Cobra Synthetic Cabling Merits?

[Rich Rule]

Both the manufacturer and Marc advise keeping a bit of slack in a properly installed system.

 

What about vertical leaders with no lateral branches to prevent the termination straps from slipping down?

 

Installing it 2/3rds of the way up a leader, depends on an accommodating lateral to keep cobra's pants from slipping down around its ankles?

 

Jomoco

 

Not necessarily.

 

Limbs and stems tend to taper as the get higher. So if there isn't a suitable Union to install above, the system won't necessarily slip down. At some point the stem will be fatter that the collar and cuff. However, there is usually something up there and if the exact retaining branch for the collar isn't at exactly a 3rd... Would 5% either way be that drastic?

 

Again down to installation. If that were to be the case then I would be more concerned with the collar girdling the limb/stem and as a measure should be inspected and replaced if that is the case.

 

I have done loads to Cobra Bracing over in Norway, but only installed 1 system in the UK and that was 14 years ago. IME, most of the time when we inspect and replace it is due to a bad previous installation.

Edited May 9, 2016 by Rich Rule

[josharb87]

Your idea that a fire melts the bracing releasing a limb is flawed.

 

Cobra, is designed to prevent excessive movement which could lead to the failure of the limb/stem, not stitch a tree together/support the entirety of a failed limb/stem.

You should be able to remove/replace a cobra system without needing to install something else as a stopgap.

 

So after your imaginary fire, if the tree escaped fire damage (!) a new system should be installed before next storm season.

 

FWIW the material decreases in strength by under 2% per year, the lighter variants (2 and 4T) should have a life expetancy of 15years, the heavier 8T 8years

[jomoco]

I guess my point is that traditional steel cabling has none of these glaring and numerous frailties weaknesses and liabilities.

 

Just for grins I googled UK forestry controlled burns.

 

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCTN2.pdf/$FILE/FCTN2.pdf

 

Jomoco

[jomoco]

Your idea that a fire melts the bracing releasing a limb is flawed.

 

Cobra, is designed to prevent excessive movement which could lead to the failure of the limb/stem, not stitch a tree together/support the entirety of a failed limb/stem.

You should be able to remove/replace a cobra system without needing to install something else as a stopgap.

 

So after your imaginary fire, if the tree escaped fire damage (!) a new system should be installed before next storm season.

 

FWIW the material decreases in strength by under 2% per year, the lighter variants (2 and 4T) should have a life expetancy of 15years, the heavier 8T 8years

 

Are you correct in assuming Cobra sells no static tree support systems mate?

 

Jomoco

[josharb87]

But your beloved steel bracing is invasive to the tree, does induce decay (I removed a maple a few years back, with evidence of CODIT 1.5m either direction of the bolt) doesn't allow restricted movement to allow the tree to apply compensatory growth to the assumed weak points

 

Dynamic bracing has none of these glaring and numerous frailties weaknesses and liabilities.

 

 

 

Time and place for everything

[josharb87]

Cobra systems can be installed dynamic or static, and even the ultra static

[josharb87]

Did you want advise/opinions or just preach about your views?

[treequip]

Did you want advise/opinions or just preach about your views?

 

This................

[jomoco]

But you just stated that proximity to a fire would not cause limb failure because the system components caught fire and burned my friend.

 

Obviously that's not true when the static system's the only thing holding a genuine fault together.

 

Jomoco

[Ian Leach]

Or in a few months bring out a new cabling system , but first slate another.......