RIG IT DOWN! Retrievable Rigging Line Tutorial

A step-by-step HOW-TO video (oh boy!) about rigging down branches using a fixed-end, "solo," retrievable rigging line system.
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[@Kevin.L_]

You'll have to have Freddie back for the how to videos. Excellent way to demonstrate the technique.

[@metaspencer]

Fred is a solid guy! :)

[@Kevin.L_]

@@metaspencer He had good help on that job!

[@joeshmo5399]

Very informative Freddie should have his own channel.

[@metaspencer]

Good ol' Fred :)

[@Lodberg67]

😂😂😂

[@aerialrescuesolutions3277]

Tom Ness, the founder of Ness Climb Gear, ( with Sophia Sparks) showed me this in 1994, he called it " Cheap ground crew" Pretty slick. As you pointed out, there are many factors involved with the rope placement, and many other factors. Great video. Jim in Oregon

[@BTimmer]

I knew you had it in you to do a "how to" video!

[@metaspencer]

haha ... I guess it had to happen :)

[@ChicoTheArborist]

Solo rigging limbs from a tree is a skill that requires precision and care. It's impressive to see the technique and safety measures involved in doing this solo. Proper rigging not only ensures the climber's safety but also minimizes damage to the tree and surrounding property. It's crucial to use the right equipment and maintain control of the limbs throughout the process. Great job showcasing the importance of planning and executing each step carefully. Keep climbing, keep growing, and keep shining bright, my friends! 🌳✨

[@metaspencer]

Great points my friend - your experience shows. Good stuff

[@randymarko486]

This video was FANTASTIC. GREAT job......

[@metaspencer]

Good to hear! be safe out there ... and have some fun :)

[@TheTreeTailor]

I tried out keeping my rigging and climbing lines in rope bags, up in the tree with me - game changer. The ropes don't get tangled up anymore on the ground in the brush. I was able to work all afternoon lowering / chucking down branches, pulling my rigging line back up and stowing it after every branch. The biggest problem after was working my way out of the massive pile, once I got back on the ground

[@metaspencer]

I'll be doing the bagged rope thing this week -- glad to hear it works out!

[@anthonyr6286]

"like a speed line system but there's no speed about it" 😆 I used this last week thanks to your older videos. Good stuff 👍

[@metaspencer]

Sounds like you got the job done -- good stuff!

[@anthonyr6286]

@@metaspencer here to tell the tale lol keep up the good work!

[@equipmentdoc42]

Thank you so much for sharing! I have been using this same system for several years now. You explained it perfectly.

[@metaspencer]

Excellent! I’m glad to hear it’s out there

[@slowstitches]

Love Freddie. Thanks, Spencer. Time for a coffee (ko-fi) break.😊

[@metaspencer]

Thanks for the support! Ya made my day

[@timeorspace]

Thank you for this ‘how to’. Even with a ground crew, those pruning jobs can be slow and leave gaps in the ground crew’s attention span. There are many times I’m at my limit on a limb walk, need to get those extended tips off, and nobody is around to run a rope. I have a habit of girth hitching a small DIY pocket sling to tree and clipping the piece with a side loaded ANSI steel biner to catch it. If the crew is still not ready, I’ll I cut the hanging piece smaller and chuck - Last week, brush next to the roof would have bounced it back into the house. It was really handy to transfer the sling to the piece and clip my climbing tail to the biner to get it down….then pull the tail back. I had somebody to eventually catch the piece, but alone, this is risky, as the climbing tail may tangle and not come back. I just aquired a fancy new ratchet pulley lowering device, and I’m glad to know another way to use it.

[@metaspencer]

It's cool to hear your thoughts and get a sense of how you work. those slings come in handy and can do a lot, as you describe. good stuff man

[@MemphisMechanic]

Superbly done! Very entertaining and direct and concise. Thanks Spencer!

[@metaspencer]

Thanks for checking it out ;)

[@ScottWConvid19]

By far, the best rigging video I've ever seen. You should make some yt\tt shorts from this

[@metaspencer]

Thanks buddy … and good idea

[@ScottWConvid19]

@@metaspencer the really cool thing was how you worked with Freddie by editing in the video clips and that you never completely grew up 🤣

[@metaspencer]

@ScottWConvid19 I’m glad that worked out!

[@Jcozz]

Love your style, you got the solo thing down, which is right up my alley.

[@metaspencer]

thanks for that! good times out there

[@OscarBermudez-n2z]

Thank you for showing us, please do more tutorials of what you know. Thanks

[@metaspencer]

Thanks for checking it out, buddy

[@TimsTreeServiceCT]

I was shocked to see you make a "how to video"! I work alone as well and use this system, I have noticed that stiffer ropes get tangled less than soft flexible ropes. Definitely shorter ropes are better than super long ones like you said. Are there brands of ropes that you have found better than others?

[@TimsTreeServiceCT]

And great video by the way!

[@metaspencer]

I know what you mean about the stiffer ropes, and frankly some of the el-cheapo Amazon ropes I've been sent as samples have been super stiff and good for lighter rigging. I use some Samson ropes,. and few from Pelican ... and I've even used some old-school three strand stuff lately for rigging. My rigging lines get trashed pretty fast to be honest, so I kinda go through them

[@metaspencer]

thanks buddy

[@bamf9285]

Man, thank you for sharing your skills, expertise and experience with us. You are really helping me stay confident starting my solo gig. Much love and stay safe! Also your day of work videos are a great watch getting to see all of the different scenarios one may encounter.

[@metaspencer]

Good luck with that new business! lots to learn and figure out but you've got this!

[@bamf9285]

@@metaspencer I come from climbing cell towers so it's been a really fun transition!

[@metaspencer]

@bamf9285 tower guy! Excellent

[@pierogies_and_pie]

Great video Spencer thanks for sharing!

[@havespurswillclimb]

Enjoyed the video. I solo rig a lot. I used the new Rock Exotica Downrigger on my last job. It worked great. I really like it so far. The climber can use it or the ground person can use it. Not for really heavy stuff....maybe 3-4" used alone. Or you can add some additional friction with false crotch or figure eight or porty. Give it a try.

[@metaspencer]

I've had my eye on that device but haven't picked one up yet. looks pretty useful -- good to hear it's working out!

[@TheTreeTailor]

I've adapted this by using a prussik to hold on to the rigging rope, so that I can tension everything up before the cut, and after lower the limb in a very controlled way. I use a sling to hold the prussik to the tree

[@metaspencer]

sounds like a cool system! I'll have to try that on Monday ... I like how what you have there is a smooth lowering method (via the prussik) that also holds tight

[@ShadowMoonFarms]

Great explanation. Thanks for sharing

[@AssafLevyIL]

Yeah, finally the how to!! Loving Freddie!!

[@metaspencer]

Freddy made me do it :)

[@AssafLevyIL]

Haha ​@@metaspencer

[@steverahn4951]

Really great teaching technique mixing miniature for comprehensible over view with an in the tree reality punctuation.

[@metaspencer]

I'm glad to hear it worked out! :)

[@Version135]

Thanks. Seems obvious now but never thought to do this. Wife will appreciate not having to untie over and over.

[@metaspencer]

Hahaha yeah my gal is equally happy :)

[@plmengineer9238]

Many thanks for this. I've been umming and aaring (planning if you will) about how I'm going to Solo rig down the crown of a 50ftr .. houses all around. And thanks to your useful video I now have a good idea of how I'm going to do it 👍

[@metaspencer]

It takes practice but you’ll get it figured out. High tie in and high rigging line tie point make all the difference

[@spelunkerd]

I can see how a somewhat short line might strangely be an advantage, so that the line is less likely to get snarled at the bottom.

[@metaspencer]

Yeah it's surprising but the short line directs the piece and is super easy to retrieve -- none of that exhausting pulling line up and resetting it

[@gregbrown9271]

Nice explanation Freddy 👌

[@diegovd7215]

Thank you so much! This is definitely going to help! Cheers

[@metaspencer]

Let's be extra careful out there!

[@stokermeister3]

Very cool simple way to explain the concept of control felling limbs 🥳

[@metaspencer]

I’m glad it worked out!

[@dan-dan-da-treeman]

Excellent well thought out video. Thanks for the great information sir!

[@metaspencer]

Thanks for checking it out buddy

[@LazarBeamLazar]

Thank you, this was really good and informative

[@superchou8606]

It’s a pleasure to watch your YT. thank you

[@davehedlund5474]

Excellent video and demos!

[@metaspencer]

stay safe out there bro

[@ArcaneArborWolfe]

Great video! Haha, the TRIANGLE OF DEATH, well said.

[@metaspencer]

It'll get ya!

[@ArcaneArborWolfe]

@@metaspencer It will! The triangle of death (TOD). I might do a video on TOD. Enjoy your weekend bro!

[@Clothis64]

What !? You made a How To video !? Oh no... You didn't, Fred did it, thank you Freddy !

[@metaspencer]

Yeah I blame Fred. He's hard to control sometimes :)

[@mike-yp1uk]

Very entertaining and informative. Thanks

[@metaspencer]

I'm glad to hear it worked out!

[@Martinpoirier1977]

Merci!

[@metaspencer]

Merci mon ami. très appréciée

[@Martinpoirier1977]

WoW en français en plus !!! Merci pour tous tes videos, j’en manque pas un !!

[@metaspencer]

@@Martinpoirier1977 Ravi de l'entendre :)

[@thedurochersofficial]

Great video

[@metaspencer]

It was a fun one to make :)

[@anthonygalipo9875]

Is this a how to video thanks Spencer be safe

[@metaspencer]

I think it might be :)

[@freshlycutlawnservice]

Awesome !!! I love it !!

[@metaspencer]

Thanks for checking it out, buddy

[@noahrousseau8801]

Great video thanks for sharing!

[@metaspencer]

Thanks!

[@RC-Heli835]

Ah found it! Hey where is the best place to get those slings? Love the scaled down version!🙂

[@metaspencer]

I make my own ... but you can buy zip line kits at most online arborist shops

[@user-nt8oz8db8n]

Very good tutorial, may i ask how many slings are on you for one tree, and what length of slings you prefer?

[@metaspencer]

I make all my own slings and most are about 24"-36" ... nice to have a couple long ones for thick pieces, but mostly you can get by with shorter slings. As for the number it completely depends on the tree shape and situation. Some trees I'll rig pieces down and pull the slings off before dropping the limb, too, so there's no way to know what you'll need. I have about 20 slings total but seldom take them all up a tree unless I'm speedlining.

[@mrjohnlh3]

love your videos. first!

[@metaspencer]

1st! eggsellent

[@JuniusDexter]

thanks man

[@Peacekeeper150]

I am down for a RWRD 3000! Can I get that in black cerakote? 😂

[@metaspencer]

We only have blue in stock

[@ScottWConvid19]

Have you found problems with cutting ash trees with sections of rot under the bark nonuniformly?

[@metaspencer]

Absolutely. Those dead ash are full of bad surprises… hard as a rock then punky soft as heck

[@ScottWConvid19]

@@metaspencer Those punky surprises can be extremely high risk and difficult to mitigate

[@michaelrobbins5656]

I heard that jab at monkey beaver saddle 😂👊

[@metaspencer]

hahaha ... GREAT saddles I've heard, just a bit spendy :) The cadillac of saddles ;)

[@carsonwashburn1]

A "how to" video from Metaspencer?!!!

[@metaspencer]

Freddy made me do it :)

[@mreggbird]

You should hire that Freddie

[@metaspencer]

I hear he works for peanuts, literally

[@redbeardtree1776]

Very nice “not” how to video! Lol

[@metaspencer]

hahahahahaha

[@wfemp_4730]

Huh...a "really fine" how-to video! You need to put that on a t-shirt.

[@metaspencer]

thanks for the idea!

[@rickstafford5316]

Go Freddy go.

[@rickstafford5316]

I’ve used the system before. Very useful in all kinds of applications. Thx for sharing

[@metaspencer]

@rickstafford5316 highly technical!

[@williamrehberg2546]

HOLD THE PHONE ITS A HOW TO VIDEO!😂😂😂

[@metaspencer]

hahaha! I blame Freddy

[@radovanflexvidacic9410]

Like like

[@metaspencer]

I hope things are good with you, buddy