Breakaway Lanyard/ Emergency Detach Options

[CurSedVoyce]

We used to use them in the newspaper bundling. Bundle the papers for delivery to the kids to fold and deliver. Tie string and cut... Hands never leave the bundle except to make another. I think I still have a couple in a box somewhere.

 

[MasterBlaster]

What's that gizmo called?

 

[sotc]

Finger knife, fishermen in AK use them when building or mending nets

 

[CurSedVoyce]

There ya go.

 

[Jack]

Bail Out Kit (concept video)

This thread got me to worrying, well worrying more than normal about working a hazard tree. Anyway, had to piece down a dead (hazard) tree last week. Set guy-lines and set my TIP in a nearby healthy tree. Everything worked fine but that job and this tread got me thinking about finding an easy, safe way to lanyard into a hazard tree and a safe way to 'bail-out' if things went bad. I hate working around guy-lines. They're always in the way of; the climber, pieces, climb lines, rigging lines ... And, I hate the idea of whipping out a knife or saw to cut my lanyard.

So, I took a single-eye sling, added a friction hitch, a panic snap and made a video of my first attempt at a quick release 'lanyard'. It's for work positioning in a hazard tree, ONLY! Life support is in a nearby 'safe' tree.

It will be interesting to get some constructive feedback about the concept: Bail Out Kit (video link). There's some additional notes in the comment section below the video.

Thanks in advance.

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UPRt3gNptCY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[MasterBlaster]

Interesting.

Hmmmm. Lemme watch it again.

 

[Rborist1]

Where did you get the panic snap from?

 

[Jack]

Where did you get the panic snap from?

Had that one for years ... came with my string trimmer strap. But, it's a common item at tack shops, often used on horse leads, in nickel plated steel or brass. Amazon has them. Also bought another one from Tractor supply. I've seen them used as releases for BigShots.

 

[Rborist1]

Thank you kind sir!

 

[MasterBlaster]

Yea, and if I remember right, they're EXPENSIVE!!!

 

[Tucker943]

Butch did you mention the old vacuum cleaner belt trick? I snooped around but didnt see it mentioned. I believe that was your trick right?

 

[bill22]

Very cool Jack, looks like the best option so far IMO.

 

[MasterBlaster]

No, I don't think it was me.

 

[Tucker943]

Once upon a time, somewhere on the net, I read an old trick where you use a vacuum cleaner belt as the last link from your lanyard to a dee ring if you need a bailout. They hold your weight alright but will snap with several hundred pounds of force put on them.

 

[MasterBlaster]

It sounds inventive, for sure.

 

[flushcut]

I kind of like that panic snap set up.

 

[SouthSoundTree]

Panic snap is cool. Was there no sound to the video? The written words were fully informative.

I like the it is accessible to either hand, however I'd rather have the benefits of a regular D to D lanyard. I think a panic snap on both sides of the lanyard would be good.

Panic snaps are less than $10. The Wichard Big Shot release snaps are spendy.

Would be good to know how much load the panic snaps take. Its a good idea to have in an emergency, emergency separation from a failing tree, like something breaking at low enough pounds that it wouldn't break you first in the event of not being able to get to the snap.


I rethink the D to D lanyard, if the tree fails partially or fully, your body will get squeezed, whereas a lanyard to your bridge would connect the lanyard, climbline, and failing tree, without your body getting pinched.

 

[MasterBlaster]

That's the one I bought and wound up giving it away here. Something like 60 bucks!

 

[Jack]

{REPLIES IN BLUE}

Panic snap is cool. Was there no sound to the video? {No audio ... wind noise, music, voice-over was distracting.} The written words were fully informative. {Thanks, seemed sufficient.}

I like the it is accessible to either hand {good point}, however I'd rather have the benefits of a regular D to D lanyard. I think a panic snap on both sides of the lanyard would be good.
{My panic snap post is only a concept that can be used many ways ... so, go-for-it ... but please post pix & vids. However, it seems safer for a single panic snap to release everything that might hang-up in the hazard tree}

Panic snaps are less than $10. {usually <$5} The Wichard Big Shot release snaps are spendy.

Would be good to know how much load the panic snaps take. Its a good idea to have in an emergency, emergency separation from a failing tree, like something breaking at low enough pounds that it wouldn't break you first in the event of not being able to get to the snap. {It would be good to know. The little hinge pin seems to be the weak link. At $5 it would be a cheap test.}


I rethink the D to D lanyard, if the tree fails partially or fully, your body will get squeezed, whereas a lanyard to your bridge would connect the lanyard, climbline, and failing tree, without your body getting pinched.
{Agreed, front & center seems to be the natural place to grab in an emergency.}

 

[SouthSoundTree]

A good point about everything releasing in an emergency.

I've been meaning to pick one/ some up. If/ when I do, I'll buy one/ some to test the strength.

 

[sotc]

I disagree about sound. Would be far more informative to talk us through it.
As to the set up, how are you going to cut the top out of that hazard tree when you are tied in higher than you can comfortably reach? Nice for a demo but not practicle for work imo.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Meh, if the wind's frigging everything up, you aren't gonna hear him anyway. A better mic, perhaps?

 

[Jack]

I disagree about sound. Would be far more informative to talk us through it.
As to the set up, how are you going to cut the top out of that hazard tree when you are tied in higher than you can comfortably reach? Nice for a demo but not practicle for work imo.

Points well taken, thanks for the feedback, Willie. Next time, I'll mute the wind noise and add a voice-over. Agreed, the demo would be too high for toping. But, the quick release could tie-in at saddle level just like for a normal topping cut or block down.

It should be noted a panic snap will work on anything it fits over: endless slings, small friction savers, small loopies, whoopies, etc., etc. However, care must be taken that the 'swinging-gate' can swing clear of any obstruction (about 1") - otherwise it may not release.

 

[Treepreacher51]

Once upon a time, somewhere on the net, I read an old trick where you use a vacuum cleaner belt as the last link from your lanyard to a dee ring if you need a bailout. They hold your weight alright but will snap with several hundred pounds of force put on them.

Here it is.

The one time I climbed with a break away lanyard I had two tie ins and would have swung away easily. I looked around my garage for something to use and decided on the rubber replacement belt for my vacuum cleaner. I girth hitched it to my dee and clipped into it. It was a little stretchy but worked fine. I have no idea what it would have broken at.

Groovy Idea jack.

 

[MasterBlaster]

So, basically it's just anything that's strong enough to hold you, but weak enough to break. I would guess that if it could support your hanging weight, then it'd be plenty strong to hold you in a lanyard configuration.