Which rigging rope to buy!

[Kris Fugate]

So it’s long overdue but I need to get a bigger rigging line. I’ve been using a retired blue streak climbing line as my primary rigging line. Not ideal I know.

So I’m looking at a few options:

First is Sterling Atlas 5/8 line. Has the highest MBS at 18,000 lb.

Next is Samson stable braid 5/8 line. It has great reviews.

Finally is Teufelberger 16mm. Also has great reviews and is the cheapest.

So if y’all don’t mind give me your opinions here.

Also important to note: I don’t always rig using pulleys or a block. Any light rigging usually gets done via natural crotch simply so I don’t have to climb back up to retrieve my system. I do know it’s possible to set up a floating rigging system but that just seems way too time consuming to me. Or perhaps I just don’t have the right idea about it? Feel free to drop some knowledge on that too lol.

I know that natural crotch rigging isn’t the best for the life of a rope but still something I need to take into consideration. I will most likely keep the blue streak for the light stuff to preserve the life of whatever new rope I decide to get.

Thanks for your time ladies and gents.

 

[islandarb]

Ahmmm.... samson stablebraid or yale double esterlon. I keep 3 rigging lines. 1/2"....9/16" and 5/8"....

 

[Chaplain242]

I natural rig most stuff I do, but that is often because I am belaying from climbing position or from the bucket and in thick barked hardwoods - whether you natural rig should account for species and how heavy the load is - if pruning. If removal it’s rope preservation.

You can burn ropes both natural rig and using blocks if the loading/speed is too high.

 

[islandarb]

I use blocks and rings for everything....occasionally a natty redirect but never heavy stuff.

 

[Chaplain242]

I have just retired one of my climbing retired poison ivy rigging lines, 4 yrs constant natural rigging. Deliberately overloaded it on natural rigging for the last top to save time but it was near its last use.

Will move to 1/2 or 9/16 or so for next general removal rope. I use Yale 5/8 for anything bigger.

Sorry to hijack but has anyone tried Marlow Draco?

 

[islandarb]

I have just retired one of my climbing retired poison ivy rigging lines, 4 yrs constant natural rigging. Overloaded it on the last top to save time but it was near its last use.

Oh my....

 

[OasisTree]

I really like the Atlas, it wears really well. We use blocks for all lowering though

 

[Chaplain242]

Oh my....

Just singed it, not breakage.

 

[Jonny]

I really like 12 strand for general rigging. A little stretch is a good thing.
Stable braid is very strong and I use it if I know I'm going to be running it through rings or blocks. It does not do well with natural crotch rigging, it glazes pretty easily.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Is there any time that using a double braid for natural crotch rigging is accepted?

How does milking affect their use?

I quit using them for natural crotches MANY years ago.

 

[islandarb]

If you are going to be natty just get some hard lay 3 strand treemaster.....that is king of the natty world....

 

[Kris Fugate]

If you are going to be natty just get some hard lay 3 strand treemaster.....that is king of the natty world....

Lol I ain’t gonna be THAT natty. I’ve caught 6-8ft pine logs running natural crotch on that ol’ blue streak of mine. I didn’t reference a green log weight chart but would guess they weight 300+ lb easy.

 

[Kris Fugate]

I natural rig most stuff I do, but that is often because I am belaying from climbing position or from the bucket and in thick barked hardwoods - whether you natural rig should account for species and how heavy the load is - if pruning. If removal it’s rope preservation.

You can burn ropes both natural rig and using blocks if the loading/speed is too high.

Good insight on pruning vs removals. Thanks.

 

[Nish]

If I had only two rigging lines, it would be Tree Master 3-strand for light stuff and natural crotch rigging, using it whenever I could get away with it. Then I'd have 200' of double braid 5/8th for heavy stuff, pulling it out only when it's needed, using blocks or rings. If I could have four lines I would add some inexpensive 12-strand, a 9/16ths double braid, and I'd swap the 5/8ths for 3/4" double braid which would see only very occasional use.

 

[Chaplain242]

For pruning I will be getting another ivy rope - I find that it flicks around branches better than any other rope I have tried.

 

[islandarb]

Stablebraid is the flicka....especially when it wears in. Dream rope.

 

[islandarb]

Plus you can take huge pieces. Even 1/2".

 

[Jehinten]

My three go to rigging ropes is true blue, Hawkeye, and stable braid. All 3 run well in blocks and rings and the 12 and 16 strand work very well with natural crotch. The Hawkeye also gets used in the rig-n-wrench on occasion.

For natural crotch rigging I'd be less concerned with strength and more with abrasion resistance.

 

[Reach]

I’ve been using 5/8” Sirius, from Gap Arborist Supply. It’s a double braid with similar stretch to Stable Braid, but much less expensive. It will handle an occasional light natural crotch, but anything heavy will burn it. It will handle some serious weight though, running through rings or a block.

 

[Crimsonking]

I like Samson arbormaster for natty and light duty, and atlas 5/8 for big material. Yale Polydyne 9/16 is my favorite all around, but never for natty.