I'm a Topper !

Re: I\'m a Topper !

Reg,

Be sure to call! I'll be gone the last weekend in june....
You have my number?

Was thinking you'd be manning a booth at ISA...but maybe that role is behind ya these days?

Well, we'll see how work goes this summer. Maybe I could come up there and show ya how to smoke those little pecker poles ya's been so scared of...Heh

Of course, I'd be shite outta luck if'n da border boys confiscated the Wraptor....

I did a few bids today, sandwiched around firing off 400 images with my new prize,(in my grubby mitts since Tues. evening) the kick asz Canon 5D Mark lll....what a machine it is!!
This was from Wednesday, two hungry heron chicks.....
7348386584_1a6d5147dc_o.jpg
 
Re: I\'m a Topper !

Now you talkin Rog, bring it. Head to head. I'll even give you time to set your wraptor line first....but after that I'm not holding back. Look out.

Great pic.
 
Re: I\'m a Topper !

Roger your photography is epic dude, you really capture the true essence of nature. Good work Reg as usual, those tall sticks are quite a thing of motion, probably like a hoola hoop. Tall skinny coconut trees give the same ride but your poles are much much taller. Thanks for sharing. I am always learning a tip or two from ya.
 
Re: I\'m a Topper !

Reg, great rigging as normal. Sound and true, I just had this conversation with my foreman the other day about cleaner rigging and why he doesnt use it (the ropes on the crew are smoked from bad rigging). He told me flat out "you think the guys on our crew will be able to learn that?" I calmly said "not if the leader of the crew is not willing to learn it himself". He didnt like that much, but he did say he has no interest in learning it...... guess I can give him the honesty badge....
 
Re: I\'m a Topper !

[ QUOTE ]
Reg, nice work as usual buddy.

I noticed the elbow (compression) brace towards the end of the vid. Are the tendons acting up?

[/ QUOTE ]

On and off for over 12 years Chris. Really annoying. Thanks
 
Re: I\'m a Topper !

Reg,

With the portable winch is it just a constant pull or is there a way to modulate the amount of tension or just keep tension on the rope?
 
Re: I\'m a Topper !

[ QUOTE ]
Reg,

With the portable winch is it just a constant pull or is there a way to modulate the amount of tension or just keep tension on the rope?

[/ QUOTE ]

The capstan spins at a constant speed, so you just put several wraps on it and pull on the line as it spins. If you stop pulling then the line wont continue to pull the load or anything....but if you allow the capstan to keep spinning with the line under tension it will eventially burn through it. Its a great tool to have, applicable to many situations for anyone who can rig, but there are some serious 'donts' to it also.
Being able to set wrap the line at any point along its length is what puts it above a chainsaw (wire-cable) winch, for me.
 
Re: I\'m a Topper !

As always great vid Reg. Thanks

Jeez Roger if those shots get any clearer, nice eyeballs. Thanks

That's what I call tree work Ropeshield. And real safe too.
 
Re: I\'m a Topper !

So Reg, with that portable winch... when you use the capstan as a lowering bollard, to what extent can you trust it? I'm talking total load bearing weight, and the rope slipping off the capstan.

As with any tool, the winch has a learning curve, I'm usually in the tree and put my trust in another.

Also, when the winch has a load on it, then it is shut off... when restarting, should it be more difficult to start due to the constant spinning of the capstan?
 
Re: I\'m a Topper !

Reg will have to answer. I'm not sure whether he used the capstan winch to lower after it brought the limbs in or if there was a secondary line in the gin pole tree.

But with my Simpson (Reg has the Honda), I had to mod the incoming line fairlead to allow for bidirectional use.

As far as load bearing weight, it would be unchanged from its pulling capabilities, which are close to 2000 lb, limited by the rope used, its characteristics, and the ability of the operator to maintain enough tension to keep the wraps from slipping. As long as the line is redirected through the line out fairlead, and held tightly, wraps won't get lost.
That said, the small capstan can be prone to getting the wraps bound up, which can be a real drag to correct.
 
Re: I\'m a Topper !

We had the winch fixed at the furthest tree, ran the line through a redi at bottom of the spar tree, and then up to the high-point. If you dont use a re-di the honda will cut out....it wont work pointing upwards. We did use it to lower (if you can call it that) as Nate dragged the limbs away from the fence.
 
Re: I\'m a Topper !

I'm using the 4 stroke Honda as well. It's crucial that the winch stays level. In a dream world, it would always be operated by two people.

We rigged up a Black Oak that was leaning over a home, the plan was to cut it at the base and swing it clear of the home. The trees total weight must have been under 3,000lbs.

Similar set up, large block at the top, re-direct at the bottom, and winch strapped to an adjacent tree. Before any cutting, I winched the tension out of the tree by a good 10 foot. Face cut, back cut, until the winch started to struggle. Then it was shut off. Connected the lowering line to the RC-2000 w/ rigging prussik, and more rope. Then lowered from the winch only a short distance, right onto the bollard.

I could only imagine what might happen if the rope slips off the portable winch in certain situations.
ahhhhh.gif


When lowering, always shut off the portable winch, this of course stops the capstan from spinning.

What would good rope be for this use? Something that won't melt away.

Looks like I need to get a GRCS eh?

I'm not the best at painting a picture, so here's a quick video of the tree.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=526eFqmTFnI&feature=youtu.be
 
Re: I\'m a Topper !

... another quick unedited clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEj8MXSV_Tk&feature=youtu.be

... missed all the winching part but, we had the thing strapped onto the small fir tree (the one touching the oak), only because it was the only thing around to anchor it to!

...The rope wrapped around the trunk was only there in case my rigging prussik (above the Stein) decided to fail.

Eitherway, I'm curious to see how much I can trust this little winch, but it sure is handy. Ever any trouble starting it?
 
Re: I\'m a Topper !

[ QUOTE ]
We had the winch fixed at the furthest tree, ran the line through a redi at bottom of the spar tree, and then up to the high-point. If you dont use a re-di the honda will cut out....it wont work pointing upwards. We did use it to lower (if you can call it that) as Nate dragged the limbs away from the fence.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a good reason for others considering a capstan to look at the Simpson. It is also available with Honda power, but for $400 less, or bare to allow it to be fitted to most any chain saw. I see the price is now a lot higher than the $400 or so it was years ago. I bought mine from Tom Dunlap. He modded it to accept a fabric strap so as to do no damage to the anchor tree. And I ground back the points of the line-in fair lead to allow for bidirectional use.

http://www.madsens1.com/sa_simpson.htm
http://www.loghomestore.com/1045-simpson-capstan-winch-with-3hp-gas-engine.php
 
Re: I\'m a Topper !

Roger, What do you mean by bi-directional use?

What saw are you running it on, generally?

I have an MS 211, 361, modded 460. What do you think about these? If the 211 (2.2 cu in) would work, in your estimation, I could easily leave it connected all the time. The 361 and 460 would be used for cutting, so back and forth to some degree?

Is the change over from bar and chain to capstan as simple are changing bars/chains, or is there more involved in the change-over?
 
Re: I\'m a Topper !

[ QUOTE ]
Roger, What do you mean by bi-directional use?

What saw are you running it on, generally?

I have an MS 211, 361, modded 460. What do you think about these? If the 211 (2.2 cu in) would work, in your estimation, I could easily leave it connected all the time. The 361 and 460 would be used for cutting, so back and forth to some degree?

Is the change over from bar and chain to capstan as simple are changing bars/chains, or is there more involved in the change-over?

[/ QUOTE ]

Also, Rog, is it a one man op to manage the line and throttle a the same time?
 
Re: I\'m a Topper !

...Throttle lock?... risky
grin.gif


... hey Rog, that Simpson sure does look nice, especially with a 395 on her.

also, on this 'Fabric Strap' mod Tom D did, this was in place of the steel cable correct? I've noticed some anchor or cambium damage from rigging slings I've used...


This was from a sling with a block, half way up a large Pine, that was heavily weighted. Ouch!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom