balancer components/material?

[Phil]

So we had to lift a large oak branch off a house today. the butt was on the ground, 10 feet up the limb it forked. Both forks were holding the weight on the roof line so we decided to put a balancer on each side of the fork and scoot the butt away from the house. We haven't really used balancers that much before so I cut a section of fly climbing line that i don't use anymore, added a prusik hitch with an old bee line friction cord, and attatched all that to the rigging line with a heavy steel rigging crab. We fiddle blocked off the portawrap the take all the slack out. The rigging line was 3 starnd rope. I know the fly and the 3 strand are kind stretchy, the fly is more so than the 3 strand. My question is, what do you guys find works well for the balancer rope and the rigging rope? Any favorite materials or pros cons to what you've used?

 

[willbranch]

I use a Tenex spider leg tied onto the rigging line with a schwabisch hitch. The rigging line I use most is 16 strand arbor master. It works great for light rigging,which I do alot of in day to day pruning and dead wooding. Any heavy work is done with a 3/4 bull rope, stable braid maybe?

 

[Norm_Hall]

Polyester hollow braids are a favorite(Tenex, Yalex, Nerex, etc.).
I made a few Dyneema spider legs when working in close proximity to energized lines, and since I've seen how they perform, I almost exclusively use them all the time. They wear like iron and almost no creep. A little pricey, but worth it IMO.
Polyester DB's are a good alternative, just keep in mind, they share the load 50/50 (cover/core). So splicing an eye can be challenging for a beginner splicer.
FYI, spider legs are easier to rig than a balancer.

 

[easyphloem]

[ QUOTE ]

I made a few Dyneema spider legs when working in close proximity to energized lines, and since I've seen how they perform, I almost exclusively use them all the time.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you have any pictures of these Dyneema spider legs, Norm?


SZ

 

[Norm_Hall]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

I made a few Dyneema spider legs when working in close proximity to energized lines, and since I've seen how they perform, I almost exclusively use them all the time.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you have any pictures of these Dyneema spider legs, Norm?SZ

[/ QUOTE ]

I used them on the Chicago Botanic Garden crane job vid. Did you want to see a close up pic? I have 20' & 30' 1/2" diameter, and 30' & 36' 5/8" diameter.