radio controlled choker

boreality

boreality

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boreal forest
Ax Men showed a radio controlled choker release. It could be useful to us instead of needing the ground man to untie the rigged pieces. www.jlogging.com has one version I didn't check price and don't know how portable the controller is; like could you climb with it. For sure the release is tough enough if it is designed for high line logging. I've tried jigging the running bowline off the butt or having a second line to try and do a remote release, but that didn't work consistatnly.
 
Neat idea; I suspect most have groundies and hence would not need that, but I can see how it could come in really handy for solo work - not that anyone would do solo work, right?

I have used a releasable hitch that you can 'shake' loose from the tree after the limb is on the ground. It certainly is not as secure as more permanent hitching, but it's not bad. I have only had one failure out of many uses and I could have prevented that one time. The large limb I was lowering got hung and instead of working it loose, I continued lowering it and when it 'inverted' the hitch came loose, but again user error.
 
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...Ron would you mind showing that hitch your talking about.

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I'd be glad to. Here's a pic of the concept but not the best version. I'll try to make a pic of a variation I think works much better (i.e. releases easier when you want it to) and post it sometime this weekend. Hmmm, maybe I can do a short video of it in action.

3694348838_00c97ee573.jpg


As you can see it's not really much of a hitch, but it does hold surprisingly well and I've used it quite a bit. It should be obvious that if you get slack in it, it could loosen and release, but then that's how it's suppose to work.

The tail (the part tucked under the rope) needs to be kept short to release easier.

The better version just has the tail under the rope kinda like a 'slipped' hitch. You will need to play with the length of the bight a bit. The shorter it is the easier it is to make it release but it's not quite as secure. The longer it is the more secure it is, but the harder it is to get it to release.

Once you get a piece on the ground you do a series of pull and releases and it eventually wiggles itself free. Some times it takes a bit more effort, but if you're solo, I promise it doesn't take as much effort as climbing down and back up.

Of course realize this may not work as well on heavier pieces, and there is always the possibility of 'losing the load' so if you use it, use it wisely.

And I should mention that it is not for 'catching' a load, so you'd need to catch the load then apply the hitch.
 
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This is not for working solo. I just wouldn't want to interupt the groundies cigarette.

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I went back to the site and looked at one of the brochures and now I see what you're saying.

Still an interesting concept, thanks for posting it.
 
As an alternative to a remote release, someone posted an idea for being able to lower limbs and release from above.

The jist of it is to use webbing slings and 'biners, placing a lowering device or wrap on trunk/ limb near the work area, allowing a bight to droop down, then back up to an accessible-to-the-climber, higher-than-the-workpiece-height, and tie off with a knot of choice. Then, cut the piece, lower to ground on the bight, untie the knot to drop the rope, and pull the rope through the 'biner. It will release every time, without a fuss. After you lower the pieces you need to remove, you descend and remove the slings/'biners.

You will need a rope that is double you height in the tree, slings and biners, and a lowering device (or wraps).
 

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Man, that is so simple why didn't I firgure that out. Same strength loss as a knot at the attachment. Thanks Sean. Hey Ron what did you cut that piece with? Looks like a swede saw.
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Man, that is so simple why didn't I firgure that out. Same strength loss as a knot at the attachment. Thanks Sean. Hey Ron what did you cut that piece with? Looks like a swede saw.

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Agree that is pretty cool...and yes so simple a caveman could do it right?!

Good Idea I will defiantly share that with people
 
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Man, that is so simple why didn't I firgure that out. Same strength loss as a knot at the attachment. Thanks Sean. Hey Ron what did you cut that piece with? Looks like a swede saw.
grin.gif


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Looks like a good system. Looks like if you're crafty, well-set-up, and maybe having a few tweaks, you can safely catch appropriate, dynamic loads relatively safely, too.

I'm just passing on an idea that I had never worked out on my own, that I read on the Buzz.

Thanks, Buzzers.
 
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...Ron would you mind showing that hitch your talking about.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd be glad to. Here's a pic of the concept but not the best version. I'll try to make a pic of a variation I think works much better (i.e. releases easier when you want it to) and post it sometime this weekend. Hmmm, maybe I can do a short video of it in action.

3694348838_00c97ee573.jpg


As you can see it's not really much of a hitch, but it does hold surprisingly well and I've used it quite a bit. It should be obvious that if you get slack in it, it could loosen and release, but then that's how it's suppose to work.

The tail (the part tucked under the rope) needs to be kept short to release easier.

The better version just has the tail under the rope kinda like a 'slipped' hitch. You will need to play with the length of the bight a bit. The shorter it is the easier it is to make it release but it's not quite as secure. The longer it is the more secure it is, but the harder it is to get it to release.

Once you get a piece on the ground you do a series of pull and releases and it eventually wiggles itself free. Some times it takes a bit more effort, but if you're solo, I promise it doesn't take as much effort as climbing down and back up.

Of course realize this may not work as well on heavier pieces, and there is always the possibility of 'losing the load' so if you use it, use it wisely.

And I should mention that it is not for 'catching' a load, so you'd need to catch the load then apply the hitch.

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I appreciate the idea but I could never trust that hitch with anything of value underneath the piece being lowered. I've seen logs roll out of a clove hitch with a half hitch. I could just never trust that knot.
 
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I appreciate the idea but I could never trust that hitch with anything of value underneath the piece being lowered. I've seen logs roll out of a clove hitch with a half hitch. I could just never trust that knot.

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You could never trust that hitch, cause after 2 and a half years in, you've seen a guy with basicly the same lame 3 years of repeated experience as you, tie a hitch or wrap wrong and it failed. Gee go figure.
 
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I appreciate the idea but I could never trust that hitch with anything of value underneath the piece being lowered. I've seen logs roll out of a clove hitch with a half hitch. I could just never trust that knot.

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You could never trust that hitch, cause after 2 and a half years in, you've seen a guy with basicly the same lame 3 years of repeated experience as you, tie a hitch or wrap wrong and it failed. Gee go figure.

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Wow, Thanks for your input. Lou Giroud tried to recruit me before you ever took a serious climb in a tree.
 
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Wow, Thanks for your input. Lou Giroud tried to recruit me before you ever took a serious climb in a tree.

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Yes I'm sure they did, and if you think I'm blowing wind cuase I'm there then Ha on you, I've changed more in that place in 2 months then any did their whole time. If I had 5 dollars for all the macho men that could talk the crap but aint worth shot in the real job. I'd of retired back when your dad was was still jerking you off in the shower my freind. Anyways before you try to chat me up some more I'd say put your bells on and bring it beeacht boy, cause I doubt your any better than some I've worked with, and trust me when I say none of them impressed me much.
 
By the way my name and where to find me is right there smurf. Funny the mouths of the most, seem to hide who they really are.

sorry what I put up before it was over the edge.
 
Wow, I must have gotten under your skin, you were posting every minute. There's nothing wrong with working for Drew and Lou. I'm sure your causing revolutionary change over there at Lou Giroud. And by the way the one thing I've learned from smurfing is that getting into a pissing contest with you is fruitless.
crazy.gif
 
aawwwwwww!!!!!!! come on, you must be this great guy master of skills. For yet you'll boost about others and not come forward when one ask. Please bring your skills to me, teach me, I love to learn new thing, problem is, I aint learned nothing since 96.

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getting into a pissing contest with you is fruitless.

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Nah never fruitless. I know, what you mean to say is getting into a pissing match with you ED. Would not only mean I suck, but also I notice I have a small weiner.

I'm here all nite, just like I'm there in your back yard takin your jobs. Anytime, you can just ask, and I'll take the boot off your adams apple. I know for sure any company or climber in the area is like the white faom at the corner of your mouth from not drinking, just there needing to be wiped away.
 
Here I thought we was just getting into a talkin to and you choose yet to hide more. Kind of like the company bietch we have, safty is key my freind use it to your fullest to back out of jobs. Blah blah yet numbers on production never lie.
 
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