Static cabling techniques

KentuckySawyer

KentuckySawyer

Participating member
Location
Louisville
I guess I have two questions within the larger category of "Static cabling techniques." Not looking for suggestions regarding "non-invasive" systems.

One question is regarding J lags. We use them in conjunction with soft lay cables in small to medium trees. (Big trees or trees with a high value target get 3/8ths EHS w/ Wirestops)
Who amongst you still uses J lags? And those who don't, what do you use instead?

My second question is in regards to measuring spans to be cabled. Specifically, how can a single climber take a measurement? I have a trick to do this with J lags, but I'm looking for ideas on how one climber could measure a span that is to be cabled with wirestops. The idea being to reduce the number of climbers it takes to install a cable in order to reduce the cost in man hours and ultimately the cost to the consumer.
 
I haul-up the measuring tape when I'm up to drill first bore and install the lag (or eye). I have a mini-carabiner non locking on the tape, secure to lag and swing down to other attachment point playing-out the cloth tape while getting there. Drill and set other attachment point and measure distance to each, shouting down length needed to groundie, minus one/third of both tie-end lengths. He sends-up the coil attached to my cloth re-winding tape, I just crank it up using the reel. This way I don't have to haul the entire coil up and cut it to length after securing it w/ either bolt cutters or hack saw. Too much gear for me to lift.

The hard part it wrestling with four-ton puller and it's tie-ins (usually two Friction Savers) across the span, including a few feet of 3/8ths log chain - making multiple trips necessary. Most cabling however I can secure compression across the span w/ my Petzl ascender and arm strength alone, but splits need all the pull four tons can bring together and Sherrill's "Tree puller" compound pulley system doesn't come close enough for this. I can't remember the last time I had help up in the tree w/ cabling, have to go it alone.
 
I just use a telescoping polesaw to measure the span.

I use smaller wirestops and soft cable for smaller trees. No J-lags. That's a style/logistics thing only.

I have yet to find a Chicago grip that will not crimp the cable like the Havens does.
 
Here's a method for measuring cable length that I was taught:

Go directly under the point where you plan on anchoring the cable. Make a mark on the ground. Go to the other end and do the same. Measure between the marks. Add in whatever fudge factor you need. With practice you can get a plumb line quite accurately just by eye balling.

And a fine tuning that I use:

Get a post level, see the attachment, they only cost about $4. Put a laser pointer into the inside corner of the level and set that on the ground, plumb the laser beam on the anchor point and make a mark. Repeat as needed.
 

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Could you push the tape measure through the hole then clip a biner to the end to hold it in place. Or use a small section of rod with a nut and washer ie. 24" then connect the tape measure to that, just hafe to remember to add the rod length to the measurement.


WP
 
The level the laser pointer is a great idea, Tom. That would work great on big spans. Unless its a severely angled cable, but those are fairly infrequent.


Guy, I haven't noticed our Havens grip crimping the wire, but currently we only use that for 3/8 EHS (pretty hard to crimp). I'm not sure where we got it, but KyLimbwalker might know.


Tape measure would probably be too big to get through the hole.
 
I use a dyneema sling prusik'd to the strand to keep it with me while making the traverse. Once on the other side, it can be used for light tensioning as well (just the strand, it'll slip if you try to pull limbs together).

Regarding time: I feel it is always cost-saving to have two climbers on large span or multiple cable jobs. This Spring we installed five cables in a sprawling silver maple. Two climbers in three hours; it would have taken me all day! We used a throwline in the tree to route the strands to each other. The added perspective of another climber is helpful, too. Anyway, that may be an extreme example, but man I hate cabling alone!
 
[ QUOTE ]



Guy, I haven't noticed our Havens grip crimping the wire, but currently we only use that for 3/8 EHS (pretty hard to crimp). I'm not sure where we got it, but KyLimbwalker might know.


T

[/ QUOTE ]

False. We use a Chicago grip that Wespur found for us (~$200). A Havens grip and a micro grab both crimp the cable slightly. Also, I've found that the micro grab slips a bit.
 
Tom-

I have to use at least a 5 wrap prussik when using 1 inch webbing, and I have to set it very forcefully by hand before it will grab at all.

I'm gonna get a Chicago grip very soon....

John- No ultrastatic yet, but I came very close to buying a kit last week. I went with EHS instead because I still have a bunch of wirestops to use.
 
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