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Post by HuntMeister on Sept 23, 2014 19:52:35 GMT -5
A few years ago I started using lifelines and I will not use a stand without one now. At $30.00 or more each though I decided to research making my own to see if any savings were possible. Found a supplier down South with the best price around and ordered up ropes to make lifelines each with dual prusik knots. Final cost per lifeline is $20.90!! The other problem was finding a dark or muted color that wouldn't stand out like a sore thumb, they had black static rope and dark green prusik cord. Looking good!
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Post by swilk on Sept 23, 2014 20:06:25 GMT -5
Have had mine in the woods for several years now..... a yearly inspection and haven't had any troubles yet.
Expensive even when making our own but doing everything I can to go home to my family is more than worth it.
Seems like I have about $500 invested in enough rope for my current 10 loc on's plus several ladder stands that each have a short rope at the top to tie off on. Still have lots of the bigger rope left but the smaller prussik stuff is all gone.
Love the piece of mind they give me.
I think I originally bought 400' of the bigger stuff from an online store specializing in climbing rope for loggers.
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Post by whitetail1 on Sept 23, 2014 20:09:32 GMT -5
Love it! I will not climb in a stand anymore without one either!
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Post by Woody Williams on Sept 23, 2014 20:32:44 GMT -5
Boy, those look familiar... Mine... What I ended up buying… 6 NEW 7/16" x 30' Kernmantle Static Line, Climbing Rope @ $18.50 each 1 NEW 7/16" x 33' Kernmantle Static Line, Climbing Rope @ $20.50 ( we have one high stand) 7mm x 40' Prusik Cord, Pack Rope – NEW @ $16.50 Total $148 .. less than half what we would pay for the HSS lines.. Where I got them on eBay – Casto Bargains 1898 Railroad St., Statham, GA 30666 PHONE: 770-725-2424 FAX: 770-725-2455
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Post by dadfsr on Sept 24, 2014 6:06:49 GMT -5
I don't think I'm real fond of the idea of static rope for this use....static rope is more used for rescue work or rigging because it has very little "stretch" factor to it. Dynamic rope has more stretch and would soften the impact from a fall. You won't find a rock climber or arborist using static rope to climb with because they want that extra stretch/shock absorbing factor if a fall should happen. Sites like this: www.gearexpress.com/climbing/rope/short-rope.htmlhave sales on "short" ropes (usual length is 80 meters) that will occasionally have exactly what you need in a dynamic rope....you just have to check them every week or so and see what is available.
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Post by HuntMeister on Sept 24, 2014 6:16:35 GMT -5
Woody, that is exactly where I got mine. Thanks for posting the supplier, I intended to post their name as well then the kids distracted me and I forgot. Wade Casto was great to deal with. He is a hunter and makes his own lifelines as well. If anyone wants to contact Casto for ropes, keep in mind that they are only open Thursday through Saturday. Wish I could work those hours! Their website www.castotrade.com/
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Post by Woody Williams on Sept 24, 2014 7:21:21 GMT -5
Dadsfr, For rock and tree arbor climbing I think you are 100% spot on, but these life lines are different. At no time should there be any slack in the rope. Whether climbing up or down or sitting in the stand the rope is taught or should be.. Dan recommended using static line over dynamic rope in our original discussion on this subject. hunt-indiana.com/thread/43309/safety-line-stands
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Post by HuntMeister on Sept 24, 2014 7:47:01 GMT -5
Dadsfr, For rock and tree arbor climbing I think you are 100% spot on, but these life lines are different. At no time should there be any slack in the rope. Whether climbing up or down or sitting in the stand the rope is taught or should be.. Dan recommended using static line over dynamic rope in our original discussion on this subject. hunt-indiana.com/thread/43309/safety-line-standsAgreed Woody. I did quite a bit of research to feel good about it before I settled on the static ropes. Definitely nothing wrong with the decision to go to dynamic though, it just costs more.
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Post by dadfsr on Sept 24, 2014 9:54:42 GMT -5
Dan is correct on there shouldn't ever be much slack between your lifeline, the prussic and your harness.....however how many can say that they have three hands to keep that prussic tight on the lifeline while climbing up and down? ....remember the rule of thumb is to ALWAYS keep three points of contact!!! Don't know what the statistics are on when falls are most likely to occur but once from anywhere on the system will certainly get your attention and the more abrupt the stop is the more it will get your attention!!! I've taken some falls (wangers!!) while rock climbing on dynamic rope where the the anchor/belay person is also part of the give in the system-I can tell you from first hand experience that this old body probably would have been hurting a lot more if there had been any less "shock absorption" to the whole system. I see that original thread that Dan commented on was back in '12....he's done quite a bit more climbing since then (and is a little older!)-I'd be curious to see if his thoughts are still the same
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Post by bowhunterjohn on Sept 24, 2014 19:37:28 GMT -5
Thanks for all the info guys , I am going to start making my own, unfortunately I need about 20 off them. but in the long run it will be worth it
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Post by 36fan on Sept 24, 2014 20:38:24 GMT -5
I've got the rope, and I hope to get some up this weekend. I got the cheap white stuff with intent to dye it w/ walnuts...but I haven't got around to it, yet.
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Post by Woody Williams on Jun 30, 2016 18:20:27 GMT -5
Bump to the top....
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Post by jackryan on Jul 1, 2016 21:28:46 GMT -5
I don't think I'm real fond of the idea of static rope for this use....static rope is more used for rescue work or rigging because it has very little "stretch" factor to it. Dynamic rope has more stretch and would soften the impact from a fall. You won't find a rock climber or arborist using static rope to climb with because they want that extra stretch/shock absorbing factor if a fall should happen. Sites like this: www.gearexpress.com/climbing/rope/short-rope.htmlhave sales on "short" ropes (usual length is 80 meters) that will occasionally have exactly what you need in a dynamic rope....you just have to check them every week or so and see what is available. This is the better way to go for fall hazard control.
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Post by jackryan on Jul 1, 2016 21:33:00 GMT -5
I've got the rope, and I hope to get some up this weekend. I got the cheap white stuff with intent to dye it w/ walnuts...but I haven't got around to it, yet. EVERYTHING affects the rope and NOTHING makes it stronger. Leaving them out in the weather all year is risk enough. These ropes are NOT intended to be left out in the weather all year and then hold the full loaded they are rated for. Contact your dealer or the manufacture and ask them.
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Post by dadfsr on Jul 3, 2016 16:19:54 GMT -5
I've got the rope, and I hope to get some up this weekend. I got the cheap white stuff with intent to dye it w/ walnuts...but I haven't got around to it, yet. EVERYTHING affects the rope and NOTHING makes it stronger. Leaving them out in the weather all year is risk enough. These ropes are NOT intended to be left out in the weather all year and then hold the full loaded they are rated for. Contact your dealer or the manufacture and ask them. After having been working in trees for about 20 years and then working with the Boy Scouts in their climbing program as an instructor I think I've got a fair amount of knowledge about how to handle and store rope that lives depend on. Every rope manufacturer recommends keeping the rope out of UV radiation as much as possible-other than physically damaging a rope (cuts, scrapes, etc.) the next two worst damaging affects on rope are chemicals and UV damage!! Unfortunately there are people no longer rock climbing because they thought they would use rope or webbing that they found or was left at a site-only to have it fail, sometimes with fatal results. Just like the ratchet straps should be changed every year on ladder stands every year then a rope left out in the weather should also be changed out every year!!!
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Post by HighCotton on Jul 7, 2016 6:05:45 GMT -5
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Post by dadfsr on Jul 7, 2016 9:04:12 GMT -5
They look like they should work OK Larry. I'm not real sure just how much the "cowbell" will help and in fact I would rather be able to look at the carabiner/safety connection at a glance just to ensure nothing has started working loose than not be able to see and then have to move the cowbell to look at it....but that's just me-on the other hand the cowbell may keep gate safety nut from rubbing on something and working loose too but that could be taken care of by replacing the carabiner with an upgraded safety carabiner that requires a double action to open. Unless carabiners are actually dropped or severely abused by heat/friction they are good to use for many years.
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Jul 7, 2016 10:15:40 GMT -5
Looks like a good deal to me. I like the cowbell idea to cover up any noise the carabiner may make when/if hitting the steps on the way up.
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Jul 7, 2016 10:24:17 GMT -5
I think deer should be required to wear cow bells.
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Post by jimstc on Jul 7, 2016 12:36:51 GMT -5
I don't understand the cow bell concept with the HSS ropes. I use HSS ropes, no cow bells though
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