Line launcher

[Winchman]

Are you 'double bagging'?

No. After getting the line where I want it, I stow the throw-weight and use only the two-pound weight to isolate. I found it's less likely to get something stuck in the tree with the heavier weight.

 

[moss]

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.

I climb in so many different contexts, for so many different reasons, pulling the bag back from a big slingshot throw to a point where I can work with it works well for me. Finesse in everything, whatever works best for an individual climber is best for sure!
-AJ

 

[moss]

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.

Yes, getting the bag to drop is the first order of business. Can't always happen especially if I just threw into a big conifer and through a couple other trees, have to bring the bag back until it will drop. It's often a blind "by feel' operation. At first opportunity I'll put a 12 oz bag on the throwing end after the throw, or add a second bag to the 12 oz as needed (white oak for example). Usually throw a 10 oz.

And that is the downside of using a powerful throwing device, typically you're going to have to bring the bag back a fair amount before you can get it to drop somewhere useful.
-AJ

 

[Bart_]

I shifted to the nearest to vertical just enough energy mode after having trouble pulling the bag back through spindly top growth to the target junction without snagging, dragging, loop-wrapping or slingshot releasing it (when it finally releases from a sprung V spot). I even hesitate to pull the bag back up partway sometimes. I often just say failed shot, remove the bag, retract the line from the launch side, retie bag and try again - guaranteed no snag. Semi-calibrated repeatable shot force is useful. I think this applies to slingshot or spudgun. I admit pulling a 2nd bag up trailing a second line, me pulling on the og bag end, drop/pull per Winchman , works, I've done it.

Where or what is this 32 oz bag?

Reader's digest - up thru tree, across street, down thru top of tree on other side of street

 

[Winchman]

I keep a pulley and some line in my throw-line bucket for those occasions when the throw weight gets stuck. Having it handy helps me avoid the temptation to pull really hard and have the throw-weight headed at me instead of at the base of a tree.

When isolating, pulling a larger weight up and away from me isn't nearly as dangerous as pulling smaller one toward me.

The 32-ounce weight is an ugly thing made from a soft drink bottle that's been cut in half and taped back together. Inside is a length of old bicycle inner tube filled with chopped up scrap copper wire. Zip ties around the inner tube stick through the top to form a loop that makes it easy to attach at any convenient place on the throwline. It's taken several years of abuse.

 

[moss]

I keep a pulley and some line in my throw-line bucket for those occasions when the throw weight gets stuck. Having it handy helps me avoid the temptation to pull really hard and have the throw-weight headed at me instead of at the base of a tree.

When isolating, pulling a larger weight up and away from me isn't nearly as dangerous as pulling smaller one toward me.

The 32-ounce weight is an ugly thing made from a soft drink bottle that's been cut in half and taped back together. Inside is a length of old bicycle inner tube filled with chopped up scrap copper wire. Zip ties around the inner tube stick through the top to form a loop that makes it easy to attach at any convenient place on the throwline. It's taken several years of abuse.
View attachment 100197

International Champ Largest Tree Climber Throw Weight! I like it. Especially with the eagle in there ;-)
-AJ

 

[Winchman]

Well, my curiosity got the best of me. Armed with a gift card from a recent client, I found a "used-like new" 11/2" irrigation valve on Amazon and modified it for use in a new launcher. Here's the before and after.


The ball foot air chuck is my new trigger, replacing the blowgun that required so much care in handling and storage. I had to put a little chunk of foam rubber inside to hold the poppet against the seat while the battery-powered compressor starts charging the tank. It doesn't have enough flow to seat the poppet. It's easy to open the poppet with a fingertip even at 50psi and there's much less chance of an accidental firing.

Happy with the new larger valve, I'll go to Lowes for new PVC pipe and fittings taking care to get Schedule 40 (280psi) instead of the lighter DWV offerings made of foam PVC.

 

[Winchman]

It works much like I expected it would. The 12-ounce throw weight sails over a 100' tree at 30psi and clears it at 25psi. That means I'll only need about 20psi for most of what I do. The 2" PVC comes in a five-foot length, so why not start with twice the tank volume. It only takes about twenty seconds to charge the tank to 20psi.

The only issue I see is that it's awkward to reach the trigger when I'm kneeling. I'll try standing for a while before changing anything.

It's a handy tool for just under $100 plus several hours of tinkering.

 

[Winchman]

I picked up a Canada Dry ginger ale bottle while walking the other day. It was the perfect size for a new two-pound weight and much sturdier that the bottle I've been using. A well-proven concept in a nicer package.

The BBs are double-bagged in zip-lock plastic and make the weight a little softer since they move around so easily. It's also 10 grams heavier and almost two inches shorter with the same diameter. I closed the bottom with foam rubber held in place with gorilla tape. The nylon line carries the load to the chain link attach point.