Whats the best rope?

[kstill361]

Im not sure the best place to post this question so Mods please correct me if its in the wrong place. I am getting ready to buy some new rope for pulling against the lean and dragging trees out of the timber, yes I have chains and use them when I can get close enough. Anyway for snag and abrasion resistance, whats better between double braided polyester and 3 strand nylon?

Which would you pick, to last the longest, or suggest another type?

$125 for 185 feet
3/4" double braided polyester, 28,000 lb

$143 for 203 feet
3/4" 3 strand Nylon 9,200 lb

 

[MCW]

Although I've never owned rope that large (I'd love to!) the 3 strand nylon will last better. I've always found the polyester style gets too many hook ups and tears the smaller fibres. I've had good luck using nylon straps like you see used in 4WD winch extensions etc.

 

[tomtrees58]

that's looks like boat rope:jawdrop: tom trees

 

[JBuck]

If it were me I'd get the 3strand only cause it is soo easy to splice. We use the 1 1/8" Samson superdan blue steel. I think that there is about 600' per bag. Usually buy 4 bags at a time. It is really good stuff, very abrasion resistant and easy to splice smaller pieces together quick.

 

[MCW]

If it were me I'd get the 3strand only cause it is soo easy to splice. We use the 1 1/8" Samson superdan blue steel. I think that there is about 600' per bag. Usually buy 4 bags at a time. It is really good stuff, very abrasion resistant and easy to splice smaller pieces together quick.

Fisherman? That's big rope

 

[JBuck]

Fisherman? That's big rope

Yep, but I get to bring home the scraps and been using it too tow logs to the road

 

[MCW]

A mate of mine has got 300' of around 15mm steel cable on a roll. I can borrow it whenever I want he said. All I need is a crane to lift it!
I need to get some decent rope. A mate of mine was in the Australian SAS and he's got a heap of their old absailing rope that they throw out after a certain period - he won't part with one inch of the stuff though!

 

[harrygrey382]

what's wrong with cable or chain?

 

[Nailgunner]

^^ splicing a cable takes yards and yards of it. And you'll have your eye out before you get the eye in, so to speak.

I'd got for three-strand rope for easy splicing, preferrably a nice soft nylon. hemp and natural fibre ropes are decent enough but I find they grip far too hard when tying a carrier's knot, and I can't haul properly on a load. Untying them is a pest and a half, especially if I've had to drag a van out of a mud hole.

For an easy life, nylon sheathed two-ended or endless slings, or nylon rathchet straps.

 

[stihl86]

Wire rope would be my 1st choice for dragging. Then the 3 strand.That about all it's good for.

 

[Paul001]

Two different applications. For skidding, do not use double braid or any of the others including 3 strand twisted. Dirt, mud, rocks, etc are not friendly to ropes.

The second reason, and more important, most of those linesets have a 30% stretch ratio (think rubber band effect). When they let loose, and they will, anything in the way is in for a world of hurt. Tom Tree's might know a mutual friend from Long Island who lost an eye to that stored energy.

Wire rope on the ground or you could go with some of the specificly designed winch ropes, low stretch ratio and hollow braid (easy to splice back together) and because of the hollow braid when it snaps the energy is lost quickly.

For a pull line you need to look at what you are doing. That 3/4" lineset you are looking at should have a ration of ~25K. Sticking to a 10/1 saftey rating that would give you 2,500 pounds of pull capacity. Are you using a 4 x 4 to pull them over with?

The weight is the factor that I'm thinking about with that line. For the first half of the day it might not be a factory, come friday afternoon...it will be. Soon it'll end up sitting in the back of the truck because it's to much of a PITA to take out. Instead, get the lineset higher in the tree and drop back to a 9/16 or 5/8. If you do not climb, buy a throw line set (line, a few bean bags, and storage bag/box) then learn to use it. With minimal pratice you'll be able to hit crotches 60+ feet up.

This all presumes that you are cutting firewood in forestated areas. If not, everything changes.

 

[Freehand]

Although I've never owned rope that large (I'd love to!) the 3 strand nylon will last better. I've always found the polyester style gets too many hook ups and tears the smaller fibres. I've had good luck using nylon straps like you see used in 4WD winch extensions etc.

Yes , 2" webbing has the abrasion resistance and superior strength as

compared to rope,pound for pound.

http://store.colemans.com/cart/nylon-strapping-gi-1-34-in-webbing-p-1385.html?currency=USD

here's some military surplus stuff that might do.

 

[2dogs]

The 2 ropes you are looking at have different uses and different charcteristics. A double braid rope is stronger the a 3 strand but can not be used for natural crotch rigging. That is if you are going to lower a branch the line has to run through a block. Otherwise the rope will "milk", the core and the outer sheath will stretch at different rates and the rope will not mantain its full strngth. 3 strand ropes are strechier than DB ropes and not as strong. They can be used in natural crotch rigging but a suspended load will cause the rope to rotate and untwist.

Both ropes can be spliced but the DB rope requires a few tools and handbook or a DVD. I do not splice my DB ropes.

If you are looking at 3/4" bull line then you must be pulling the rope with a vehcle of some sort. Be very careful since you will not truly know how mush strain you are putting on the rope or the tree. Never hook to a bumper or a tow ball. Pad the rope around any sharp objects or edges.

I deal with WesSpur for almost all my rope. They specialise in tree rope! Their Samson Stable Braid bull rope is coated to resist wear, something boat ropes don't have to endure. They sell 3 strand rope that is also designed for tree use. A regular 3 strand non-tree rope will stretch like crazy and can be dangerous to use. Your selection of a knot can make or break success using rope.

Don't try to drag a fallen tree with rope if the rope will come in contact with the ground. Always use a choker of course but also make sure the rope will never touch the ground whenn the wood comes up over a rise. The rope should never touch adjacent trees either. Rope is best for short pulls, like 75' or less.

Get a hold od WesSpur's catalog for more info, they just released the 2009 issue. Their website is good too. Bailey's handles some Samson products too.

 

[kstill361]

Nice! Lots of good info on ropes. I dont plan to drag many trees with it , just when I cant get close enough to it with the chains, and thats not very often. Yes its for firewood on private land, I do not climb, I usually use a ladder to set the rope, but will probably get a throw line set. Where I cut , I usually do not have to worry about setting a rope, just drop it with the lean, but there is occasional use like near fence rows when I need to pull against the lean.

Thanks for all the good info!

 

[kstill361]

that's looks like boat rope:jawdrop: tom trees

I believe the top one is cable pulling rope..

 

[Texas Traveler]

Im not sure the best place to post this question so Mods please correct me if its in the wrong place. I am getting ready to buy some new rope for pulling against the lean and dragging trees out of the timber, yes I have chains and use them when I can get close enough. Anyway for snag and abrasion resistance, whats better between double braided polyester and 3 strand nylon?

Which would you pick, to last the longest, or suggest another type?

$125 for 185 feet
3/4" double braided polyester, 28,000 lb

$143 for 203 feet
3/4" 3 strand Nylon 9,200 lb

Check Craigs list in the marterial section Dallas Texas for some bargins on rope.
I posted a sale add for a reel of yellow rope 3/4 poly 600 ft. reel for 275.00.
Went down a bit farther & there was a 600 ft. reel of the white 3/4 for a 100.00 a reel.
Mine came from WW Grainger & it sells for 325.00.

 

[Paul001]

Nice! Lots of good info on ropes. I dont plan to drag many trees with it , just when I cant get close enough to it with the chains, and thats not very often. Yes its for firewood on private land, I do not climb, I usually use a ladder to set the rope, but will probably get a throw line set. Where I cut , I usually do not have to worry about setting a rope, just drop it with the lean, but there is occasional use like near fence rows when I need to pull against the lean.

Thanks for all the good info!

In that case, check a local chipper dealer. We sell 100' of 3/8" winch cable for ~$65. Seems like that would be the ideal setup for your skidding application.