Rigging Sling Comparison.
- Thread starter Skye401
- Start date
Crimsonking
Been here a while
Splice type is not as important as materials used and diameter. If splicing you’re own, steer clear of amsteel or any aramid fiber for ultra slings, as that configuration drastically reduces the strength of those materials.
If you’re planning to purchase slings, the most important factor is diameter. Make sure the advertised safe working load is within the range of the work the sling will see.
As for which style is stronger, read the strength ratings. They are all useful, and they all have caveats.
Dead eyes- probably the most versatile due to simplicity. Don’t have to remove the line from a block or ring to uninstall from a stem. Caveat- you have to tie and untie a knot every time you move it.
Loopie- easy on and off, adjustable for a great fit. Caveats- can be difficult to adjust (near impossible if sapped), must remove line from device to uninstall from stem.
Whoopie- similar to loopie, but with captured eye for device. Caveats- same as loopie, additionally- sometimes harder to find good adjustment point due to spliced eye.
Ultra sling- easy on and off, no adjustments, no knots. Caveats- pocket selection doesn’t always allow for optimal length between stem and device, rope must be removed from device to uninstall from stem.
I mostly use ultra slings day in and day out, but I have dead eyes available when needed. The number one thing is to use whatever sling YOU are confident using. If your sling choice is nagging in the back of your mind while working, it doesn’t matter how safe it is, it’s causing distraction which is unsafe.
If you’re planning to purchase slings, the most important factor is diameter. Make sure the advertised safe working load is within the range of the work the sling will see.
As for which style is stronger, read the strength ratings. They are all useful, and they all have caveats.
Dead eyes- probably the most versatile due to simplicity. Don’t have to remove the line from a block or ring to uninstall from a stem. Caveat- you have to tie and untie a knot every time you move it.
Loopie- easy on and off, adjustable for a great fit. Caveats- can be difficult to adjust (near impossible if sapped), must remove line from device to uninstall from stem.
Whoopie- similar to loopie, but with captured eye for device. Caveats- same as loopie, additionally- sometimes harder to find good adjustment point due to spliced eye.
Ultra sling- easy on and off, no adjustments, no knots. Caveats- pocket selection doesn’t always allow for optimal length between stem and device, rope must be removed from device to uninstall from stem.
I mostly use ultra slings day in and day out, but I have dead eyes available when needed. The number one thing is to use whatever sling YOU are confident using. If your sling choice is nagging in the back of your mind while working, it doesn’t matter how safe it is, it’s causing distraction which is unsafe.
RyanCafferky
Been here a while
- Location
- Hood River, Oregon
Dead eye sling. Every single time. All those other slings are either too fiddly or can’t be adjusted to my preference.
Personally, my favorite construction for dead eyes is double braid because of durability and because I like how it handles. I find that Tenex picks pretty easily, is too soft, and handles like a wet noodle. Personally I think class II fibers like Amsteel should be avoided for this application. Strength might be great but the complete lack of stretch could be an achilles heel. Especially since it is the most extreme and dynamic loading in our business.
Personally, my favorite construction for dead eyes is double braid because of durability and because I like how it handles. I find that Tenex picks pretty easily, is too soft, and handles like a wet noodle. Personally I think class II fibers like Amsteel should be avoided for this application. Strength might be great but the complete lack of stretch could be an achilles heel. Especially since it is the most extreme and dynamic loading in our business.
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I got a chance to ask some people way smarter than me why Amsteel isn't utilized for this purpose more in the tree care industry. I figured if it was just costs that it would still catch on since it was so strong and lightweight. Turns out that those fibers have a tendency to generate enough heat with shock loading to actually fuse together on the inside of the sling.
Also, I'm just a huge fan of the ultra slings. I don't know what it is, because it's so rare that the pocket perfectly lines up on to be super tight, but they're just so convenient
Yep, Amsteel is an amazing fiber but somewhat 'fragile' and not well suited for a lot of tasks, especially the rough and dirty nature of tree work. Like most things, it's all about finding the right tool for the job. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.
Jehinten
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Evansville
I also like dead eyes and to add to the list, ring and ring slings. Downside to the R&R is that it primarily want to be used in unions. It can be attached without a union, but you lose the benefits that it offers.
In addition, if all slings are made of identical material, the R&R will be the strongest since it is in basket configuration.
In addition, if all slings are made of identical material, the R&R will be the strongest since it is in basket configuration.
I had some new wrinkles folded into my brain the other night looking into that. as far as I think I understood from a conversation Brion Toss was having on here, I think the loopie actually benefits from double the parent rope strength in a choked configuration as well.
The ring and rings are something I want to try out. would the method to use them away from a union be just girthing them onto a stem?
Cereal_Killer
Branched out member
- Location
- Ohio
For terminal rigging I mainly use rig savers in a choked configuration for everything possible. If the pinto Rig just isnt enough block for the work at hand I put a big block on a dead eye.
Where I use ultra ring slings is redirects & distribution of forces.
Where I use ultra ring slings is redirects & distribution of forces.
Jehinten
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Evansville
True, I suppose a loopie and ultra sling both have two lengths of rope to share the load similar to basket configuration. I think you still lose some strength in the choked configuration with the rope on rope.
Jehinten
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Evansville
Yes, the girth and you can also do an overhand and an over hand with a few extra twist if you have the length. Personally I prefer using in basket or switching to deadeyes.
Crimsonking
Been here a while
If the sling is long enough, hold the small eye where you want it and wrap the large eye one and a half wraps around the stem. Still retrievable, and less worry about getting the ring jammed in a fork.
TheTreeSpyder
Branched out member
- Location
- Florida>>> USA
Just exactly as in single-or-double-wrap-for-basal-anchor as a science I look for 3x180 arcs. So, here look for round sling choked/ dual leg of pull or simple eye choke with Half Hitch preceding type strategy/single leg of pull.
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Some loads Half Hitch around load pre-fixxing round sling.
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Rigging is structural support, so over and again geometry the key element. Always loved the more modular setups with slings, carabiniers to rope etc. as most professional flexible setup for climb and rig.
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Some loads Half Hitch around load pre-fixxing round sling.
.
Rigging is structural support, so over and again geometry the key element. Always loved the more modular setups with slings, carabiniers to rope etc. as most professional flexible setup for climb and rig.
