Arbtalk.co.uk | Discussion Forum for Arborists

Guys when you rig heavy limb sections with no branches ie smooth what hitches are you using

Personally i use a half hitch then a timber hitch the half hitch guides the section and keeps it inline.

I do sometimes worry that it could slip through under a big shock load as somtimes i cant avoid shocking loading.

??.

You could use a marlin spike in place of the half hitch....you could also use a running bowline where the timber hitch ties up.....personally I use the runnin' bowline only if I can hitch it up against summat `( a stub, swelling WHU )

I've always used a half hitch followed by a running bowline, like the set up in this pic -

marlin spike- surley that is weaker than a half hitch due to the tighter bend of the rope? I'd not recomend it.

As for not using the running bowline- can you say why

Fair point Pete, but from a wood slip out knot, is it not more secure.....
As for bowline.....no!

A running bowline works for EVERYTHING.

Actually....as the loads are increased, the knots are probably tighter or tightened....snatchiung is another issue altogether.....I read of occasional failures when using the timber hitch....

Thats because the rope they were using wasn't strong enough and they took too big a piece.

Half hitch timber hitch and cut a couple of notches keeps the rope from slipping ..