Safebloc Sling Choke & Friction

[theatertech87]

Yeah we miss our xrings/safebloc and omni blocks. I think it’s less about being stuck in the dark ages, and more about needing to have a low common denominator across thousands of employees, combined with greater liability as a larger company. And it sounds to me like the issue is more rope selection than anything else. But we did have the safebloc/porty/grcs combo dialed there before the switch- pretty much necessary when those saw logs were coming down.

No mechanical devices for us, but none of us were running one anyway. We’re all mostly climbing srt (thankfully Bartlett is on board!), I got to keep my wrench (was given a brand new ser up too, haas and all!), and the couple of us who were using the hitchhiker were approved to keep using it.

What's the logic behind no omni block? And if you're allowed to use a rope wrench for climbing, why not as a rigging wrench?

 

[CjM]

I asked about the rigging wrench, didn’t really get a clear answer. I think the issue with the omni is the sliding side plate and potential for accidental opening, not really sure though. Bartlett seems to like to test things in house before the give the ok, maybe those two havent been vetted yet perhaps.

 

[39Buick]

@deevo
"You definitely better have a good ground technician on the ground as well if your going to be using aerial friction plus a porty, one too many wraps and the climbers going for a ride!"
Could you expound on this statement? Would the friction of the block and porty combine to the point the large load would snap the trunk/branch or something when shock loaded? Not allowing the piece to run at all?

 

[deevo]

@deevo
"You definitely better have a good ground technician on the ground as well if your going to be using aerial friction plus a porty, one too many wraps and the climbers going for a ride!"
Could you expound on this statement? Would the friction of the block and porty combine to the point the large load would snap the trunk/branch or something when shock loaded? Not allowing the piece to run at all?

Yes and we rarely use the porty and aerial friction together and if you do better be fine tuned between the climber / lift operator so shock loading doesn’t happen. We use our crane whenever possible and haven’t done a lot of traditional rigging lately. Going up with control of the cranes better then neg rigging any day of the week in my books!