Rigging a tree for practice

[graveleye]

Since this is your life on the line (literally) go for a Petzl or other human load rated pulley.

Spend the money.
(having said that I have bought such items off of ebay. But check anything you buy there twice, and then a few more times before putting your life on it.)

you bet! Thanks!

[Tim White]

SMC are a good choice for the $$$

[graveleye]

any one in particular Tim? I like the SMC stuff. Working in the metals industry has helped me in identifying sturdy equipment, and theirs seem to be made of quality metal.

[Tim White]

The 2" is good. If you can manage the extra $, go with the ball bearing over the Oilite Bushing. But both will last you a LONG time.

The Petzl - Rescue Pulley is a good choice (I have a couple) but for a couple dollars more you get Stainless steel side plates with the RA/SMC.
All of the pulley in the SE-NCRC gear cache are RA/SMC.

[graveleye]

Thanks Tim!! I prefer stainless over aluminum personally.

[graveleye]

hey folks... i ran across this at northern tool the other day and though that this might be good to use to suspend my new pulley from the tree limb... but I darn sure am not going to go experimenting without some opinions first:

would you trust this?

[Scott McCrea]

I would rather use one inch tubular webbing and tie a wrap 3, pull 2.

[graveleye]

I would rather use one inch tubular webbing and tie a wrap 3, pull 2.

sounds easy'nuff once i learn what that is

remember I am very green at this.

[Tim White]

1. Wrap the webbing around the limb 3 times.
2. Tie the ends together with a over-hand bend (aka water knot)
3. Pull on the two wraps without the knot.
4. Make sure the knot is on the same side as the two wraps that you pull. This will keep the knot from seeing any load.
5. As long as the angle of the wraps is 120 degrees or less you are good to go.



Or

A simple basket rig is just as strong. An advantage of the W2P3 is it keeps the webbing/anchor in place due to the friction in the wraps.



Images are Copyright NCRC 2004

[NZcaver]

A word of warning if you're going to leave a webbing/pulley combo rigged in a tree for a long period...

We noticed something strange recently with a rig that's been up in the tree for a few years, and used periodically each summer. We found the pulley and carabiner hanging over a lower limb, held by the drawstring loop which was still secured down at the ground. We searched around, but there's no sign of the webbing it was rigged to!

We're thinking squirrels often nibble at things, and steal items that aren't nailed down. Bugs also love to burrow into the tree bark sandwiched under the webbing - which may not be all that good for the webbing or the tree.

Now we plan to replace the webbing with a wrap of chain and a screw link instead. Comments/suggestions?

[tncaveres]

Not a bad idea with the chain for an anchor.

[graveleye]

This is in my front yard, so I'll be taking it down for aesthetic reasons
I live right across the street from the mayor of the town I live in, so it's going to be weird enough for them to us out there climbing the tree all afternoon!!!

I'm rigging about 20 feet up, and I have a ladder that reaches it easily, so it won't be a hassle taking it down.

Too darn hot to fool with it right now anyway

[Tim White]

I've rigged up some climbing set-up folk folks and have often used logging chain. I run it through a section of fire hose to protect the tree. (I bet tncaveres knows where he can get some fire hose. )

graveleye- our solution to the neighbors...we have our climbing set-up in the living room. But all of our neighbors know our "dirty" secret. They see me presser washing cave gear in the drive all of the time.

[graveleye]

I think they know too because of the long brown streak of cave mud that goes down my driveway.

You know, I have a high vaulted ceiling with a loft at the top (contemporary house design)... if I could find a way to anchor a rope to the ceiling, it would be perfect. But I don't think my wife would like that much, but I sure have thought of it a few times

[Tim White]

Well the “living room” is really what Berta calls the “rope room”. Open a full two floors tall. An eye bolt is all that shows. It is backed up to a well fabricated steel anchor system in the attic. All of this is them backed-up with cable and turn-buckles to rafters. Solid!

Maybe I'll take some interior photos this weekend and post them here.