Throw line storage

The_Kid

The_Kid

Location
McPherson, Kansas
This is my first message on the buzz board, so please bear with me. I have just purchased 90 ft of throw line, and was wondering if anyone had any good tips in how to store the line. I know most people buy a small bag or stuff sack for storing the line, but I thought maybe somebody might have another idea that would help me out. I was trying to think of something I have around the house that would work as a spool for it. Any ideas? Thanks for the help, and I look forward to chatting with everyone here on the Buzz Board!
THE KID
 
For now, I am just going to use an old orange juice jug with the top cut out of it. It will work until next paycheck, at any rate
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THE KID
 
I found that a small platic bucket used for painting works well ( about one gallon or so). The ones I use now I found at Wal Mart for .97 a piece. I use three and I can stack them up and it doesn't take up much space. I am using 180 feet of zing it as well so I don't need much space.
 
The first thing that you're going to need is a second throwline. IF you don't, you'll jam the first one and not have a way to get into the tree
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DAMHIKT

What brand throwline did you buy?

A buddy of mine brought back a Cube from Germany for me as a gift. It is a really sweet device. Agreed, pretty spendy.

Before I got the Cube I used two four gallon buckets that kitty litter comes in. The diameter is right so that the line doesn't get snaggled and they nest nicely. I cut a piece of plastic that sits about three inches above the bottom of the top bucket. The plastic acts as a divider and keeps the throwline neat. My helmet, glasses and gloves would stack in the upper bucket.

Tom
 
Tom,
I bought a prepackaged slickline-14 oz. throwbag combo from Sherrill at a local Vermeer retailer. My boss uses the newer fly lite, but this will work for me as I try to get in as much practice as possible. I would agree with you in that another line should be soon to come in my repertoire. Thanks for the input. As for using buckets, that also seems like a good idea, as well as a common theme that seems to be in wide use. Thanks again.
THE KID
 
I am using Zing It as well I love it. The slick line is too heavy and not very slick. Many times I have hit my target but could not get the pouch to the ground very aggravating. With the Zing It I can throw about 30' higher with less enery I use a 12 oz. pouch, the line ALWAYS comes to the ground. I store it in a small bag that Buckinham makes and the sides are pretty heavy and it does not collapes. In my opinion the buckets take up too much rome.
 
Todd,
From my recent experiences, I am also not impressed by the "slick" line. Not only is it heavy, but the outer sheath of the line tends to bunch and become a mess. I am surprised they even sell the stuff anymore. I guess there are enough guppies (greenhorns, rookies, choose your cliche) that buy the slickline to keep it on the market. My next purchases will probably be Zing It line and a lighter throw bag. I'll probably keep this slick line around just in case of a hang up and the need for two lines. I guess the lesson here is live and learn! Thanks for your input.
THE KID
 
Climbinfool still use slick line. He's won the throwline event at least twice that I know of. He's used my Zingit and spectra lines and might give them a try, but don't tell him slick line is for guppies. It's what he is used to and very good with. The Abroginas use it too.
I stumbled across the spectra line early on and liked it ,so I never had to transition.
I like the buckets too. I use the ones that my Rayco Super Teeth came in (about 2 gal. I'd estimate)
Has anyone used the new Rino line? What do you think of it?
 
Competition is one thing, real work environment another. Slick line just plain won't work consistently enough. rough bark, tite crotches, evergreen duff, long throws, no way. I've used lots of better stuff, including recently Flylite, which breaks. I have 180 feet of 2.2mm Zing it, it is great. For tough trees, I still use the 16 oz weight to guarantee return. (Need a new 14 oz) With a 12 oz pouch, it is easy to hit 100 foot throws with the Big Shot. I just got 1000 feet of 1.75 mm ZingIt. And have found a cheaper source for comparable stuff, made by Puget Sound ropes. 130 foot throws no problem with it.

We also just got 600 feet of Goldstreak too, oh yeah!!

[ July 10, 2002: Message edited by: Roger Barnett ]
 
The rino line is alot like Zingit but it seems to tangle easy I through it often for Tulips 80' no problem with no Big shot.I also still use slick line most of the time and store it in plant containers.
 
I like to keep my throwbag and line in a line mug from new tribe. it is nice to have that clipped on my saddle while climbing. The top opening sinches down so it won't spill out. It is also a good place for throwing and other little goodies in a pinch -bottled water, cell phone, extra biners, etc..
I had an idea to develope something that works like and is about the size of a tape measure. Imagine a 12oz ball that has a built in reel that will auto retract the line.
Greg
 
Hey Greg,

Not to get down on you too much, cause you're always thinking. Thats great.

Here's a shot of Michael Taylor with an automatic fly reel mounted on the harness.
michael.jpg
It's used for tossing & retreival of a grapnel, which is a special treble hook designed by New Tribe. The barbs are cut off, lead weights are added, then the whole ball of wax is dipped in neoprene.

The grapnel is like a pole saw in a very compact package. Only it can reach out a lot farther, depending on your accuracy. Toss your throw line over a branch or adjacent treetop. Then flip a grapnel on the opposite side of the crotch and snag the other end of the throwline, pulling it back over to yourself. Voila! You are remotely tied in!

The reel helps cut down on clutter. Dealing with throwline up in a tree is always a pain. The spring rewind gets it out of your hair before it has a chance to snag on any little twig within 300 miles of the limb you're perched on.

Whoaa! If we keep letting these little trade secrets slip out, pretty soon everybody & his brother will be swaying in the breeze!

Notice Michael's New Tribe saddle. It's just like the one worn by that mountebank at
Arboreally Yours
 
i have tried everything else but i keep going back to slick line and a rookie i am not. i carry three, count them, three 200' throwlines in one 5 gallon bucket stacked right on top of each other.each line has a 16 oz. bag on each end.no snags no birds nests,and i rarely get one stuck. i dont know how many trees you guys climb in a day but if i'm pruning it's usualy more than one.i can set up three trees while i polish off my morning coffee and a half a pack of smokes.
 
Well, I just encountered another problem with my throw line/throw bag combo. When my throw bag hit the dirt after an errant throw, it split about five stitches and the pellets started to leak. Luckily I was just practicing and not at a job, so I wasn't in a bind, but it is frustrating nonetheless. Overall, I am not impressed at all with the purchase of my slick line/throw bag combo. I think I will be either taking the bag back for a replacement or call/write to Sherrill about my experience.
THE KID
 
Mr. Beranek,
Thanks for your input! I have seen pictures of you and Charly working out in California on some monstrous trees with chainsaws that look like they're about 7 feet long. You had a cast on your leg and still managed to flipline up those suckers - truly amazing. I am honored to have you reply to a message that I posted. I have also read a lot of your messages here on the buzz board and learned a lot.
In regards to my comment about the "outer sheath" bunching, I was probably using the wrong terminology, but I really don't know how else to describe it. Maybe its just the entire line that bunches rather than an outer sheath, since it looks like its braided throughout. Right now I am looking in the Sherrill catalog, and what I purchased was yellow, 3mm polypropylene line, which is what they are calling slick line. I am not sure if this is what you call slick line, but probably so.
What do you think I should do about my split open throwbag? Should I just buy a new one or try to get my money back thru Sherrill? I guess its just $10, so its not like I am out a couple hundred bucks or anything. It has just left a bad taste in my mouth, that's all. However, this subject has resulted in quite a nice response amongst many people here on the buzz board, so a positive has come out of this at any rate!
THE KID
 
Thanks for the kind words, Kid. Rest assured I didn't flip line up that tree in a cast. A line was set and my friends hauled me up a rope that was run through a block. The whole story is on a CD. I'll send you one if you give me your address. But please, hit my e-mail to request it, OK? That goes for anyone on the board.

Bite the bullet for breaking the throwbag, Kid. Everyone has busted the seams in the bags sooner or later. Along with many other things. But nonetheless make note of it. And if Sherrills feels it was a defect, it does happen, I sure they will make good.

The slick line I have has no outer sheath. Either it does or it doesn't. So what you're saying I have no idea.

I assume you call yourself "The Kid" because you're new and learning the business. Well, you couldn't have found a better place to gain advise and insights from the many qualified people that frequent this forum. You can thank Mark Chisholm for that.

Yes, your post sparked a lot of attention and made for a long thread. It's refreshing to see. It takes a "Kid" sometimes to strike a long thread with all positive notes in it. Like this one you started about the throwline. Don't let it go to your head though.

All the best to you, Kid.
 
What the Kid is calling slickline isn't close in description to what I use, which is also called slickline. Outer sheath bunching up? There's no outer sheath on my slick line. Charly Pottorff gave it to me. 600 ft. 1/8" hard/tight/braided poly. Very stiff line. Kinky whenever it's bunched, stuffed or coiled too tightly. But it straightens out after stretching and using it a bit. And for the most part, after it is stretched, it's virtually tangle free.

About 70' is all I can launch the line by hand. One morning, out of frustration, I cut the slick line 6' behind the sack and then knoted it to 12# mono spooled on a spin reel. Proped the reel on a stand, opened the bail, and launch the weight. My throws immediatly extended to near 90'. Stands to reason to: the sack is pulling less than one tenth the weight. Once over the limb the sack falls to the ground like no line was on it at all. It works pretty well.

There are details pertaining; if you miss the desired limb! don't count on pulling the sack back through with the fishing line: Once it is over a desired limb, and on the ground, you'll have to knot the throwline and pull (reel) it through. This added step in the procedure actually goes quick. Then pull in the climbline.

30 years ago there was no throwline available by design. The only throw line we could come by was the dregs the utility company discarded. Pilot line for pulling in conductor. It was 1/4 to 3/8 twisted poly. Quite a bit heavier than what were use to today. The maximum best throws were only about 60', and averaged much less. And the line didn't just "slide" through the limbs. Quite to the contrary.

Our throw weights were anything and everything. Lead fishing weights, Craftsman drive sockets, wrenches. But probably the most popular weights back then were the guy line insulators. They were readily available. Hard baked ceramic. About thirty ounces. Which balanced out the 1/4" lines nicely. To launch and carry the 3/8" line our weight of choice was the guy rod ends themselves. Near three pounds of galvanized steel resembling a clinched fist. Real killers.

In later years the throwball came on the scene. The ability to bounch a ball through the crotchs of a tree opened new dimensions to the throwline. And some new frustrations. Near the same time a foreman of mine come up with a sack his wife sewed together out of his old denium pants. He filled it with pennies. Took about $1.50 to launch those heavy lines. His sack received a nod of approval, but unfortunatly was not readily available to all of us. After splitting apart a few times and spilling the cash (pennies from Heaven) his wife got tired of sewing it up, and his idea fell by the wayside. And so we stuck with our insulators and guy rod ends.

Yeah, those where the good old days...
 
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