Line launcher

I have been eying a tire bead seater on TikTok shop for $50 something. It’s either going to be a line launcher or a spud gun, maybe both. But certainly not a tire bead seater.

The one above looks well thought out tho.
 
I haven't checked if they still carry them, but that is the same unit I got from Wesspur a few years back. I like the ergonomics compared to simpler designs like the APTA.
 
Ok I see that one now. Those guys just haven't worked out how to be accurate without someone else stabilizing the gun gor them. I can imagine such a technique being occasionally useful for especially long tight shots, but by no means required.
 
In the demo vid placing the line in a tower the operator throws up a line snarl. Goes with the territory, no fault of the gun ;-)

The ball valve is a kind of safety feature I suppose since it requires a deliberate slow pull to maintain good aim. Some form of trigger release that doesn't violate firearm laws would be good for more consistent accuracy.

Accidental release is always a hazard with any kind of trigger based line launcher. There's room for innovation creating an "aim friendly" and safe trigger release for a tube gun or slingshot based system.

Looks like the most "professionalized" narrow gauge spud gun out there, thx for the link @surveyor!
-AJ
 
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southsoundtree said:
A laser would work a treat.
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It's that weird and challenging artillery problem where the charge (PSI level) will create a more or less arcing throw per height and angle. The engineering and build to have the laser pointer automatically adjust per PSI level would cost quite a bit more than the spud gun no doubt.

For tree use you could probably set up a laser pointer with say 3 stops on a simple range adjuster, low, medium, high corresponding to the average heights you encounter in your area. In the PNW the "low" setting could be 60' for example. In the eastern/central U.S. you'd just need 2 settings ;-) Medium and high with high being 120' and medium 60'. Rough numbers, mileage varies east of the Rockies depending where you are.

Overthinking it but with a precise device like a laser pointer it's going to take some easy-to-use calibration flexibility to make it more useful on a throwing device.
-AJ
 
On a recent job I created a high rigging point (80') on a big pine to support a tree I was removing off a roof. It took me 3 slingshot throws to put the ace in the hole. First shot was 1' too low, second shot was correct height but a foot or so to the side and deflected off the trunk. Third shot was perfect and then deflected straight down off a back branch just after it went through the target. That is super rare. I only had to do minimal movement of the bag on the backside to get a good path for the rope leg that would anchor on a porta-wrap.

I had a fairly flat trajectory throw (slingshot tubing maxed close to ten feet) to get the accuracy I needed. The problem with line throwers: you want near or full power to hit the tight spot in a complicated target situation. After the throw your bag may have gone through two other trees. Pulling the bag back for reasonable isolation is a delicate operation.

Line throwing with a device is its own kind of art with f-ups nearly guaranteed.
-AJ
 
Re: pulling the bag being a delicate situation... yes...I have largely started changing to a 20 oz vinyl bag for 'dancing' the end of the line and/ or double-bagging. Sometimes just getting the end of the throwline to the ground the first time is a trick.
 
moss said:
The ball valve is a kind of safety feature I suppose since it requires a deliberate slow pull to maintain good aim. Some form of trigger release that doesn't violate firearm laws would be good for more consistent accuracy.
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You can't pull it slowly or it doesn't launch well at all; just sorta comes out. Not unlike firing a real gun, you press it into yourself and isometrically contract, and then the firing motion has you opening the valve as quickly, but smoothly as you can.

As challenging as it is, I still find it easier than hand throwing for all kinds of super tight shots, as well as anything over 80-90', and the learning curve was far steeper than for hand throwing, which at least for me took a lot of practice.
 
I just bought a Vevor tire bead seater from Lowes for just over $60, just to see what it's like. Shipping was free. The 2.1-gallon tank is too big for a line launcher, too heavy (15 pounds) to lug around, and would take too long to fill with a battery-powered air compressor. However, the aluminum release valve has 1.5" ports and a simple compact pushbutton release, and those parts appear to be well worth the cost of the whole thing. I found the valve on another site without the pushbutton release for $116. Those parts would probably add another thirty bucks if you could find them.
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I'm going to make a new barrel to try it out. The launcher I've got has a 1" lawn sprinkler valve. I suspect the larger valve will give the same performance at a lower pressure and that'll reduce my concerns about using PVC for the air tank. If the valve works as expected, I'll make a new tank with a 1.5" outlet.
 
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I tried it out with a six-foot barrel. At 30 and 40psi it sailed over a 100'+ tree. 20psi got me in the highest branches. I'm sure the 4x tank volume is a big factor but the 2x valve opening has to be helping. Very impressive as expected.

I was correct about it being too heavy, awkward to handle, and time consuming to air up. Worse than expected.

But taking it apart to get the jewels didn't go well. None of my metric or inch wrenches would fit properly on anything I tried to loosen. I made shims to fit but still couldn't turn anything. I made a "wrench" out of wood to fit around the valve body but couldn't get it to turn at all, either. I think they must have put red Loctite on everything. Very discouraging to say the least. Oh well.

I've got something that works well enough, and I know what I need to do to make it better.
 
moss said:
I had a fairly flat trajectory throw (slingshot tubing maxed close to ten feet) to get the accuracy I needed. The problem with line throwers: you want near or full power to hit the tight spot in a complicated target situation. After the throw your bag may have gone through two other trees. Pulling the bag back for reasonable isolation is a delicate operation.
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With my air launcher I've found that I do better setting the PSI so a vertical launch would top out a bit but not too much above my target (near as I can dial that in), and then launching as near vertical as practical. This means that I get a lot less arcing til near max height --> much less adjusting my aim for line-of-sight (theory) being different from the actual flight path (reality).
 
moss said:
Pulling the bag back for reasonable isolation is a delicate operation.
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I never pull the line back unless it's hung up where I can't reach it or jiggle it down. I retrieve the throw bag and use that end of the line to pull a two-pound weight up and let it drop over the limb I want. The 2lb weight is almost always enough to pull the overthrown line (minus the throw-weight) back to the limb I want. That isolates one side of the limb. Pulling the weight up again and letting it drop from the near side of the limb will isolate the other side. It's kind of tedious, but I find it's time well spent.
 
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