Rigging with the Notch Rapid Rig Part 1

It is well overdue for us, but we got some new rigging equipment and wanted to share our experiences with it. Be on the lookout for Part 2 in which we finish up this job with the sweet gum dismantle.

[@coldbrewsky]

Props for how patient and supportive you are with your ground crew.

[@zaccheus]

Thanks!

[@anthonyholloway5522]

It would be cool to have a contract climber with his own rope man if you hire the climber you also gotta pay for the rope man. That way you know your no gonna get killed by someone with no experience roping for you

[@TylerKegolis]

​​@@anthonyholloway5522I've heard of that mystical pair, but never had the privilege of meeting the 2 man wrecking crew myself. On a side note, if any business owner or climber DOES have the opportunity to work with an amazing rope guy, don't you ever let him go. Imo, a good rope man is worth his weight in gold. Very valuable asset to any tree company and decent climber! I wish I had one!

[@WoodCutr1]

ooh, a new Zaccheus video I know its not really a thing you do, but could you do a video kinda like a "meet the crew" kinda thing?

[@zaccheus]

I've thought about doing something like that. We get a lot of questions about some of our equipment too. So maybe we will do a combination of equipment and crew introduction 😁

[@WoodCutr1]

@@zaccheus sounds awesome man

[@TylerKegolis]

I've watched quite a few of your videos (im sure not all of them) and haven't noticed any on knots yet. There ARE a lot of knot videos out there, but not many that I feel are complete. For example, when I was originally looking for a video on how to tie the VT hitch, there were a bunch but none actually showed how to attatch it to your harness, they just wrapped the prussik around the rope and held it there. Or, for another example, they will show how to tie a bowline on a bight or farmers hitch, but not really how to utilize it in the field. Just a suggestion, but I think some videos with tying AND APPLYING knots could potentially get a lot of traffic. In my opinion, you also possess a gift as far as being descriptive and likable go, which I'm sure helps a lot when making videos. I appreciate your content! 🙏

[@WoodCutr1]

@@TylerKegolis check out @knotorious for all the knot video's you could ever want! I might make some hitch tying and using video's, but theres a lot out there already, my channel is headed towards equipment and crane work more than tutorials (although I still dabble in those every now and then)

[@metaspencer]

Interesting to see ... I'll stick with my knots for the time being. Good stuff man

[@zaccheus]

Thanks!

[@brother_jay]

Nice man. Thanks for making this. I wanted to see the rapid rig in action.

[@zaccheus]

No problem! That's part of why I made it. I wasn't able to find much in the way of videos of use when I was researching the thing.

[@DM-rp7ps]

Thanks for the vid! Gotta say, watching the ground person on the crawler pulling brush with orange rope in it gave me the heebie-jeebies! Glad you weren't pulled out of the tree.

[@zaccheus]

Yeah, I wasn't quite aware of some of the dangers back then 😬😅 On the bright side, with it being an srt set up, they'd have to pull the tree over or break the rope to pull me out of the tree. That machine only weighs 1,400ish pounds and as I recall that climbing rope had a tensile strength of 8,000ish pounds

[@GhostRedwood]

If you still have the Notch rapid rig you could use a munter hitch with a carabineer to keep the floating piece where you want it. Pull on the carabineer either direction to adjust where you need and unclip tthe caribeener when you're ready to use it.

[@brandonswan9247]

Nice air Cannon. Might have to try building one myself.

[@zaccheus]

Do it! I think I have a whole $30 in this one. It's a hassle to store in the truck sometimes, but it's way easier to put the throw line right where I want it and that's a great way to start the day 😁

[@warped2875]

If I recall correctly, Nick Bonner said the Rapid Rig was designed to be used with 1/2" rigging rope for best results.

[@zaccheus]

It's been awhile since I made this video, but I think that was half inch husky by all gear.

[@jongallant3461]

Just a tip. I use the alpine butterfly for a canopy anchor that way it’s retrievable! Also, I’m pretty sure the running Bowline isn’t a certified life support knot so I just add a Yosemite finish to make sure it doesn’t slip out. Great video!

[@zaccheus]

Thank you for your thoughts! I also use an alpine butterfly when a retrieval will be necessary later. What organization certifies knots as life support knots? I've never heard of this and I'm interested in learning more.

[@jongallant3461]

@@zaccheus ANSI has a list of certified life support knots but I can’t remember what section it is in. I believe OSHA has a list as well but I could be wrong. Hope this helps! Stay safe brother!

[@lochlendalla6419]

My new favorite channel!

[@zaccheus]

Lol, thanks man!

[@chriss2981]

Wouldn't hurt to add a backup to your canopy tie off. Nice work man!

[@zaccheus]

Thanks! With the canopy anchor backup are you referring to a backup knot?

[@everett3938]

@@zaccheus bowline yosemite or a couple half hitches. if u wanna make that canopy anchor retrievable without extra gear u can tie a butterfly knot and put your climbing end through it, cinches down like the bowline and is retrievable

[@zaccheus]

Gotcha, I might start using the yosemite bowling because that particular rope doesn't knot super great. I do indeed use an alpin butterfly to make a retrievable canopy anchor for trim jobs. It doesn't make much sense for removals and unfortunately ads one more leg of rope to get tangled with the rigging line in the tree.

[@toddjacks8288]

Awesome video brother

[@zaccheus]

Thanks todd!

[@clouvyx1657]

Let’s go another one!

[@zaccheus]

Sorry it took a little while, just been suuuper busy recently 😊

[@davidcoven4294]

The TCIA has a great book on SRT that teaches Compression points and also how to take That forces out of the primary suspension point it definitely educated me with my SRT climbing also when you’re doing that canopy tie with the running bow line how come you don’t back it up with the Yosemite finish I totally understand it is a strong reliable knot but just for that extra peace of mind I just would like to know you’re thoughts great work tho brother I really enjoy the videos keep climbing high keep climbing safe looking forward to the next video

[@zaccheus]

I probably should use a yosemite finish, I just don't use a bowline for a canopy anchor very often and so it wasn't at the front of my mind to do so. I'll have to check that book out. I don't know how to reduce the forces to any less than my own body weight, but maybe there is a trick I don't know about.

[@davidcoven4294]

@@zaccheus ride on man climb high and climb safe always you’re killing it 🤙🏻💯 look forward to the next video

[@gabemurrey1595]

The concept of "getting rained out" while doing tree work is HILARIOUS...coming from the PNW here. Cool vid though

[@zaccheus]

That's okay, atleast we real trees to climb, not just telephone poles with branches 😅 Thanks!

[@gabemurrey1595]

@@zaccheus we've got some really cool, big, deciduous trees out here. Lots of bigleaf maple and some big oaks. Also the 140+ ft evergreens are pretty fun...

[@zaccheus]

@@gabemurrey1595 I know, I know, I was just playing. Most of my interest in pausing for rain is out of the better treatment of my employees and also an effort to protect the yard below. It was already soft becaise of the leach field and the rain only made it worse. If I understand correctly, you guys don't get a break from the rain. In this case it was going to be nice the next day. I can't remember for the exact day, but I also prefer to not climb in lightening conditions. Either way, I'm glad you found entertainment in it 😊 I hope to get out west someday.

[@thejackel1844]

@@gabemurrey1595 Unless it's an emergency, I'll wait for the rain to stop, my mortgage is paid !...

[@thejackel1844]

@@zaccheus Yes, Conifers are easy money, Deciduous more challenging, more $...

[@spelunkerd]

Another brilliant explanation. I'm not sure the rapid rig is for me. Running bow or terminal shackle is really fast, with no sliding piece to drop.

[@zaccheus]

Thanks man!

[@brianallen1205]

Now they have the quickie

[@bn9585]

I'm watching this late but.. to stop that shackle part getting away from you could you attach it to some throw line and then prusik it around the rigging line close to the other section of rapid rig? That way it won't slide everywhere and you can adjust it etc etc. Have put much thought into that but seems logical? 🤔

[@zaccheus]

That is some great thinking. I think it might end up being a challenge to adjust a prusik made out of cordage that small on a rigging. It seems like it would likely get tightened up somewhere and be really hard to get off. It might worth with a little larger cordage though. Since making this, I've moved on to using a sling and carabiner and that seems to work really well for me 🤷‍♂️

[@wilhelmsteinert4733]

Try running a rigging ring when you negativerig. We use the feorry ring from wes spur. I have found that pullys are not well suited for negitive rigging, better for pulling or lifting. With a ring it gives more wiggle room vs a pully which the rope runs threw like freight train. Thanks for the video. Keep it up!

[@zaccheus]

Thanks for your thoughts. I've seen a number of people use rings for negative rigging, I just have always felt like it would be super easy to glaze a rope. What's your experience been with glazing ropes?

[@thejackel1844]

Been using snatch blocks for negative rigging for 40 years, these rings you speak of are not to be used for this purpose, not nearly enough bend ratio......

[@JG-po5cv]

you could tie your throw line to the running bowline to make it retrievable

[@zaccheus]

That's a good thought! Thanks for sharing!

[@michaelcawley3178]

Have it on a spliced rope it makes it much quicker

[@zaccheus]

Kinda makes it hard to fit through rigging rings though, doesn't it?

[@samuelluria4744]

Nice hard ground and healthy strong grass....I would have tipped that whole tree with a judicious lay for minimal impact.

[@zaccheus]

A fair thought. I would have preferred to tip it over, but there was a leave field in the open area below.

[@samuelluria4744]

@@zaccheus - Gotcha...the great thing about Honey Locust and Clammy Locust, is they hinge extremely well, so if you leave I thick hinge, you can slow cut while pulling with a small machine, and get a nice gentle drop.

[@zaccheus]

@@samuelluria4744 Could be true, but I don't think I could have gotten is the fall slow enough to avoid compaction over the leach field. Also running the machine over the leach field to clean up the tree would have induced unwanted compaction.

[@mattgiordano2262]

This might be a really dumb question (not sure ill get an answer seeing how old this vid is)...but whats the need for all rigging with such open space? Is it so lawn doesn't get all torn up from the impact? And do you include that as part of your contract? One option to free fall with divits and another option for no damage to the lawn? Thanks

[@zaccheus]

No problem, certain not a du.b question. There was a septic field in the area and so we didn't want to go messing up that. Also I don't like fixing yards and I believe I'm leaving the customer with a higher quality product if they're yard isn't all patched up. I don't really give my customers two options on the matter of turf preservation. I just provide the highest quality service I can and charge appropriately.

[@jeffschroeder9089]

Nice job

[@zaccheus]

Thanks Jeff!

[@smiter3919]

hmm wonder if having a neodydlium magnet on one of those rapid rig pieces would help to just keep em together between rigging.

[@zaccheus]

Hey! That's a good thought!

[@wvboy0311]

Where did ya get the grapple for the kubota i need one for mine great video

[@zaccheus]

It's a branch manager T1001 model. I order it from the manufacturers website because I had to get it custom made to fit the quick attach on the kubota. www.branchmanagerusa.com/shop/rotating-grapples/bmg/

[@wvboy0311]

@@zaccheus thanks I appreciate it

[@br-dj2ti]

I have a couple 500i I love them you need to order yourself a bark Box for the exhaust cover from West Coast saws you can also get nice falling spikes for from there also check out their sight buddy it does give the saw more power it's great

[@zaccheus]

Oh I have looked at everything they have for that saw. I plan to leave it as it is until it is outside of the warranty period. Then we will make her a little faster 👍

[@br-dj2ti]

@@zaccheus I mean it's just 4 bolts buddy for the exhaust if something would happen to the saw you just bolt the stock exhausts back on but yeah whatever you're comfortable with is definitely fine

[@zaccheus]

@@br-dj2ti that's true, I probably could get away with it if the thing needed work under warrantee. Did you get 3 point spikes from WCS? I wasn't sure if those or some safety pro dogs would be better

[@br-dj2ti]

@@zaccheus yes buddy Yeah I get the 3 point falling spikes from West Coast saws as well

[@MattGlynn]

Rained out? Would only work two weeks a year if we did that in the UK.

[@zaccheus]

Do you climbing with lightning?

[@MattGlynn]

@@zaccheus Can't say we've really had it, it passes so quick if we do. It wouldn't be a good idea though

[@zaccheus]

@MattGlynn All the rain we get from late May to mid October is often thunderstorms. The risk of being struck by lightning is not worth getting the tree done on schedule.

[@MattGlynn]

@@zaccheus no definitely not. That's more like being "stormed out" that "rained out" 🤣 keep up the work, love the videos. Climb safe 👍

[@thejackel1844]

If the Notch Ring were bigger (dia.) then the "T - Bone" would have to be longer, everything is relative...

[@megadosevitaminc8774]

Nice work. Wonder if there is a way to keep the loose part from sliding away. I could see that thing being a pain.. maybe wrap electrical tape down a bit so it cant slide past it.. looks handy tho..

[@zaccheus]

Wrapping tape is an excellent idea, I was trying to think of something to keep it from sliding away as well. The biggest struggle is that the slidey bit sometimes need to be as much 6+ feet away from the ring if you're double wrapping pieces.

[@megadosevitaminc8774]

@@zaccheus maybe like 8 feet wrap the tape so its bigger than the hole

[@iclimbtrees8981]

@@zaccheus or just go back to knots! Man oh man did I hate that stupid thing the one time I used it🤦🏻‍♂️ worst forearm cramps I’ve ever had trying to make sure it actually cinched down on stuff. Maybe I’m just biased when it comes to notch equipment.

[@bn9585]

I'm watching this late but.. to stop that shackle part getting away from you could you attach it to some throw line and then prusik it around the rigging line close to the other section of rapid rig? That way it won't slide everywhere and you can adjust it etc etc. Have put much thought into that but seems logical? 🤔

[@megadosevitaminc8774]

@@bn9585 that would work. Might be a tangled mess real quick tho. I just use a steel snap on the end of my riggin line. Cheap and easy.

[@leonardvirtue5753]

Nice.😆 😆.💪

[@MrTimestops]

Hey love your channel! How are you liking what looks like a new ms500i? Just got mine the other day but haven’t had a job to use it on yet. Keep up the great work!

[@zaccheus]

Thanks! I love that saw. Everything I pick it up am surprised by how light it is. Seems to pull a 36" skip tooth pretty well through most hardwoods we have here in Ohio

[@timtrapp1324]

Please include your overall thoughts on the Rapid Rig. Do you feel it was safer faster or easier?

[@zaccheus]

Concluding thoughts will come in Part 2!

[@outofmiryclay]

Hey thanks for doing this video...I've got a question about the knot used to connect the rope to the rapid rig ring and I can't seem to find any videos that address it. I'm wondering why a double fisherman's knot is called for as opposed to something like a bowline knot. The reason I ask is because I use rigging rings a lot when I rig and I can't imagine that the rapid rig will pass through the rigging ring when I have to reset my rigging point. I'd like to use the rapid rig but untying a double fisherman's knot every time I reset my rigging point would become a real pain in the butt real quick. A bowline is a secure knot and is incredibly easy to untie after being shock loaded. Just curious if you have any thoughts on that.

[@zaccheus]

I think I did try using a bowling one day. As I recall, it worked, but it was best if the knot was tight against the rope. It just reduced the number of things flopping around. If you're using big enough rings, you could possible use a bigger bowline amd girth hitch it to the rapid rig.

[@thejackel1844]

The whole idea behind this ring is to reduce any knots in the rigging system, best used with fixed eye splice or "Larks Head" hitch...

[@ralphwaggoner1795]

G Good job son

[@zaccheus]

Thanks Dad! ❤

[@Imageloading...]

How high does it shoot with 60psi? I have an aluminum tube, brass valve unit and I have to pump to well over 120psi to get a 12oz bag 70-80ft

[@zaccheus]

Mm I'd probably guessing that I get somewhere around a foot per psi. That is with a 12oz bag though. A lot of is has to do with the volume of the air you're compressing and how well the valve gets opened. I do use a bike pump with a gage to try to get consistent results. That sounds like a sweet setup. I'd really like to build an aluminum one. Aluminum also isn't naturally slippery where pvc is a bit more. Maybe try using some dry lube on the side if the barrel? Like spray on graphite or PTFE 🤷‍♂️

[@Imageloading...]

@Zaccheus if not mistaken 8 have the original APTA prototype. My buddy gave it to me. I tried the 10 oz, it doesn't want to come down in many types of trees

[@Imageloading...]

@Zaccheus and I use a pump capable of 3000 psi, it can fill pellet guns and paintball tanks

[@zaccheus]

Oh wow that's cool. It does look like it has a fairly small compression chamber. Mine is maybe 2-3 larger if I had to guess. I'm no engineer, but I imagine that lower pressure/high volume may be less sensitive to valve operation speed which might make up for human error when yanking the valve 🤷‍♂️

[@Imageloading...]

@@zaccheus I was thinking about adding more chamber

[@Jason-fg4jr]

Hey fella look up the dude far almost died doing tree work in Ripley Ohio he cut into a bee hive they estimated 20k stings he was stuck in he harness couldn't get out they had to suck bees out of his nose and throat... should go over safe protocol also people on the ground also were attacked and had to go to the hospital

[@zaccheus]

Whoaa, that's a crazy story. I don't think I've heard of a bee attach ever being that bad

[@Jason-fg4jr]

@@zaccheus I do electrical work for the 1st officer on scene and he said none of the 1st responders could get to him due to the amount of bees swarming amd attacking I'll see if I can figure out how to share the link on here...

[@zaccheus]

@@Jason-fg4jr I looked it up as you suggested and read a couple articles. It sounds like it was a miracle that he survived. How'd they get him down?

[@macrbk4341]

Why not just cut it from the ground? Look like it as plenty of room?

[@zaccheus]

I would have loved to, but there was a septic field just beside the trees in that open area 🤷‍♂️

[@tonygiorno689]

Why didn't you just drop them instead of climbing looks like you had tons of space?

[@zaccheus]

I wish I could have, the leach field for the septic system limited our available space

[@tonygiorno689]

@@zaccheus I see just curious

[@zaccheus]

Never hurts to ask 😊

[@nomad2076]

So what was the final verdict

[@zaccheus]

I sold it 😅 it's not for me. I'll stick to a sling and carabiner or knots. I have heard some people say they really like it though🤷‍♂️

[@nomad2076]

@@zaccheus it doesn't appear to be for me either . I don't even like using a carabineer on the end of a rope. I trust the faithful running bowline, half hitch, and sometimes Clove hitch (with 2 half hitches for safety) on slippery wood .

[@nomad2076]

@@zaccheus I'm waiting on a triple thimble in the mail. Have you ever used one? Got some questions. You seem like you buy all the cool shit 🤣

[@zaccheus]

@@nomad2076 Nothing wrong with that! I can't say the clove hitch isnt for me, but I use a running bowling for most of my wood and a small loop sling connected with a carabiner for most of my brush. The sling/carabine helps improve cycle time for me and most of the folks I work with, but it's not for everyone either.

[@nomad2076]

@@zaccheus I'm sure it does. I just am not used to it. I used it in one job and it was really quick and easy. Maybe I'll keep one around for lighter stuff. Most people hate the clove. The guy who taught me is super old school and wouldn't trust anything else with wood. I do the cutting now while he's off looking at jobs and fuckin around so I'm steering more towards a bowline and half hitch. Hasn't failed me yet. Just starting to trust it fully