In praise of natural crotch lowering/rigging.

[Mick Dempsey]

The breaking strain is also reduced if ncr with a double braid rope.

 

Although I hardly ever use pulleys but I do use a bull rope.

 

A bollard is different though, I would never go back to using the old method of putting wraps around the stem.

 

They are handy and easy to install, no argument there.

[Darrin Turnbull]

Rough bark=more friction=more control.

 

 

How much friction do you want on small stuff. Rough bark = more rope damage

[carlos]

Rough bark=more friction=more control.

 

harder to judge the wraps on the bollard if ones using different or multiple natural forks.

not saying iam against natural forking but on a take down that was mostly rigged i would probably opt for pulleys.

carl

[Mick Dempsey]

I suppose that depends if you let it run. Why be so precious about 100 quids worth of rope?

[jeanesy]

How much is lowering rope? 2quid a meter? 100 quid for 50 meters, a quick hedge trim on the way home. Just replace it regularly.

 

 

How much is a pulley? A swing cheek is £30 odd quid a block £60? Prolongs the life of your rope. Ten fold. Personally my lowering rope was a lot more than £2 metre so for me using a pulley is way more economical.

[Mick Dempsey]

How much is a pulley? A swing cheek is £30 odd quid a block £60? Prolongs the life of your rope. Ten fold. Personally my lowering rope was a lot more than £2 metre so for me using a pulley is way more economical.

 

But what about multiple rigging points? Moving pulleys/xrings around takes time and effort. Glaze your rope a bit in a couple of months? No biggy, buy another, how much did your rope cost?

Edited October 23, 2015 by Mick Dempsey

[Mick Dempsey]

Not saying I don't use pulleys, just not as a default.

[carlos]

But what about multiple rigging points? Moving pulleys/xrings around takes time and effort. Glaze your rope a bit in a couple of months? No biggy, buy another, how much did your rope cost?

 

i think glazing will reduce its strength ( dont know by how much to be honest) also when you get into long lengths of large diameter stuff can be pricey.

for me if i glazed up a rope and told the boss it wasnt a biggy n to get some more he wouldnt be too chuffed! i know ive tried it...

[Mick Dempsey]

Sure Carlos, but how close to the SWL are we going in reality? Even with glazed rope.

[Thesnarlingbadger]

So the logical point is use a pulley for big bits or rough bark.

I think jobs can vary so much that decisions are made on the day.

Personally I think if you are going to be using a pulley in one place for most of the day set it up and use it. If your going to be changing rigging points, natural crotches, unless the piece is huge.

Wrapping around the trunk as a friction devise works so well and I am all for it, but with a capstan or bollard the groundy knows where he is at, bark and trunk thickness changes every time where as a friction device stays constant.