[TowerTalk] Ropes in trees

Wed Dec 26 22:52:58 EST 2018

Yes, that’s EXACTLY how I learned why I needed to use the heavy glove.  I once had a VERY swollen and painful knuckle from a similar experience to yours and it prevented me from doing a lot of things for several weeks.  Fortunately it did not take a similar experience for me to start using a faceshield.  That I did from the beginning.
I also use a nitrile glove on my pull hand (right hand).  

I learned not to use a bow and arrow because I have had the feather on the arrow cut my finger more than once.  I don’t have good technique and decided that for me the slingshot was safer and easier to use.

73

Bob  KQ2M

From: mike stokes 
Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2018 10:26 PM
To: Bob Shohet, KQ2M 
Cc: Kelly Taylor ; towertalk at contesting.com ; Wes Attaway (N5WA) ; jim at audiosystemsgroup.com 
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Ropes in trees

I 2nd the heavy gloves.  I had one slam into my knuckke, and while there
was no permanent damage, it was very swollen and   very sore for a long
time.

73
Mike
KK9V

On Wed, Dec 26, 2018, 9:09 PM Bob Shohet, KQ2M <kq2m at kq2m.com> wrote:

> My personal experience is that anything under 100’ is better and more
> easily served by a medium quality slingshot (Marksmen) with good quality
> bands and development of proficiency with it.  I prefer a 2 oz. lead
> fishing sinker (pack of 10 at Walmart ~ $2.00) and 30 lb test on a 2500’
> roll (~ $9.99 at Walmart) that I unspool out about 200’ before using the
> slingshot and aiming for my preferred branch/tree.  I always use a
> faceshield and a thick leather glove on my left hand (I pull with the right
> hand).  You can buy a faceshield  for ~ $15 at Home Depot or Lowes and a
> pair of thick quality cowhide gloves at Costco (3 pair for $19.99).  After
> getting the weight over the correct branch, I attach #18 twine and pull it
> through and then attach the 3/16” poly rope.  It is a fairly slow process
> but it works and it is reliable.
>
> I like using fairly inexpensive components that I can easily buy and
> replace whenever necessary rather than having to build something elaborate.
>
> If I had to go more than 100’ then my present slingshot would not be
> enough but there are no trees at my qth that are taller than ~100’  Nothing
> survives at that height on my hilltop except for my two towers.  :-)
>
> One of the benefits of slingshots is that you can rapidly develop
> proficiency and it is quiet and unobtrusive.  Most reasonably healthy and
> reasonably coordinated people can become proficient pretty quickly.  While
> wearing a faceshield and a thick glove on the hand that holds the slingshot
> there is nothing to fear.  Only twice in 20+ years has the sinker ever hit
> the faceshield and there was no problem.  And twice the sinker has hit the
> thick glove but other than a brief sting there was no issue.  That is four
> minor events in several hundred attempts.  Safer than almost any other
> method and VERY cost effective and always available for use, even in windy
> and rainy or snowy weather when you HAVE to get up that wire antenna that
> broke on the morning of the contest!
>
> 73
>
> Bob  KQ2M
>
>
> From: Wes Attaway (N5WA)
> Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2018 8:47 PM
> To: 'Kelly Taylor'
> Cc: towertalk at contesting.com ; jim at audiosystemsgroup.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Ropes in trees
>
> I would not recommend tying the pull rope to the monofilament line.  Using
> string as an intermediate step works a lot better if you have to go through
> some Pine tree branches with lots of twigs and needles.  I have never had a
> problem using string (25# strength). This is an extra step but it rarely
> fails.
>
> However, I am sure everyone who does this has their own favorite way of
> doing it.
>
> Shooting over a high limb is one thing.  Getting the ball to drop anywhere
> close to the area you want it to be in is another matter entirely.  Using
> too much air pressure with a tennis ball launcher is normally a recipe for
> frustration and repeated shots.
>
> Still, using a launcher is a lot cheaper than a climber.
>
>    -------------------
> Wes Attaway (N5WA)
> (318) 393-3289 - Shreveport, LA
> Computer/Cellphone Forensics
> AttawayForensics.com
>    -------------------
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
> Kelly
> Taylor
> Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2018 7:05 PM
> To: wesattaway
> Cc: towertalk at contesting.com; jim at audiosystemsgroup.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Ropes in trees
>
> I've had some success on shorter (40-50ft) trees using a slingshot, with a
> high-density weight (heavy but not huge). Of course, it helps I can shoot
> in
> such a way as to not care where it lands.
>
> If your trees are fairly dense, a projectile such as a tennis ball may
> prove
> problematic: I've had tennis balls get caught in the foliage and not be
> heavy enough (and too large) to fall through. The tennis ball also seems to
> absorb enough of the slingshot's kinetic energy, leaving less energy for
> moving the ball.
>
> Seeing the projectile can also be a problem, so I've tied coloured tape to
> the projectile (usually a large nut).
>
> Be wary of how you fasten your pull rope to the monofilament: a large knot
> can get caught in the branches and render the effort futile. I've had
> success tying two overhand knots (one on each) and then taping over the
> knot
> to hold the knots and provide a smooth transition. Going slowly once the
> knot reaches the branch helps.
>
> A tree climber like Jim recommends or a buddy with a cherry picker would be
> ideal.
>
> 73, kelly, ve4xt
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Dec 26, 2018, at 18:39, wesattaway <wesattaway at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> >
> > Good advice from Jim.  I use a tennis ball launcher, with good results
> shooting into tall Pines.  It takes some practice to be able to gauge the
> correct air pressure to use for certain shots.
> >
> >
> >    -----------------------------------Wes Attaway (N5WA)(318) 393-3289 -
> Shreveport, LAComputer/Cellphone ForensicsAttawayForensics.com
> ------------------------------------
> > -------- Original message --------From: Jim Brown
> <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com> Date: 12/26/18  6:19 PM  (GMT-06:00) To:
> towertalk at contesting.com Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Ropes in trees
> >> On 12/26/2018 3:27 PM, Brad Anbro wrote:
> >> Hello all,
> >>
> >> I imagine that this subject has been covered in the past but rather than
> search the archives, I thought that
> >> I'd just ask the group for some information.
> >>
> >> What is available for purchase on the market for getting ropes into
> trees? I am planning on putting up
> >> an inverted L wire antenna and need to get a couple of ropes installed
> for supporting the antenna.
> >
> > What kind of trees? How tall?  Three of the most useful tools are
> >
> > 1) the Big Shot, an industrial-strength sling shot from Sherrill Tree
> > Service.  You want it with the fishing reel and several small weighted
> > throw bags. They're in NC.
> >
> > 2) the pneumatic tennis ball launcher. When I moved to a redwood forest
> > in NorCal in 2006, K2RD brought his over and cleared the top of my
> > tallest redwood by at least 10 ft on the first shot.
> >
> > http://www.antennalaunchers.com/antlaunching.html
> >
> > 3) Tree climbers. They're expensive, but good ones can get wires higher
> > in tall trees with pulleys that allow greater tension.
> >
> > 73, Jim K9YC
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> >
> >
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