Black Widow micro Bull line

[Kevin]

Can this rope be spliced?

 

[treeclimber165]

I believe it is either Samson Amsteel or New England Endura 12. Both are 12 strand single braid. I'm sure they can be spliced, but the question is how strong the splice will be.

I discussed this rope with one of my favorite groundmen and after weighing the pros and cons he didn't think it would be very easy to use. I tend to agree. If you are loading it heavier than what a 1/2" rope will handle, you need lots of specialty hardware to handle that much weight with such a small rope. Then you have the issue of the groundman handling a string to lower that much weight.

I can see using it for a speedline or guyline, but not for lowering.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Another possible use would be in a situation where you had to pack in your geat. Ounces quickly become pounds.

Tom

 

[Kevin]

I was interested in using it with my new grapnel and also as a tag line particularly for its smaller size and wear resistance qualities.

 

[Mark Chisholm]

I would agree with you here Kevin. It is nice to have a smaller dia rope for many jobs. Tag-lines, butt-lines, haul-back ... there are many good uses. I don't think that I would use these for a lowering line in everyday circumstances. The idea of being made of no-stretech exotic fiber means to me that the forces generated in lowering would then be distributed amongst the rigging and the tree itself, and not absorbed in part by the line. Not good for most jobs. These lines also fail without warning, meaning that it would be near impossible to predict. Still, I do like the added option of having one on the truck.