Thundersling vs Safebloc

justinw8806

justinw8806

Location
north
Hey all. Nice to meet everyone. Wanted to start this post to give my review on the Thundersling vs the Safebloc. I used the Thundersling today rigging down a cottonwood tree. I liked the ability to be able to handle the lowering from above enabling my ground man to manver the load accordingly. It performed well negative rigging very smooth run and catch. The thing I don't like about the Thundersling is the twisting of the thimbles. It caused the rope to twist and make a spiral twist all way down the rope. Also at one point at a side angle swinging a limb the rigging rope was in contact with the sling inside the spindle.... Tomorrow I will be using the Safebloc to finish the rest of the removal on the same cottonwood. Same size limbs as used with the Thundersling will be removed.. I'm suspecting no twist of the rope or rubbing at all with the Safebloc.
 
So after using the Thundersling yesterday and the Safebloc today the difference was crazy. The Safebloc was flawless. No rope twist what so ever. Taking 15ft pieces of the top out and 10ft 12" chunks was effortless while using two holes. I put the Thundersling to use as a redirect running through the last thimble only. When I received the Thundersling I couldn't understand why the swl was only 500 pounds considering it's a heavy duty looking piece of gear.. After the way the Thundersling twisted my rope I wouldon't wanna put a heavy load on it. The Safebloc is the way to go hands down.. In my opinion don't waste your money on the Thundersling. It does make a great redirect though. I'm curious to try the Thundersling as a redirect using more thimbles along with the Safebloc for two points of friction in the tree on bigger stuff.. If anyone has advice on how to keep the rope from getting twisted using the Thundersling please inform me as I do like it being lighter with the smaller sling for small to medium stuff. Also returning to rope back to the climber with the Safebloc was a lot easier since the rope wasn't kinked up feeling like with the Thundersling.
 
lumberjackson said:
Is it pretty easy to pull the rope back up to rig the next piece? Or do you just use the other end?
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With the Safebloc on two wraps pulling the rope back was easy. The weight of the rope pulled it through after 20ft of rope or so. The Thundersling was a lot harder.. but I used the Thunsersling today on some small limbs running the rope straight through the holes like its a safebloc instead of the instructed through and around method. It worked a lot better that way. The lower thimbles touch each other when being torqued though. This is with 5/8 stablebraid btw.
 
theXman said:
Interesting to read. Thanks Justin.
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Your welcome x man. I'd like to add for everyone a 16strand 1/2in rope works much better in the Thundersling than the softer stable braid. I find myself pulling out the Safebloc for all my work anyways its just a better design. One thing negative iv come across with the Safebloc is the Block trying to turn sideways on the tenex. Not a big deal but something to keep and eye on.
 
Hey Justin, Making sure to wrap the Thundersling with opposite direction twists will remove any hockling that it causes. Using a standard corkscrew threading definitely causes the rope to hockle for sure.

The SWL of 500lbs is in reference to what can be held just by hand, it doesnt reference the MBS.
 
bonner1040 said:
Hey Justin, Making sure to wrap the Thundersling with opposite direction twists will remove any hockling that it causes. Using a standard corkscrew threading definitely causes the rope to hockle for sure.



The SWL of 500lbs is in reference to what can be held just by hand, it doesnt reference the MBS.
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Is the thundersling an invention of yours personally, Nick?
 
bonner1040 said:
Hey Justin, Making sure to wrap the Thundersling with opposite direction twists will remove any hockling that it causes. Using a standard corkscrew threading definitely causes the rope to hockle for sure.

The SWL of 500lbs is in reference to what can be held just by hand, it doesnt reference the MBS.
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Yea I made sure to wrap from one side to the other when threading the rope. Even watched the instructional video after the job to insure I was doing it correctly. It's like the outer cover of the stable braid twists on the core of the rope. Got worst the longer I used it without straightening it out by hand. The way the thimbles twists when loaded it would cause the rope to contact the sling inside the thimble occasionally. I used it today on some big Maple chunks in conjuction with the Safebloc when the weights was to much to hold with the Safebloc alone. They work really good together because the Thundersling is more variable when it comes to friction. Was holding close to 700 lbs chunks without a lowering device beside Safebloc at the top and the Thundersling a little ways below the Safebloc with an additional pulley at the bottom to keep things inline.
 
Looking to purchase a aerial rigging device such as the Safeblock. How much wait do you think you can block down with out having to use a POW? I'm a two man crew as well and it would be nice to control the piece once my groundie catches it, so they can move it around while I lower.
 
The Thundersling gives more friction than the Safebloc. Lowered a 6in Dia 15ft or so limb with 3 thumbles on the Thundersling and the limb wouldn't lower without me pulling on the rope downwards. I'm still learning how to judge amount of friction. Safebloc don't have as much friction. I'd say if Thundersling max is 500 by hand then the Safebloc is maybe 300.
 
JeffOpar said:
Nope... Dont think that it takes the place of a port o wrap, because it doesent. It adds friction but not that much.
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Honestly my porty only comes out when blocking good size logs. Cut a maple log with a slight swing away from the road with the Safebloc. It was probably 14" by 6ft. It didn't have to swing far so didn't bother with porty but we tried holding it midair to test the control on the Safebloc. I got a good laugh seeing my buddy @240lbs being pulled off his feet and some hand burn.
 
so if you still need a porta warp for 200ish pound pieces, what's its purpose? Why not just use a small pulley or single abr/x-rigging ring ?
 
Leafguy said:
so if you still need a porta warp for 200ish pound pieces, what's its purpose? Why not just use a small pulley or single abr/x-rigging ring ?
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You only need a porty for the bigger stuff. The Safebloc or Thundersling makes rigging more convenient on medium to s stuff because it has enough friction to not need a porty. Ariel friction takes pressure off the spar your rigging from because your not having to hold as much on the ground as the piece your lowering weighs. Blocks are obsolete for a terminal rigging point for me. My safebloc is used in place of heavy duty block. And Thundersling I use for the smaller stuff. You will still need a porty in your arsenal for sure though. Will always be stuff heavier than 500 lbs to lower where u will need a porty.
 
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