Does three strand rigging line hold less water weight?

[SouthSoundTree]

Seems like it. I used wet 12 strand line (arbor plex?) yesterday for the first time after using a three-strand for a while. Seemed much heavier.

I think that it might be a good plus for our PNW wet weather.

The one part that I can see that is bad about 3 strand is that it rotates under load.

Seems to have bit more stretch, but I'm not sure about that. Sometimes that's good, sometimes not.

How uses three-strand and why?

I've only had about 5 rigging lines so far. Rarely do I have to rig down trunk wood, but a lot of limbs. two bull lines, one 1/2 inch three strand, and two 12 strands.

Suggestions on my next 1/2" line for a very wet climate...

 

[SkwerI]

I had to use three strand at Davey and on several occasions watched the unqualified groundman hold the limb in the air for several minutes while it cartwheeled around until it hit something. Once was the service drop to the house, which was not a cheap fix. I finally began bringing in my own rope and refused to use the three strand stuff. I might have accidentally knicked a couple hanks with the chainsaw as well in order to force them out of service.

I would rather stop the job and go home to get a real half inch rope than use three strand for anything other than tying down a load of brush in the bed of a pickup truck. Unacceptable stretch and twist.

 

[woodworkingboy]

I use it for a capstan winch line (usually recommended for that) and one lanyard, works sweet with Bee line with a schwabisch.

 

[flushcut]

I like a good 1/2" three strand for light, quick, and dirty rigging as well as in my masdam.

 

[SouthSoundTree]

I've been natural crotching with it a lot, and it only has a bit of fuzz on it. I NC now more than before, where I was trying to my rope for a longer time to be able to buy other gear. From my own experience, I can't really compare and say my 3 strand held up better or worse to NC rigging, but I do believe that its meant to stand up to it better than others. Maybe this is bad info. I've been pretty satisfied with it for the light rigging and durability. When I'm doing heavier rigging, I'll usually go with block and double braid 9/16's.

I got the BMS Belay Spool device the other day, and was using one of the old 12 strand 1/2 ropes. Seems a bit tight for light rigging, and I'll be interested to see the performance with 3 strand in the BS. The wet 12 strand felt like a lead weight on my harness when I was moving up between rigging, and the three strand from memory felt lighter.

I can do a wet rope measure on the bathroom scale to really find out, but thought I'd ask.

I saw ACE had use for three strand ropes in their videos, and with the equipment that they have, I figured that if it wasn't worth anything, they'd buy other ropes.

 

[brendonv]

Three strand for only friction savers and lanyard here. Never thought of it for actual tree work. True Blue, Arbormaster, and Stable Braid for lowering.

 

[thattreeguy]

I like a good 1/2" three strand for light, quick, and dirty rigging as well as in my masdam.

same uses here
i have a 120 150 200 and 300 ft length of 1/2 in 3 strand
i use them for pulling in the madsman mainly...all bagged and ready to throw
or thru a 1/2 in pulley they roll well
they twist too much to use as a speed line...do able........ but 12 strand is better
i use my 300 ft er to make speedlines occasionally and it does twist up and requires straightening periodically

i have several 150 ft lengths of various climb lines that arent for climbing, a lil glazed but they work well for rigging
and i keep some 1/2 in true blue in 60 ft lengths for quick small friction rigging

i have 2 300 ft 5/8 lines 1 stable braid from samson, and 1 is from yale, they get wet and heavy but work great for taking tops or big leads

i find the key is to have a rack to dry them on in the pnw so they dont mold or mildew

 

[Bounce]

I use 1/2 and 5/8 Treemaster (a hard lay 3 strand) a lot for natural crotch rigging. But I've never really thought about how much water they suck up. It seems like a hard lay 3 strand ought to hold less water than a loosely braided line because it has fewer air spaces inside for the water to stay in. But a soft lay 3 strand on the other hand might allow more water in since it has more air spaces between fibers. The rotational part of the line has never really bothered me. I have to be careful about which way it is wrapped around the Porty, and I use rope bags instead of coiling the line so I don't have to worry about it getting tangled. But otherwise, I love a hard lay 3 strand for natural crotch rigging. It doesn't milk the way a double braid will and has a higher strength than most braided lines.

 

[flushcut]

I would think that a hard lay 3 strand would hold less water because of the denser construction IDK just a thought.

 

[SouthSoundTree]

Water weight can add up.

I tried the hard lay three strand at Bounce's suggestion when I was looking for an different 1/2".

I don't like it for a speedline is all, too bumpy if just using slings/ biners.