brendonv
Tree Hugger
Anyone have a BMS Belay Spool for self lowering?
How big is it? Heavy?
How big is it? Heavy?

I'm not sure if Jack on TH is SingleJack on TB. SingleJack bought one, too.
I've used midline attachment with knotless rigging for self-lowering. This has worked well.
A downside is the inability to really pretension a piece, but this is hard no matter what if you're working solo.
Thanks for the replies, it seems a bit bigger than I imagine. Probably won't go for it, as Scott mentioned I usually run natural crotch through multiple crotches or do wraps if I want to lower myself to the g-man.
I'm interested. I meant that a person can't pretension it remotely, as a groundman typically would with a porty. If I'm mistaken, please inform.
With a g'man that can run my porty, the B'Spool's in the truck. The spool might be great for a climber rigging out a tree with unskilled help. But, you're right, Sean, it's no competition for a good groundie with a porty.
Anyway, FWIW: Pix
I think that with many/most applications total pretensioning allowing an overhead piece to "float" after the cut is unnecessary, and the BS can be set with enough of the slack pulled out so that if the rope is locked off and cut made, there is a very workable amount of drop on the piece.
Natural crotching works well, and I do it a lot, but for heavier pieces the BS has more control for lowering, while allowing an easy rope adjustment without load.
I'll use the BS with a skilled groundie, as he often needs to be able to land a piece in a tight spot, so can't work the POW at the same time, and I can't switch to holding the load with the POW below me. With the BS, he can catch the large load, then I can take the running end of the rope, still with the control afforded by the lowering device (BS), and he can have both hands free, and not drag the rope under the piece that he has to carry away from plumb under the rigging point (say its a 25' limb that needs to get laid down between a fence and house...as he's walking it out to land it, he'd have to have the rope from the POW, which would end up under the limb as it comes down. Hope that was clear.).
Sorry 'bout that ... it's pays to play-it-safe and be a little cryptic with a public video!I was having a hard time seeing the step-by-step in the video. Can you explain the sequence, please?