life of a porta wrap ?

[just_a_tree_guy]

in general what do you guys think the life of a porta wrap should be ? i have a steel one that has a few years on it . i inspected it and it looks good ( no cracks , weld still looks good . ) just was wondering , whats the average life of this device ?

 

[zale]

If you treat it right, they will last years. I know guys that still use the original version.

 

[Jay_C]

I've had mine for 16 yrs. It's the original "boat anchor" style. i don't see them wearing out.

 

[Norm_Hall]

Keep inspecting it. It should last for 10 years minimum. I still have one of the 1st to go out (1991).

 

[just_a_tree_guy]

wow thats a long life for such a device that take abuse the way it does . thanks for all your post guys . be safe !

 

[jim454]

It would be fun to see a brake test done on one.

 

[treestyler]

Life will depend totally on the use and more important the abuse ;-)

Just check it every time and buy a new one if any cracks, deformation or other visual wear and tear is noticed.

But you all should know this anyway.

 

[Reg]

I got through 2 large steel ones in 4 years. The grooves from the first wrap were at half way through the metal by two years, which I think was deep enough to say no more. But for the work they both endured I have no complaints whatsoever.

 

[bonner1040]

No way... I use a port-wrap every single day and it shows no noticeable wear whatsoever.

 

[Daniel]

dirty ropes are quite abrasive... that and one person's "everyday" may be different than another's

 

[just_a_tree_guy]

so far mine shows little wear and gets heavy use regularly . always have good ropes and never let them get to old .

 

[bonner1040]

"Every day" as in I work 6 days a week for my employer and 1 day a week on sidework...

"Every day" as in at least monday-friday every week.

 

[Reg]

Its true, actually.
And more to the point, one man’s everyday (as in what happens in that day) is where difference lies.

I know people who go through at least one friction hitch per-month, while I personally get much more out of mine.

I could definitely see a portowrap lasting me 10 years in my current situation but not so in times gone by. Like I said, 2 years, half way through the metal....a good time to retire it IMO, while staying on topic.

 

[bonner1040]

Fair enough

 

[TreeProdigy]

its good enough till port a wrap 4 comes out LOL sucka

 

[bonner1040]

Reg, your reputation certainly proceeds you...If you say you wore it out that fast, then I am sure you did. Honestly though I still cannot imagine how!

I must be rigging small wood by your standards..

 

[born2climb]

My oldest portie is several years old, but I still natural crotch lots of stuff. Once the weight of the piece to be lowered exceeds 600#-700#, I prefer the bollard. I'm sure negative blocking the big stuff Reg deals with takes a toll on a portie.

 

[Reg]

[ QUOTE ]
Reg, your reputation certainly proceeds you...If you say you wore it out that fast, then I am sure you did. Honestly though I still cannot imagine how!

I must be rigging small wood by your standards..

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey no worries....nor with the skeptisism, as it is a discussion after all.

Its blocking heavy wood (beech, oak) that does it....and while it is safer to slow the log over the full falling distance from the rigging point to the ground, it definitely takes its toll on the lowering device in that sense. Many times we had bursts of smoke down below.

Whatever, its a great design at a price that you just cant argue with, whether thats 2 or 10 years. Again, no complaints here.

 

[PUClimber]

I have to agree with everyone else on this one. Inspection is a big key as well as depending on rope and pulleys and abuse it takes. If you're bombing wood into and shock loading the crap out of it on a daily basis it's not going to last quite as long as someone who is using it to rig a few limbs over a house on a pruning job everyday.