New to spider legs

Any reason why a sling cant wrapped around the branch in the form of a marl...after its choked? This would allow for alot of adjustablity? I have done this before but wasnt sure if it put a bad bend ratio on the choker.
 
you lose a percentige of the wll it is better to just take another wrap or adjust the sling position it is also possible when using multi sling techniques to incorporate comealongs designed for overhead lifting to adjust sling length and cog.
 
Marlinspiker,

Some of the pics could have been done that way, but many had to come off horizontal due to the tree overhead, maintaing safe/comfortable rope angles and I'll admit it, just plain convenience. The narrow LZ also made horizontal picks easier to manage on the clean up end. In fact, that was the major consideration for most of the pics. We did not want to scratch up the sides of the houses,driveway, etc.

I have lifted many, many pics they way you describe. It's a valid technique, but I gotta tell ya, properly placed spider legs blow the lift technique away when it comes to stability and predictability.

Classictruckman is correct, those picks could have been balanced the"old fashioned way." Once again a valid technique, but roll was an issue with sawyer placement in the tree. The tree was almost twice as wide as tall! Once again Spider legs take the guess work out. I have never been very good at single sling balancing. Then neither can I walk and chew gum at the same time most days!! That does not make it impossible.

We were also experimenting a good deal on the job just for practice. Many of the picks did not require absolutely no movement after the cut, but its good to work out your "super exact" system when you don't need if for those days when you do. I'll freely admit I am a control freak when it coms to tree work especially rigging. If I can get it "perfect" every time then I feel I am gaining. If not perfection, then what goal is worthy.

Tony
 
Ill admit I have yet to use spider legs, but id like to give them a try for certain scenarios. I have had the benefit or working with excellent crane operators that only do tree work and can quickly componsate for my errors. If I was in a scenario where pitching and rolling were an issue I can see where the spider legs would be indespensable. Im not adverse to using more then two nylon straps from time to time.
 
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Hey Jeremy, I like the looks of those 3/4" Tenex TEC slings. I was wondering if you spliced those up yourself or purchased them somewhere.

I was also wondering what lengths you use for the slings too?

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I ended up ordering the slings from Knot and Rope Supply. They are 18, 20 and 25 foot. I plan on adding a 30 to the mix soon.

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Thanks for the info Jeremy.

John Hartenburg and his people in the shop at Knot & Rope Supply are first class all the way.

Great people to do business with. Here's their link for those of you who haven't seen their site yet.

www.knotandrope.com
 
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Its up to the laws and regs in your area, here that would be considered a knot in the sling and considered illegal, the same reason we can't use spider legs here.

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Bend=knot
Hitch=knot
Basket hitch=knot
Girth Hitch=knot
Choker=knot

Fortuneately for the enlightened, Shepherds Utilty sells whoopie sling with rating stamped tags on them that allow open minded riggers to employ adjustable "triangulated rigs" (see didnt say spider legs) with cranes "legally".

I did 10 Cottonwoods last week, 90' tall, 84-120cm DBH (165yds chips, 150yd wood in 40yd bins, 60ton terex for 2 days) didnt use a single spider leg. But I might have....

But to examine another man's mental toolbox and pass negative judgement on their choices is......... whatever.
 
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But to examine another man's mental toolbox and pass negative judgement on their choices is......... whatever.

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Most slings are rated by the manufacturer to be used as a choker.

I'm not passing negative judgement I wouldn't use spider legs, but I'm not saying that they shouldn't be used.

I think its more important that people understand the principals behind the rigging, rather than thinking spider legging will prevent any movement after the cut. Its not up to the slings (whether they're spider legs or not) to rig it properly, its up to the rigger to estimate the weight, Center of Gravity, to signal the operator to move the hook over the CofG and rig it so its balanced.
 
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I think its more important that people understand the principals behind the rigging, rather than thinking spider legging will prevent any movement after the cut.

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Who is thinking this way?
 
I see the point and it is correct. To think a climber can simply sling the hell, out of a limb and have it come of smoothly with no other planning is foolish.

Improperly placed spider legs (or any sling) especially in conjunction with the ball out of alignment with CoG will cause movement. This movement can be desirable, as in a piece moving away from a climber or obstacle, or it can be tragic.

In my experience, spider legs take some of the guess work out, work on multiple planes simultaneously (i.e. up, down,left right,roll, pitch and yaw), they keep a piece more stable as it moves through a heavy canopy and brushes against other limbs. Spider legs can spread weight and pressure points out along a pic. This is comforting on dead and severely compromised limbs. All these attributes make properly placed spider leg picks versatile and a touch forgiving, both nice features for any type of rigging work crane or otherwise.

It is unfortunate that in some locales spider legs in there most basic form, a single eye sling knotted to the pic, are not allowed. You have truly been deprived of a versatile, apposite tool.

Tony
 
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I've found butt tying to be helpful. It eliminates all movement and surprises, then it becomes a tag line for the ground crew. I don't have the option of positioning my rigging point as you can with a crane, so I'm usually off center and going to get a twist so butt tying is worth the time. I've been using the mini port-a-wrap for this.

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If possible, please post some pics. I'd be very interested in observing this. Thanks
 
Sorry Norm, I won't be rigging or making money till April when the snow melts. So no photos. To describe it; cow hitch the mini portawrap to the stem, running bowline the rigged piece and lock it off as short as possible. Pretty basic.

I should explain I've never used a crane and have no idea why spider slings are banned for workers who know what they're doing anyway.

I work in a resort area and almost always have 100' trees around to use for rigging points. With that I am always off center so big swings are possible and a climber's friction device is one way to controls this. If you're rigging a large balanced lateral off it's vertical stem I really like butt tying to stop the piece from slamming back into the stem and climber.

It mainly comes down to a work attitude of rush getting out of the shop, rush the clean up. Take time when making cuts, that extra minute won't kill the meager profit. And put an extra rope on it if it'll help.
 
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In my experience, spider legs take some of the guess work out, work on multiple planes simultaneously (i.e. up, down,left right,roll, pitch and yaw), they keep a piece more stable as it moves through a heavy canopy and brushes against other limbs. Spider legs can spread weight and pressure points out along a pic. This is comforting on dead and severely compromised limbs. All these attributes make properly placed spider leg picks versatile and a touch forgiving, both nice features for any type of rigging work crane or otherwise.

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Yes, but not spider legs specifically, multiple slings will do this whether they are dead end slings, eye to eye sings, or endless loop slings.

And BTW UrbanTC you should have that clevis shackle in your avatar wired so it won't unscrew.
 
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And BTW UrbanTC you should have that clevis shackle in your avatar wired so it won't unscrew.

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Yes sir!! I did just that. I will have a fresh avatar up with the wire, sorry about that. Anything else?
 
Classictruckman,

I've always figured "spiderleging" referred to the use multiple slings, not the actual sling design or material. Then again I am often confused and easily befuddled especially when it comes to minor and nearly moot semantic points.

Marlinspiker,

You true identity is safe with me! I won't tell anyone I saw you once go into the phone booth and a superhero come out
tongue.gif


Tony
 
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I've always figured "spiderleging" referred to the use multiple slings, not the actual sling design or material. Then again I am often confused and easily befuddled especially when it comes to minor and nearly moot semantic points.


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The technique is exactly the same, and you are right that it is just a point of semantics. The biggest difference I can see is that a piece of cord with an eye splice (spiderleg) is lighter, easier to work with, and more easily adjustable to the desired length. The use of "spiderlegs" just seems to make sense when it comes to balancing awkward pieces.

That being said all the crane work I have ever done has been with slings. I am basing my thoughts on what I have read and talked with others about. I sure would like to give working with a set of spiderlegs a try sometime soon.
 
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