Skylotec & Husqvarna Power Ascender

evo said:
Just being a smart ass. Wouldn’t your body be more willing to go longer with a ride to the top?
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To play devil's advocate, I'd wager that my body would become increasingly unwilling to work unassisted by this machine. I would use it, but only occasionally, which is why it wouldn't be worth as much as a lot of other tools to me right now. Even at $1000, there's A LOT of other things I would by first.
 
I've got about $6or700 parts and materials plus my labour into my unit. I you are willing to put up with a little extra weight and put in the effort the rollgliss provides the hard parts, the sheave and primary reduction and just butcher up a drill for the power/control unit. You'd be relegated to the hook-onto-the-box design style, but that's not so bad. All the market units are like that. My sheave section was the hard way, from scratch but I was bent on optimizing it.

If you're not 100% a ride feels pretty sweet.
 
At 70 I will stick with climbing. When I can't climb anymore, I will hang it up. Riding up might be fun a time or two, like going to the amusement park. But once you have ridden the roller coaster a couple of time, the novelty wears off. I like climbing. You feel like you have accomplished something just getting there.
When I took down that rotted red pine last month and my spurs kept sliding down through the rot, I could have walked up the MRS system I had for my lifeline just fine, but I kept going on spurs and cussing every step. When I got to the top I was tired and scraped up a bit, but the feeling was much better than if I had kicked off the spurs and walked up the rope. I took on that rotted tree and won. Might sound silly to some people, but the feeling outweighs any comments about how dumb it might have been to do that. You can climb the mountain, or you can drive to the top on the road going up the backside. I'll take the challenging way if you don't mind and see things you won't see in your car. And I will have accomplished something exciting.
 
in the video, he say‘s their production went up 100% when they started using the yellow box. they must‘ve used the rads system before. rope walking takes up such a small portion of the day and as others have said is almost effort-less.

a electric wheelchair would be nice to drive from tree to tree.
 
in the video, he say‘s their production went up 100% when they started using the yellow box. they must‘ve used the rads system before. rope walking takes up such a small portion of the day and as others have said is almost effort-less.

a electric wheelchair would be nice to drive from tree to tree.
 
On removals I probably wouldn’t use it much. On the other hand, doing large white pine removals it might be a nice tool. I would appreciate coming down for lunch a break or whatever and getting hauled back to the top. Less time on the sappy stem wouldn’t upset me a bit. It would probably leave more energy at the end of the day as well
 
Matias said:
I'm gonna need a quick video tour if you don't mind
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Here’s the whole thread on the diy unit:


Reliable DIY power ascender

Hey Guys, in case you have missed what was happening on the Lazy or Clever thread, several of us have perfected a homebrew power ascender that simply uses a heavy duty cordless drill for the power. The other end is a RollGliss emergency descending device made for drilling rigs, high...
www.treebuzz.com
 
evo said:
Just being a smart ass. Wouldn’t your body be more willing to go longer with a ride to the top?
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That is the question. Can you remain a physically strong and capable climber longer by using machines to move you around the tree, or do you do so by using your body in a SMART and EFFICIENT manner? I am a firm believer in the notion that motion begets motion, and that we as climbers can remain strong and capable longer by being strong and capable..
 
I've been ropewalking since the early days.

Still, I love my Wraptor when I want to use it, especially when I have a lot of gear and multiple ropes or a big saw to haul.

I climb 98% of the time I climb, but when I've got a nagging joint, or have been doing a lot of heavy work, or have a lot to take up and don't want to haul it after climbing, it's great.

Occasionally, like this moment, my knee is feeling 'off', like water on the knee could be coming, again. I've had it a couple times, thankfully only once that was significant. Having two guys try to help haul me up a ree on a limited timeline project was very inefficient.

I won't be wearinitut.t my Wraptor.

It will help my shoulders last by taking away some of the strain.
 
I have a policy of describing within reason devices I've developed but not posting pictures. Beat me to it referring the Lazy or Clever thread. My earlier gist was to polish up Burrapeg's Dewalt Rollgliss so it's not so gangly. Eg I direct coupled with no chuck - compacted it a bit. Moved my control to side of saddle.

Devil's advocate - strain begets RSI and reps unbeget cartilage. Age begets arthritis

Don't get me wrong. More power to the physically gifted who can keep on hammering.
 
Bart_ said:
. . . My earlier gist was to polish up Burrapeg's Dewalt Rollgliss so it's not so gangly. Eg I direct coupled with no chuck - compacted it a bit. Moved my control to side of saddle.
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I thought about doing that to mine but I really like the ability to quickly remove the DeWalt and use it as a drill. I have quite a few dozen climbs now with my DeWalt/Rollgliss, mostly when I was hauling up more than minimal gear with me. Normally, when rec climbing, especially when I have to hike any distance, I climb manually with foot ascender and SAKA, BDB or ZZ/RW. I am 70 now and need the regular exercise but I can imagine the time might not be all that far off when the only way I can continue climbing to any appreciable height will involve using my power ascender.
 
A few years ago, during the development time of the HH, Paul Cox sent me a Wraptor as a thank you for the small amount of assistance and field testing I was able to provide. Paul is a very generous individual. Being an older climber even then, he naturally assumed I'd use the hell out of it. That did not happen. Unfortunately, it sat in tool storage for almost a year waiting for a job that it would make easier. Never happened. I finally sent it back to him.

In the greater picture of energy expenditure during tree work, because I use an efficient SRT system, the initial ascent is not a large part for me. Many other aspects last longer and are far more physically taxing. Even today, ascending the tree is the easiest part of the day.
 
How is it at passing branches or getting through tight unions? Does it pop on and off the rope quickly enough to not be costing me time fussing around with it?
I would rather spend that money developing a line setting drone.
 
I love rope walking and pride myself at being a very efficient climber. That said, I would consider one of these if the price point is anywhere near 5000€.

Our work is plenty physical without having to do every aspect of it the hard way. If I have access to tools that help me extend my career or make my crew safer or more efficient, we are going to get them. The reason the Wraptor was such a turn off for me and I never tried it was the gas motor. The Rollgliss unit looks interesting but I want to be able to confidently buy something that will work from day one that I’m able to put my employees on with confidence. Something made in a garage or that needs modification doesn’t fit that bill for me.

I live on an off grid homestead with an endless list of things to work on or do. Energy and time saved at work will be burned at home.
 
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