Question for all you freelancers... rigging kits

[jrose]

Hi all,

 

I left my previous job in November, and since then have mostly been freelance climbing for various firms around me.

 

I have all the usual kit - climbing kit, 201t, 261, 461, rake and blower. I'm trying to think of ways to make myself more attractive as a subby, and considering rigging kits.

 

I have the rigging ticket, and have done a bit over the years using various kits, but never owned my own. To be honest, a lot of what I have done has been an old length of XTC draped over a fork with a wrap around the tree if it's a bigger bit!

 

Don't get me wrong, I would buy a kit straight away if I needed it. So I think my question is, do I buy one, let it be known I have a full rigging kit and hope more work needing one comes in? Or wait until I get offered work that needs it?

 

Sorry for the long winded question!

 

Cheers

Joe

[Mick Dempsey]

I would say that a swing cheek pulley and a friction device would be a start. Plus some lowering strops.

[Steve Bullman]

Buy it as you need it. I have a stein bollard and hardly ever use it. Its great when I need it though.

[Starscream]

If it makes your life easier, makes you a more desirable subbie and you can justify the cost, then why not. By having it you future proof yourself.

[Joe Newton]

If it makes your life easier, makes you a more desirable subbie and you can justify the cost, then why not. By having it you future proof yourself.

 

 

That first bit. If it makes your life easier.

 

That would be my only consideration.

 

Oh, and the simplicity factor. It's amazing how some people can't figure how to work a porty, so that's important.

[Pete Mctree]

I have a range of rigging kit & if anything other than my rigging rope come out then I charge a little more. Like I do for the use of the 660 or 084.

I negotiate everything with those who I work for before I bring anything. If everyone you work for has rigging kit then save your money imho

[jrose]

Cheers for the replies everyone

 

At the moment, my rigging kit as such is an old length of XTC, a pinto rig, couple of steel krabs and some tape slings. I seem to run across a tree I can't deal with using this kit and maybe a tiny bit of cut and hold 1-2 times a year.

 

So I'm not really in a position where I think it would make my life significantly easier, or where I really need it. I'm just interested to know if other people:

A) got the work because they had the kit

B) brought the kit because they had the work

[jrose]

That was meant to be B then a bracket, but it turned into a smiley!

[Mark Bolam]

Every little helps, but I'd be slightly wary of working for firms who don't have their own kit.

Inexperienced groundies running ropes can make for a very bad day at the office.

[Steve Bullman]

I wouldn't think anyones going to hire you simply because you have rigging kit