Porta wrap in tree?

[beastmaster]

Im getting ready to buy a safbloc hear soon. I like the idea of halving the forces up there.
But why couldnt you use a small portawrap as your rigging point up in a tree for neg. rigging? I've often used a half hitch wrapped around the spar and a stub to rig out small pieces but its hard on rope.

 

[TimBr]

@beastmaster; You can, and I have. Here's a link to the Mini Port-a-Wrap, rated I think for 1,000 pounds, and 1/2" rigging rope. It weighs less than a pound and a half. It's a bit of a tight radius, but it works well, and is light enough to be fairly easy to take with you. I use a Loopie sling to attach mine.

http://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?item=126

Tim

 

[Nish]

I love the mini portawraps. When I first looked at one it struck me as a toy-like. I put a 1/2" tenex sling on it and we found it so useful that I just bought a second one. Small enough to take up into a tree. It's maxed out with 1/2" rope though.

 

[evo]

You can use a figure 8 in a pinch too. Lighter and smaller than even the small port a wrap.

 

[beastmaster]

You can use a figure 8 in a pinch too. Lighter and smaller than even the small port a wrap.

I've done that in the past with 3 strand rope for lowing big branches, but it twisted up the rope really bad.
I've used the spar and a stub to hang tops and it works really well, but it'll burn up a braided rope real bad. You can even take more then one wrap, or leave slack between the two wraps and it'll run a bit before locking up. But hard on the rope and you need strategic stubs left on spar.

 

[TimberJack]

The mini porti is a great tool. I spoke of using one in regs solo tree work thread. Its a lot better then a figure of 8. What I dont understand about these other aerial friction brakes (ie; rignwrench, safebloc, belay spool) is they all lack a lock off.

 

[CRL]

The mini porti is a great tool. I spoke of using one in regs solo tree work thread. Its a lot better then a figure of 8. What I dont understand about these other aerial friction brakes (ie; rignwrench, safebloc, belay spool) is they all lack a lock off.

I've locked my belay spool off with a mule knot followed by an overhand back up. The mule can be released under load. That may be an option.

 

[colb]

I've heard criticism about the portawarap not being a closed system, but kind of feel like that applies to using it on the ground too.

More practically, the features could tangle when negative blocking? It's not as simple as a safebloc.

 

[TimberJack]

I just checked out the mule knot. Damn it now i want a safe block...

 

[flyingsquirrel25]

I have been using the tree angel lately for aerial friction. Easier then using a figure 8 because you don't have to release a carabiner to thread it. You can also vary the friction by going with one ear, two ears or an extra wrap on the second ear or tie it off super easy.

 

[TreeVB]

The mini porti is a great tool. I spoke of using one in regs solo tree work thread. Its a lot better then a figure of 8. What I dont understand about these other aerial friction brakes (ie; rignwrench, safebloc, belay spool) is they all lack a lock off.

I have been using the tree angel lately for aerial friction. Easier then using a figure 8 because you don't have to release a carabiner to thread it. You can also vary the friction by going with one ear, two ears or an extra wrap on the second ear or tie it off super easy.

Haven't done it but I'd bet you could lock off the safebloc using a strap to a nearby limb with a carabiner attached to an eye to eye prussic on the tail end of rigging line.

 

[the.schultz.effect]

i use the mini porty in the tree all the time, especially when i want maximum control (i.e. the ground guys can not be trusted at all). the ability to set friction, have it run unmanned, then stop it & lock it off whenever you want is unmatched. when i want a bigger WLL than it or 1/2" rope will provide i just double block the piece down. you can even self retrieve the rope this way but your sling will be left on the piece so better have a few extras.
the only major problem comes when you're trying to negative rig things. when the mini flops over it can drop a wrap or half a wrap so you gotta factor that in. if you put on too many wraps by accident & snub off the load you're putting that force/ strain on a much shorter section of rope, something to think about...

 

[SomethingWitty]

i use the mini porty in the tree all the time, especially when i want maximum control (i.e. the ground guys can not be trusted at all). the ability to set friction, have it run unmanned, then stop it & lock it off whenever you want is unmatched. when i want a bigger WLL than it or 1/2" rope will provide i just double block the piece down. you can even self retrieve the rope this way but your sling will be left on the piece so better have a few extras.
the only major problem comes when you're trying to negative rig things. when the mini flops over it can drop a wrap or half a wrap so you gotta factor that in. if you put on too many wraps by accident & snub off the load you're putting that force/ strain on a much shorter section of rope, something to think about...

So this may take a few tests to see how well it works, but what do you think about clipping a keeper biner around the tail and to the metal loop on the bottom of the POW that the sling attaches to? I think it would keep it from jumping wraps without messing with your friction much.

 

[the.schultz.effect]

So this may take a few tests to see how well it works, but what do you think about clipping a keeper biner around the tail and to the metal loop on the bottom of the POW that the sling attaches to? I think it would keep it from jumping wraps without messing with your friction much.

worth a shot

 

[CutHighnLetFly]

i use the mini porty in the tree all the time, especially when i want maximum control (i.e. the ground guys can not be trusted at all). the ability to set friction, have it run unmanned, then stop it & lock it off whenever you want is unmatched. when i want a bigger WLL than it or 1/2" rope will provide i just double block the piece down. you can even self retrieve the rope this way but your sling will be left on the piece so better have a few extras.
the only major problem comes when you're trying to negative rig things. when the mini flops over it can drop a wrap or half a wrap so you gotta factor that in. if you put on too many wraps by accident & snub off the load you're putting that force/ strain on a much shorter section of rope, something to think about...

Did I see you double blockin with 2 THTs in a video? Looked like you were doing it and have a unmanned rigging situation. Was that what the deal was? Any chance you could explain the advantage that provided?
I only saw the pieces come off the stem so I couldn't tell what that did. It seemed like the rope WHIPPED back up to the rigging point(pretty sure you even added the sound effects haha) so it seemed like the piece was really moving.

 

[the.schultz.effect]

Did I see you double blockin with 2 THTs in a video? Looked like you were doing it and have a unmanned rigging situation. Was that what the deal was? Any chance you could explain the advantage that provided?
I only saw the pieces come off the stem so I couldn't tell what that did. It seemed like the rope WHIPPED back up to the rigging point(pretty sure you even added the sound effects haha) so it seemed like the piece was really moving.

not sure which video you're referring too. i've done it in a few videos. In August Hunicke's A-team video i was experimenting with creating enough friction from the double blocking so that i could self lower negative rigged logs. i had a THT on the spar and double beast sling on the piece. The problem was the rope was a bit too short so the unmanned tail came whipping up like a bull whip and blasted off one of my ear muffs! no injuiry but def lessoned learned
in my Safebloc boys video we were basically doing it just to do it. experimental rigging. it does allow you to lower huge logs without having to have a big expensive lowering device. it also reduces the forces on your rope and hardware. a bit of a pain between set ups though.

 

[southsoundtree]

I've been aiming to move the POW in the tree with me, but still use a block/ rings up top. Previously, all my aerial friction was with the friction device at the top of the tree (Belay Spool) or right near the cut point.

More rope in the system for dynamic loading. More control than natural crotch friction. We'll see. A rope burned hand from nc friction last week made me think of trying something new. The tree was too dead/ decayed to trust the new groundie.

 

[beastmaster]

I'd like to see those videos. Are they on you tube?

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Many yeArs ago I found the BMS Belay Spool and bought one direct.

What a tool!

Since the cheek plates capture the rope I never worried about having a loop jump off It hocklex the rope A lot less than an F8 too. Most of the time we'd alternate ends of
The rope so thT solved hockling too

Other thAn a munter for one or two small lowers I'd never use anything than the BelAy Spool/OLDS

 

[rope-a-dope]

I wondered why that rope was whipping up at you like that in A team! Makes sense now, and double safeblocking sounds sweet, but that is asking for it: rope tatoo

Balls to the wall