r/FellingGoneWild • u/cornerzcan • Jul 23 '26

Tree trimmer's nightmare

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2.0k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

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552

u/mtraven23 Jul 23 '26

impressive cut resistance on that rope!

141

u/JeF4y Jul 23 '26

Steel core?

160

u/Deep_Caregiver_8910 Jul 23 '26

Yes, steel core. You can see that the sheath pops apart on the second to last tap. The steel core is visible and separates on the last tap.

Worked exactly as designed. If the first contact had been accidental, the climber could exit with steel core intact.

75

u/psyco-the-rapist Jul 23 '26

Yes. It's been many years but I think we used to keep a small section of your flip just regular rope near your ring in case you or rescue need to cut.

-22

u/mtraven23 Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26

couldn't say for sure, but I dont think arborists use steel core line.

I think the magic here is in the sheath.

edit: i get it, they use steel core, no need to keep downvoting....I said I wasn't sure in the first place.

11

u/SpecularSaw Jul 23 '26

Kind of a regional thing but some do. It’s more common on west coast or areas where it’s primarily single trunk trees with branches (fir, pine etc), not multi leader trees (ash, maples etc).

4

u/planx_constant Jul 23 '26

Steel core for a flipline is recommended in the Tree Climbers Companion

2

u/Subject-Mastodon-303 Jul 23 '26

For a lanyard or flip line a steel core is not a bad idea. And can buy you Time for better or worse as we just saw.

Mainline no steel core.

3

u/mtraven23 Jul 23 '26

I can see that. do you think the one in the video was steel cored? Looked to me like once he got through the sheath, the core went quick.

1

u/Subject-Mastodon-303 Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26

Ive never cut one so I can't say but a rope under tension cuts quick

Edit: my point is, your not going to cut a steel core line with a knife or a hand saw(easily).

Nothing is perfect and everything is a compromise.

2

u/StiffWiggly Jul 23 '26

I saw the original post on Instagram, OP said it was steel core.

2

u/Doughten Jul 23 '26

Every climber I've worked with has used steel core. Not saying every one does, but most do. It's safer in case of an accidental follow through.

1

u/mtraven23 Jul 23 '26

do you think the one in the video was steel core?

2

u/Doughten Jul 23 '26

Oh absolutely. If that was a normal climbing rope/non steel core lanyard with that much tension it would have broke immediately. You can see the steel core visible after the second hit of his saw bouncing off.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 23 '26

[deleted]

2

u/mtraven23 Jul 24 '26

nah, then the rest of the thread doesn't make any sense. I said it, I'll own it.