WTB Port a wrap

NJC · Sep 23, 2015

Does anyone have a mini port a wrap sitting around that they don't use? I see the Buckingham version on treestuff and think it will work well for the tiny stuff I do for side jobs. Having never used it though I can't get myself to shell out for a new one being that the medium/more familiar/more capable size is the exact same price.

If no one has one to sell, perhaps some experience to share to convince me to buy one (or not)?

JeffGu · Sep 23, 2015

I was seriously considering buying one of the mini porty devices for using in the tree when I'm working solo. My Stein RC-1000 is the smallest one I own and it's just too big and heavy for that use.
Then, I tried this Rig 'N Wrench idea that treebing came up with...

http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/threads/rig-n-wrench.31245/

...and I gave up on the mini-porty idea. This just works so much better, with lots less headaches and setup, whether you have a ground person or not.

oldoakman · Sep 23, 2015

I'd also look at the thunder sling from TreeStuff as well. Looks like it would be easier to deal with up in a tree.

NJC · Sep 23, 2015

I can definitely see using the wrench especially for pulling up tip tied limbs, though I don't have an extra one to dedicate solely for rigging.

My side work kit is pretty basic and I'd kind of like to keep it that way for now, mostly for storage and portability. I'd like to be able to do small removals so what I really need is a port a wrap. The mini is attractive because its small and light, could be used in the tree, and (this is the real question) still can handle decent chunks with a couple wraps?

cthompson22 · Sep 24, 2015

The mini will still handle pretty good sized stuff where it has a hard time imo is negative blocking. I find the friction with it using a 1/2" line to be difficult to get just right. Never fails it's too little or too much. I usually use velocity as my rope in the mini porty and it works quite well. I would say the device could hold up to what the rope could not that I would want to push either that far.

For roping down limbs it's great and I have sent down some pretty size able stuff with it. The nice thing is you ca do some solo rigging with it and still have 2 hands on the saw because it can still be locked off. I never leave without mine it has so many uses.

I use it quite frequently with a 2 man crew in tight spots. Set 2 lines on the limb one tip line running to the device on the ground and a butt line going to the mini porty. The ground person controls the tip line until the limb stops movement and then let's their line go free and I lower the limb using the mini porty. It lets the ground person have hands free to steer the limb around when it gets to the ground.

It sounds slow but for a small crew it really speeds things up once you get used to setting it all up. If I have a lot of limbs to do this way I set 2 high points in the tree for rigging, if only a couple I just use a limb just above where I am cutting for the mini's line. Using the mini on a sling that is quick to attach and detach is ideal but not always practical.