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Cut down Hawk Helium failure

jmball

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2018
Messages
58
Location
Beebe, AR
I cannot stress enough to make sure you drill step holes in the proper location when cutting your Heliums. I had one stick that I thought I might have gotten too close to the milled slot. I used that stick at the base of the tree this morning in case of failure. I have climbed this stick several times before with no problems. This morning the stick broke at the hole. I only got a scrape on my hand from hanging on to the top step. I examined the step on the other side of the stick and it was drilled properly. After checking all gear, it appears that was the only hole not drilled properly. I was safe only because I noticed something before hand. I still made it up the tree safely before shooting hours, but I can't imagine how bad this could have been for me or someone else if it hadn't been noticed and used higher up the tree. For every one who has cut Heliums, please go and check the bottom holes and make sure they are centered between the slots and not too close to one of them.
 
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Two scraped spots and a blood blister is a small price for this learning experience. Luckily, I have been hunting with steps and sticks all my life and remained calm. This could have been bad.
 
Glad your ok.
At least you were aware of your mistake, took precautions and was using the stick at the bottom of the tree.
Thank you for sharing


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Mine is not modded and I still tore big chunks out of my hands on the helium steps. They need to settle down with those grips on the steps.


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Thanks for sharing - off to check my Heliums that I modded last year.
 
Ya dont follow the G2 mods. Very dangerous. I took one look at his schematic pic and it made me cringe. Follow the guy in this video below. He is a machinist and knows more about what he is doing or dont mod at all for the safest product.



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Yeah, I saw this video after I cut them. That's what made me use that stick for the bottom and keep an eye out for it.
 
Glad you did. Its all too easy for us to see “well known” saddle hunters and follow what they are doing and recommending without us knowing that it is down right dangerous because we look at them as the “professionals”. I think we forget that saddle hunting right now is evolving rapidly and everyone is kinda just making stuff up as they go. Sometimes haphazardly. I have realized this after seeing “saddle companies” selling ascenders as fall arresters and not recalling products when they are unsafe for use. Stay Frosty!


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I made sure that all holes were atleast factory distance from any slots to keep as much strength as possible





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Glad you did. Its all too easy for us to see “well known” saddle hunters and follow what they are doing and recommending without us knowing that it is down right dangerous because we look at them as the “professionals”. I think we forget that saddle hunting right now is evolving rapidly and everyone is kinda just making stuff up as they go. Sometimes haphazardly. I have realized this after seeing “saddle companies” selling ascenders as fall arresters and not recalling products when they are unsafe for use. Stay Frosty!


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@kyler1945 says it best don’t take a guy in the internets word. Do your research and make you own informed decisions.


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Wow!! Aeds151 that is kinda harsh, after all I think all of the members on this site have learned a lot and got some great ideas from looking at different posts and should realize that anytime we “mod” products we do it at our own risk. I know that I have seen some great ideas and some not-so-great Ideas. I will continue to follow these “professionals” and use my better judgement to choose what mods to make. For those of you without better judgement........ don’t make mods, buy your gear!
 
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