kevin bingham

That is pretty slick, I've done that using a stack of slings and non locking caribjners, pulling through the caribiner, losing the sling and biner. never have tried just a crotch, have you ever misjudged the balance and had the rope fall out of the crotch? I will play with that, definitly saves a sling. Doing that gives you mechanical advantage as well.

It is a wrench, but yes, even more than a wrench for climbing. A wrench for climbing helps me around the tree a bit faster, but in terms of the logistics of the whole job, the rig n wrench has made an even bigger impact on my overall production. I am a small tree company. There are two climbers and two groundworkers. One is 19, the other is 64. I'm training the 19 year old for the trees. Unless it's a very big tree, the portawrap stays in the truck. The climber is up and at it. The groundy can take the load and then pass the lowering line to the climber who lowers it while the groundie handles it. We have been breaking up into two crews of two more often since we started Ariel rigging. Before, it was always nice to have two on the ground, one man running the Porta wrap and the other managing the limbs as it came down. The whole job runs smoother without the portawrap. It also means we can smash things and fill up the yard as the groundies no longer need to be able to access the trunk of the tree and the Porta wrap. We fill up the yard and clean up after its all done. The other thing with the rig n wrench is being able to tip tie limbs and have the groundies able to pull the limbs into the hole. Yeah, I really can think if a tool that has had such an impact on my day to day production. Mind you, my trees are mostly not in the huge category.

Could be, but I have found areal rigging, ( not the afb as I don't have one yet) to have increased my production more than any other arborist tool that I can think of. And I don't say that lightly. It has been a game changer for my production and basically eliminates the need for a third man on most jobs.

Cause it's a pain in the ass. And it maims your rope. Using stubs is a great quick fix when you don't have a better tool.

the nice thing about the AFB is that its a square bollard so pulling the rope back up to you after lowering there is less friction and you can get the end back with no problem.

that means you have to leave stubs

what edwood said, ill use the tail of my climb line for those little bitties too. but I have become a convert to the ariel rigging. mainly the Rig n Wrench. The Rig n Wrench takes is god for 30 lbs to 250. for 250 - 500 I double whip it or span rig it. I don't even pull the porty out the truck for most jobs. The AFB is definitely on my wish list at the moment. The Rig N Wrench is nice because it allows the ground guy to pull with their full weight on the piece, thats something you can't do with the porta wrap or tree friction or the aft, the rope comes back to you easy too. for the smaller pieces you don't even need anyone on the rope.

I don't find that to be true, honestly just about the only times I take more than 1 wrap on the porty is when im negative rigging, when I am right next to the block anyway. I can't think of too many times I take two wraps on the Porta wrap when my block is high in the tree and the weak link is the gin and the tree itself. For two wrap pieces the gin is lower in the tree or I'm negative rigging. Three wrap is very rare.

[ame] [/ame] this is a long video but gives you an idea about how limitless your options are for using redirects. you can go itsy bitsy, and really get to the end of branches

this is my base anchor at the moment. quick and adjustable. also works for a canopy anchor. Quickie shackle is available from treestuff.com

your pulley on the wrench might be bound up if your getting abnormal drag. a bit longer tether may help a bit, play with your hitch a bit

TreeStuff - Singing Tree Rope Wrench By ISC sure the colors are available elsewhere as well

me too, I love my base anchors. I wouldn't say 99% because I don't use them on removals of course.

here is another vid. you can double the size of the pieces and the amount of pull using a double whip and putting a block on the piece being removed.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uSKw_0byrcw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I hate having to pull the rope back up to me to retire another limb. With a block and pulleys one tug and the rope is back at me and I'm ready to go. That alone is worth it to me.

It turns big weights into smaller ones.yet it allows you the pull force of a bearing pulley. I use it instead of stubs on a tree. I also tip tie everything for my ground guy to pull up and in. And then lower. They don't have to bother with a porta wrap. I self lower they untie and walk to the chipper. It's compact, fits on my harness easy. I'll use my tail sometimes to rig down branches. For smaller limbs it will hold without even having to hold it so I can then push it on down the tree. I could go on and on about the advantages. It just makes it all too easy.

Best thing to happen to my production since the rope wrench.

You need a rig n wrench.

I would def get a wrench for rigging and a wrench for climbing. I haven't damaged my wrench rigging yet. I have a lot of wrenches though too.

Takei ng a little spruce chunk solo with the the rig n wrench. Notice how the pulley is pulled tight upward, the system is taught ready to go. You do have to be careful about going to big. Too little can be anoyying too. It's great for pulling up your saw because it will hold the weight of the saw and you can pull up and let go.