Rope Wrench optimized for larger lines?

macswan · Mar 7, 2018

agree about the michoacan with 10mm cordage. On a bigger rope its necessary imho[/QUOTE]

JeffGu · Mar 7, 2018

surveyor said:
It is a rope wrench with a round body...

Since I actually AM a rope nut with a round body, will it work for me?
That's pretty cool, @surveyor

Jack Valenti · Mar 7, 2018

treebing said:
what rope specifically are you trying to use? a 16 strand? the coarse nature of these ropes makes then drag a bit. I have had good luck running 13mm km3 as well as vortex. I like the fatter ropes for removals and smaller trees where I don't have lots of redirects. the wrench should accommodate 13mm with some adjustments to the hitch. you can get away with less twists and wraps with the thicker line and still have a reliable hitch.

Yale xtc fire. some kind of kernmantle with a red and blue cover (12mm i think), and tachyon. Like I said I do use the wrench with three different lines of varying construction and thickness, and I tie different hitches with different cordage on each.

But I really am looking beyond just the hitch. I am aware that they work together, and I completely accept that hitches and rope need to complement one another. The bottom line is that if you put just a wrench with a tether on a skinny line and a fatter line, the wrench on the skinnier line will be easier to pull down.

So feeding myself slack one handed is the area where I'm forced to compromise what I really want in a work positioning tool.

That being said I'd be interested in trying the km3, and I appreciate your input! I'm extremely grateful for my rope wrench and what it lets me do in a tree!

surveyor · Mar 7, 2018

JeffGu, My wife saw the rope nut on the floor and said "what is that thing on the floor", and when I said "it's a rope nut" , the moment those words came out of my mouth I knew I was going to regret it. she made a comment similar to yours, as she laughed and laughed.
Here is another wrench concept. The bollard is 5/8" wide and 5/8* in dia.

treebing · Mar 7, 2018

Jack Valenti said:
Yale xtc fire. some kind of kernmantle with a red and blue cover (12mm i think), and tachyon. Like I said I do use the wrench with three different lines of varying construction and thickness, and I tie different hitches with different cordage on each.

But I really am looking beyond just the hitch. I am aware that they work together, and I completely accept that hitches and rope need to complement one another. The bottom line is that if you put just a wrench with a tether on a skinny line and a fatter line, the wrench on the skinnier line will be easier to pull down.

So feeding myself slack one handed is the area where I'm forced to compromise what I really want in a work positioning tool.

That being said I'd be interested in trying the km3, and I appreciate your input! I'm extremely grateful for my rope wrench and what it lets me do in a tree!

pretty sure yale XTC is a 16 strand. that is what I use for rigging with my wrench because there is so much friction. there is also a lot of stretch in that rope.

treebing · Mar 7, 2018

there are factors other than diameter which change the friction coefficient. flattening, cover smoothness, stiffness, etc. like a Yale k ernmaster is thinner than the 11.7 poison ivy but is stiffer so it has more friction. a tachyon has the extra core so it holds its round. sterling ropes rend to flatten so are less friction. the 16 strands have a rougher surface as opposed to the 24 or 32 strand ropes and so have a lot of friction. I did play around a lot with adjustability but found it to be just confusing. I concluded that hitch adjustment was a lot more effective.

Jack Valenti · Mar 7, 2018

treebing said:
pretty sure yale XTC is a 16 strand. that is what I use for rigging with my wrench because there is so much friction. there is also a lot of stretch in that rope.

I was saying I've used the 16 strand, a 48 strand, and 24 strand. I'm really not knocking the rope wrench and there's definitely a lot to be said about hitch adjustment. Rope construction also plays a big part in how it feels in your hands, and how easy it is to grip. The same things that make 16 strand difficult to use with the wrench also make it really nice to grip... so it's too bad there isn't a great way to use a stock wrench with a fat 16 strand line.

I have all but abandoned using the 16 strand for that both of those reasons. It's the default rope thay my company provides, and it feels great in my hands, super grippy by comparison to anything with a construction apparently better suited for use with the wrench.

I want to have my cake and eat it too. I want the thing to eat up slack and let me take it out just as fast, while also having a line that's fat, grippy, and easy on the hands (not flat) so I don't have to waste so much time with mechanical advantage when I only kinda need it... I should just get an adjustable bulldog bone and hide it from my bosses...

DSMc · Mar 7, 2018

Jack Valenti said:
...I want to have my cake and eat it too. I want the thing to eat up slack and let me take it out just as fast, while also having a line that's fat, grippy, and easy on the hands (not flat) so I don't have to waste so much time with mechanical advantage when I only kinda need it...

If you get a chance, try some Samson Vortex. It should do everything you are looking for.

ClimbHy · Mar 9, 2018

I'm with you on the bigger dia grip thing. I use Arbormaster with the RW, zero issues and a few benefits; Works better with larger diameter hitch cord for smoother all around ops. 16 strand or at least Arbormaster works better in pitchy situations , pitch seems to get pushed into the voids instead of wedging/stopping your hitch like smother jacket ropes.

MikePowers321 · Mar 9, 2018

ClimbHy said:
I'm with you on the bigger dia grip thing. I use Arbormaster with the RW, zero issues and a few benefits; Works better with larger diameter hitch cord for smoother all around ops. 16 strand or at least Arbormaster works better in pitchy situations , pitch seems to get pushed into the voids instead of wedging/stopping your hitch like smother jacket ropes.

What foot ascender are you using with the Arbormaster? I was finding that the CT quick step didnt always engage properly on that rope.

ClimbHy · Mar 10, 2018

MikePowers321 said:
What foot ascender are you using with the Arbormaster? I was finding that the CT quick step didnt always engage properly on that rope.

I also use the CT . I've had 3 total , the straps wore through on 2 of them. The only time I have had an issue with engagement( slipping) is when they get pitch or sap buildup in the area pictured. other than those instances I have never had one slip on any rope.

MikePowers321 · Mar 10, 2018

ClimbHy said:
I also use the CT . I've had 3 total , the straps wore through on 2 of them. The only time I have had an issue with engagement( slipping) is when they get pitch or sap buildup in the area pictured. other than those instances I have never had one slip on any rope.

Interesting. I will have to try again. I remember the spring on my old ascender got weak over time so maybe that was the culprit.