Moving to SRT: Rope Wrench Basics

Transitioning to SRT Climbing with the ISC Rope Wrench. Here we cover:
- Basic difference between Doubled Rope and SRT
- What happens if you try SRT without a Rope Wrench, just on your hitch
- Installing the Rope Wrench on a tether
- Basic functioning of the Rope Wrench
- Setting up your Rope Wrench system on a rope
Keep in mind that I am NOT an expert. All I can teach you is what I already know, which is limited at best. That being said, I try hard to avoid topics that I am not familiar with or trained in, and always try to educate myself more before making videos for the internet.
For more in-depth information from an ACTUAL expert, please check out The Fundamentals of General Tree Work 25th Anniversary Edition, by G.F. Beranek, available here:
amzn.to/3zjV12I
It's the Bible of Tree Work! Filled with over 400 photographs and illustrations, there simply is no more-complete reference on tree work theory and technique available. Simply put, if you work with trees and chainsaws, you need this book!
Topics include:
cutting technique
wood fiber and hinging
limbing and bucking
equipment
work positioning
climbing
rigging
topping
extensive instruction in felling
and much, much, more...
"We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master." - Ernest Hemingway
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Climb High, Work Smart, Read More.
- Patrick

[@edwindude9893]

It is cheap and lasts forever. Awesome bit of kit. Great tutorial a lot of first timers need a talk through like this.

[@crazydavidsmith]

I learned how to climb by watching your videos. I've never climbed double-rope, I started SRT. I use an ascender with a foot loop and a Grigri. I made a lanyard by watching a "Bino H" video. I run a redundant life line for the initial ascent with a friction hitch to my harness because I'm a noob and I want an additional emergency life line in case my primary line breaks. It's been challenging to learn how to climb safely. Your videos have helped. Retrieving the rope was a learning curve for me, as it really needs to be planned out before getting up the tree. To secure my ascent line, I toss the rope over, tie an alpine knot, feed the end of the rope through and pull it secure on a branch. I end up with a climbing end and a retrieval end. That's the simplest way for me. Thank you for your videos and I'm happy to see you publishing SRT content.

[@davidconnors8830]

I would value a video on the carabiner. How to position the gate, why the various shapes, how many actions are required to open. Nuances for climbing and rigging. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@neild7971]

Thorough resource for those without an available srt mentor, nice one.

[@stankanely]

great explanation. i have used to loops of rope with prusiks (one on my waist one acting as a foot ascender) since I was a kid for climbing sail boat masts... thinking about upgrading my system to something like this and this was the clearest explanation/demo I have seen. thanks.

[@cpdoasis]

Damn. Timing on this couldn’t be better. Getting ready to start SRT here soon and no better individual to learn from 👍🏻 thanks as always Pat.

[@angeladangela500]

Excellent video!! Thoroughly, yet simply, explained. Thank you very much!!

[@johntrainssmith1475]

Great video as always, Clear, concise, well explained to take care of assumed knowledge etc, keep them coming, thanks for the time and effort you put into things like this, and also bringing back the book The Fundamentals of General Tree Work too. Legend !

[@That.Skinny.Climber]

I only climb DDRT with Unicender and it's sweet, but I would like to learn some SRT. This is very informative. Thanks brother

[@brianmerkerson2414]

Maybe check out the drum for the uni made from richard mumford @ climbing innovations if in stock then maybe check out mathys rope capture.drum goes on top making the rope travel smoother around the top in a rounded groove,the rope capture attaches on the bottom “cutting the L part off is required”which makes tending so much easier.at 1st wasn’t thrilled about drilling 3 holes up top & cutting the bottom L part off but it makes for much better tending the rope.plus the rope capture has a piece made to keep the rope in.also has two ball bearing’s for smooth tending.

[@That.Skinny.Climber]

@@brianmerkerson2414 I had the drum attachment for almost a year now. I would like to get a rope grab for the bottom of the uni though

[@knarr115]

Patrick, greetings from the redwoods of Northern California. Just a thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge in such a great way. Have enjoyed your videos and picked up quite a number of valuable tips and tricks that I've been using. Cheers!

[@joshrichards2082]

I just bought my first rope wrench this morning at Arborfest East. I'm excited to watch this video shortly!!

[@texas-linemangaming731]

Just started srt last week with the new HHXF and really liking it. So far my favorite hitch on it is the distel

[@BigBlackTruckDave]

Great explanation and details. Thank you

[@plant.more.trees.]

Super cool my friend. Srt is a bit of game changer. I almost never do drt anymore. Thanks for explaining the concept so clearly. Stay safe! Peace

[@danvellucci5192]

This is amazing! Great video, game changer for this rookie.

[@garyhenion9459]

Great stuff Thank you for taking the time

[@odanne29]

Like always, very informative video.

[@stephenxburrage]

Love the video brother

[@rodrigofaillace2316]

Thanks a lot, brother! Right In time ! Finally understood the SRT.

[@AdvancedLawn]

Thanks for doing stuff on the wrench. I love mine. Is all Iv ever used

[@JpWi]

I don’t think you mentioned it, but one has to test their hitch without the rope wrench installed to verify the hitch function

[@lucfournier3939]

I agree with you !many channels are inviting people up in the air !

[@TreeMuggs_PatrickM]

Yes good point, what I meant was, if you have a go-to hitch cord and hitch that you like in doubled rope, you can use those just the same with the Rope Wrench, it's not at all like starting from scratch....

[@kayakmaccaz9256]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🇬🇧

[@NickNick-do2qs]

This is gold!

[@chrisallen5548]

Brilliant. Thanks.

[@simoncrooks7441]

Thanks, good presentation

[@hugogarcia3193]

Thanks you for great information and videos I have learn alot from you..thanks for sharing your knowledge..God bless you. Keep up ..an be safe

[@DM-rp7ps]

Just the info I was looking for! Thank You for the vid. Trying single rope and discovered the prusik would hang up until I took some weight off it. Not ideal when you're trying to get out of the way!

[@spelunkerd]

It's always nice to find a new video by EducatedClimber. I'm surprised you like the single pulley, instead of the hitchclimber style with an extra hole to hook a chest harness into. It's a little harder to find that extra middle loop in tethers sold today.

[@firedtradesman]

Helluva job! Thanks as always. :-)

[@kennydon]

Thanks for the insights

[@danelgart6267]

Had the nationals a couple of years ago here in Memphis! Very exciting to watch SRT in action. Asked around to my local competitors employee base and did not find a single firm here that utilizes a single rope setup. Not even the arborist board guys! In fact - nobody uses a second short hitch line to prussik to main line? Seriously watching the top champs at the nationals was like us cavemen watching the moon landing. I would like my guys to transition to single line SRT and maybe it will catch on here in the south!! Thanks for the explanation

[@rankandvile]

Thank you.

[@robsimons1163]

This is probably a dumb question but can you just use an actual wrench? Or a couple wrenches welded and zip- tied together?

[@mawfg]

These SRT guide videos are very clear and easy to comprehend. My only question so far is where would you recommend connecting a chest harness for the pinto pulley set-up?

[@danvankouwenberg7234]

Thanks

[@Psy6o]

Show how you connect it to your belt and chest harness

[@treetv79]

Be happy and Safety

[@skidjumper]

I would have liked seeing how the small slack tending loop worked?

[@rickdebacker100]

Great explanation of the weight distribution and the load on the hitch between SRS and DRS. I have been enrolled in a Climbing 101 at KZbin University, but I missed that key point somehow. That explains how out of the many hitches I've tried, all of them are too tight due to the fact that I don't have a Rope Wrench type device installed. Very educational. One question though is does the rope wrench involve any adjustment of the tether to wrench point? You mentioned and demonstrated that as you increase the weight on the Rope Wrench, and with the hitch released, the wrench gradually assumes all of the weight. If this is the case, how does it allow you to descend? You don't physically manipulate the angle of the Rope Wrench do you? I get the fact that the Rope Wrench 'shares' the weight to allow easier operation of the hitch under load, but....Just a curious point which I'm confident I'm simply misunderstanding. I've seen several of your videos concerning hitches, but do you have a favorite to recommend for a beginner. I am about 200 lbs with all of my gear on. Thank you in advance for your help.

[@broddireyrhansen1297]

Thanks for the video, how long hitch cord are you using? Is it better to have the hitch close to the pulley?

[@meblake7359]

Why doesn't the rope wrench engage when you are pressing on the hitch to descend? I found out the hard way that you can't descend on just a friction hitch.

[@joelharvey1693]

What is the advantage of this system over a grigri, footloop and hand ascender?

[@hugogarcia3193]

What's the recommended length of prusik cord for srt???

[@runesvensson2408]

I use the rope wrench so i can have a srt system as my entrance (just a quality of life thing due to the 1:1 climbing ratio) and then switch to a drt system while in the tree without worrying about relaying on expensive mechanical equipment. Been playing around with different friction knots and found two favourites ( Distel knot on my lifeline and Schwabisch on my flipline ) Didn't really catch the name of the knot you used in your video? What makes it one of your favourites ? Really appreciate your well made and educational videos on here. Thanks.

[@TreeMuggs_PatrickM]

Will be posting the Knut Hitch video in a few days...

[@Ddaverr1]

Great video! Why does the one single leg tether have a grommet on-top of the eye at the Wrench and the ropelogic stiff tether doesn't? I have a ropelogic one and have been curious about it

[@rickdebacker100]

I only know what I read here about that, but the rubber grommet is to prevent the wrench from falling into a negative angle which I assume would decrease the transition to assuming a load - or even prevent it at all. From what I see, if the wrench is allowed to flop downward, there will be zero friction on the rope for it to grab and assume the load. Just my logic based guess.

[@UltimateMMAFan83]

I'm having a hard time with my row French going up the rope smoothly. It seems like there is a lot of friction. I checked out the pulley mechanism inside the rope wrench and it works fine but it's almost as if that rope is not meant for this rope wrench.

[@robbob_the_climber]

What length hitch cord is that 28 or 26?

[@alotl1kevegas860]

How long of a cord do you use for the KNUT?

[@jonbarnhard3681]

Would you recommend the hitch hiker 2? I have been leaning towards getting it over the rope wrench because of how compact it is. I don't understand though why It's not for sale through any of the Canadian outlets, that I have seen anyways.

[@TreeMuggs_PatrickM]

Try the new HHXF by ClimbingInnovations.com it's mint

[@lancerudy9934]

Where do you buy that gear?

[@jancut883]

Is it work on 11mm rope? Thanks

[@warped2875]

If a stiff tether basically self-tends the rope wrench device, why do you need a tether with a tending point?

[@rickdebacker100]

Great question since most tethers don't have one.

[@corywadedavis]

Wait, so is it SRT or SRS? Ddrt or MRS?

[@mikehoncho7539]

Can you do a parts list?

[@sempi8159]

Sadly the rope wrench is not allowed in germany :(

[@maxziemer3631]

I only climb hand over hand. I'lles i guards I'll have to watch this several more times ??????

[@geothr33]

You're voice is so quiet for me in this particular video.