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DIY Tree Squeeze/Choke.

I use what I think would be considered a monkey tail. A prusik on my lineman's above my ropeman, the belt goes around the tree and fed through the loop of the prusik. I then move the prusik tighter or loser when I'm sitting still or moving. The belt/prusik is only as lose as I need it to be to move up and down. The prusik can stay close to the tree even with slack in the belt. It took some time to get the hang of having to adjust an extra piece, and the ropeman means it's not a long distance static fall arrestor. However, I am using it so that in case I slip, my lineman's belt, which I always have in my hand when moving, is always properly positioned, and is 99% of the time under tension, will either stop me or significantly slow me down. It's worked during testing, I've yet to fall from any height with it.

Just my solution that works for me.
 
Do you have a video of you using this tree squeeze?


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Or a video of someone using a tree squeeze with Spurs. Only thing I saw on YouTube was the buckingham tree squeeze.


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I am building a tree squeeze as well, but I'm struggling to find a rope that's stiff enough to use easily without drooping and catching on the bark.

I am considering putting the squeeze in a piece of tubular webbing with a piece of steel cable as a stiffener. Any thoughts or suggestions?
 
I am also just using this for spurs. Part of the struggle with a soft rope being that you are more likely to gaff out with spurs the farther your reach behind the tree to advance a droopy tree squeeze/cinch.
 
Pj0230 said:
Hi all,
I've been watching some of the cool DIY projects on here and thought I would throw in one that I'm using, as a long time rock and ice climber, safety is always first and foremost in my methods of climbing trees.
This is a simple way to protect oneself if and when you may gaff out of break a CF bolt while ascending the tree. ( I love and use both methods)

I'm using a Metolius Rap ring from my collection of climbing gear on the left and an auto locking biner on the right, an overhand knot on both side's of the choke with a backup knot, I'm using about 8' of 11mm stiff static rope as the Choke and the Predator rope for the lineman.
Notice the position of the biner on the right, if I were to fall the friction from hitting the tree won't open the gate since its turns in the opposite direction.

It works well and chokes down when you come off.

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I realized that this is an old thread which is still cooking which is quite cool. Anyway, one of our friends messaged me and asked me to post a couple of links in case they were not mentioned in this thread. The idea behind this contraption is that it will cinch on a tree of any size and is very easy to build. It can also be Advanced quite easily and without endangering our fingers.

This is the cinch:

This is how we can set it with a pole. That's a really handy feature because we can set it way above our heads and even do an SRT climb on it.





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I like Paul Crave’s idea here. I can’t remember what his SH.com name is though but I’m pretty sure he used to post on here quite a bit.
 
John RB said:
I realized that this is an old thread which is still cooking which is quite cool. Anyway, one of our friends messaged me and asked me to post a couple of links in case they were not mentioned in this thread. The idea behind this contraption is that it will cinch on a tree of any size and is very easy to build. It can also be Advanced quite easily and without endangering our fingers.

This is the cinch:

This is how we can set it with a pole. That's a really handy feature because we can set it way above our heads and even do an SRT climb on it.





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Click to expand...

I am familiar with the JRB Cinch and it the method I prefer for my tether. In fact the tree squeeze that I am trying to perfect is setup in such a way that it can also be used as a tether using a variation of the JRB hitch. (A ring on one end and a prusik and carabiner on the other, in the tether applications the tail end can be cinched through the ring and the prusik simply acts as a non load-bearing tether for the biner)

However when using spurs having a positioning device such as a linesman's belt (or tree squeeze) that you can lean BACK against and easily advance up the tree is helpful. Admittedly I have never tried to use spurs when top roped, I just think it would be awkward.

I think having a very stiff rope in the tree squeeze would really help in advancing it, without having to lean forward to fiddle with the advancing the line.
 
woodsdog2 said:
I like Paul Crave’s idea here. I can’t remember what his SH.com name is though but I’m pretty sure he used to post on here quite a bit.
Click to expand...
I know this as a monkey tail. I think it's a really good idea, and likely safe enough in most circumstances. It's certainly a big improvement over not having one.

I don't believe a monkey tail is as safe as a tree squeeze.

I believe in balancing safety against other factors like experience, time, cost & irritation, and the right balance is a very individual choice. For me, I'd like to try and get a good tree squeeze working, if it ends up being too much trouble or too finicky, I think I'll go with Paul's Craves idea there, I'm just not there yet.
 
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