aluminum. After the first day I noticed wear on the 4 corners. And my rope is forever gray and turns my hands gray when using it. Even with those few cons it works great in its place. I don't use in on a sprawling oak with redirects and different size limbs. It works best on a pine where you can go to the top, set the block and lower limb after limb coming back up. Especially if there is only one ground man. Once the limb is caught I can run the rope easily while the ground man pulls the limb where it needs to go. It's also good for just a few limbs where it isn't feasible to set up the GRCS. But it's main advantage is the decrease of strain on the rigging point. I was amazed when I first started using it at how easy it was on the rigging point. It will almost double how much weight you can catch. It's perfect on dead trees where jarring has to be minimized. Another advantage is the ground man not being stuck at the base if the tree and having to keep that area clean. He can grab the rope and go wherever he wants to. He doesn't have to cut the limbs off the brake as they come down.

 

[benjo75]

There are some videos on YouTube of the Safebloc. I think I'm going to try one before long. Looks like the rope can be pulled back up easier.

 

[beastmaster]

I'm I correct that the AFB wouldn't work well being shock loaded like in negitive rigging?
Still with a wll of 1000lbs it could be vary useful. I do almost 100% dead pines, some really crispy ones. Any thing that'll remove force below my feet gets my interest.
Working in dead bug trees has me rethinking a lot of my rigging technics, and has me searching out methods to change the dynamics, and ways I apply forces to the tree by my placement of my rigging tools.
The afb, safebloc, thunder sling all seem like useful tools. Thank you for your input.

 

[benjo75]

I think it could be shock loaded as long as you stayed within the load limits. As with any block. It would definitely help in dead pines. I wouldn't want to catch 16 ft logs that are 2 ft dia in the AFB. It recommends a 1/2 rope. I wouldn't be worried about using it for anything that you would use a 1/2 rope for. But dead pine tops that are light and fall slower than logs shouldn't be any problem. I want to try the Safebloc now just to see the difference. I can't help but think it might work smoother than the AFB.

 

[CourtlandTS]

We practically removed the pulleys from our rigging bag after buying the safe bloc. Less stress to the rigging point and less need for a friction device at the base of the tree. I would definitely recommend it.

 

[beastmaster]

What's sad is we may not be able to use a safebloc do to the prime contractor's nazi like control of everthing we do. Their not innovators or open to new ideas.

 

[benjo75]

What do they want, trunk wraps?

 

[beastmaster]

Yes. They'll allow X rings for redirect. I talked to some of the N.A.T.S guys who police our jobs, they understand the theory but not the equipment.

 

[jefflovstrom]

What's sad is we may not be able to use a safebloc do to the prime contractor's nazi like control of everthing we do. Their not innovators or open to new ideas.

Mi sabe,,,
Jeff

 

[treebilly]

I don't know how or if the information has been available yet but Samson ropes did some testing with the X-man recently and the safebloc looks to be very promising. The ropes tested better than they did on a regular block after so many uses. They used new ropes for each devise with the same weight and same drop x amount of times

 

[benjo75]

My Safebloc just arrived this afternoon. If the rain holds off I'll be using it tomorrow on the golf course job. I'll let ya'll know how it does.

 

[benjo75]

Finally got to use the Safebloc this afternoon for the first time. I really like it. I used the AFB for a few jobs and the main drawback for me was having to fight to get the rope back up. The Safebloc doesn't have that problem at all. Easy to return the rope. The first thing I noticed is that it doesn't have near the friction of the AFB of the porty at one wrap or the GRCS at one wrap. And I don't think it's supposed to. I know it's recommended to be used in conjunction with ground friction. But I wanted to see what it would do. The first oak limb I cut was about 7 inches and about 15 ft long. It was too much for my ground man. That's why I tested it with nothing underneath the tree. I'm also using 1/2 Bluestreak. I'm sure 5/8 would hold more. I'm testing it at it's least holding capability.

Once I found the right size limb everything went very smoothly. 200 lbs is pushing it in my opinion. My groundman only weighs about 140 though. A bigger man could definitely handle more. So far I love it. Since the groundy isn't having to constantly go to the base of the tree to get a wrap and unwrap, it's definitely faster there and we don't have to keep the base of the tree cleaned out around. It's no problem at all to pull the 1/2 rope back through.

Pros...
Easy rope retreival, lighter than a block, groundy can move around while holding the rope, groundy doesn't need as much experience or lessons, no expensive brake at the base of the tree to hit with that last big chunk, less strain on the rigging point, no rope going completely through the block due to someone pulling it before you're ready.

Cons...
Not as much friction as I expected but I'll adjust my cutting accordingly, less rope in the system for stretch, as with any aerial friction.

Overall....
I really like it. It's smooth and very well made. Pretty indestructible. Easy to use. I'm looking forward to using 5/8 and 3/4 rope to see the difference. In conjunction with ground friction it's going to be the perfect setup for me right now with a small crew. I'll probably be ordering another one soon. I'll use the GRCS for big pieces and the Safebloc for everything else. I don't see myself using my blocks much now unless I'm lifting. Of the 3 aerial friction devices that I have, Safebloc, AFB and Port a Wrap, the Safebloc wins hands down.