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Helium Aiders

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I just got back from the park where I used the stick with 2 aider steps and another stick with 1 aider step. I only brought 2 sticks and my head was about 15 feet above the ground. No issues with the aiders. I think I could make all 3 sticks double aiders and be good for ease of getting my foot in. Remember, each aider strap is holding half my weight or 90 pounds. When I step on the top of the step it is holding 180 pounds. I will take the laser distance measure and go over to the park to verify height later. I was spotted by a park worker driving a truck but I was previously told there was no regulation against climbing in the park...YET. They didn't stop. The upper half of my body was among the 2 inch branches overhead but my legs were exposed. I was about 45 degrees to the workers hidden behind the tree. They drove the truck to within about 20 yards of me. One worker got out of the truck, scanned the area and picked up some trash. They didn't see me and the driver was about to pull out when he looked up at me and smiled then pulled away. Maybe he is a deer hunter and won't rat me out. I forgot my cell phone/camera so no photos of the park workers. I was quite surprised they did not see me sooner since my RCH is bright blue. I may spray some gray primer on it.
I used the tail end of my linemans belt to clip in above some branches then disconnected my linemans belt and moved it above some limbs. The Tibloc worked OK, similar to the Ropeman at releasing slack. It is much lighter.

The tree from the point of view of the workers. I walked back to the park and the laser distance measure said from the ground to my neck is 5 feet and from my neck to the branch that was next to my head was 10 feet 5 inches.
 
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Helium aiders still working fine as of 8/7/2019.
They and the steps they are attached to still have not broken after at least 10 practice climbs and jumping up and down on them. I still want to sew the loose ends on my double aiders for extra safety.
Do not try this at home. For demonstration purposes only.
 
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Regarding the attachment method and safety: I just saw this. Maybe it is not unsafe. That is what I have been saying all along.
doublesteps.com

1/8″ Amsteel Aider for Stick with Double Steps

Amsteel aider made here in Michigan. These are perfect for the climbing sticks where the bottom has two steps! They weigh under 2 ounces each for single step, 4 ounces each for double step, and 6 o…
doublesteps.com doublesteps.com
 
bj139 said:
Regarding the attachment method and safety: I just saw this. Maybe it is not unsafe. That is what I have been saying all along.
doublesteps.com

1/8″ Amsteel Aider for Stick with Double Steps

Amsteel aider made here in Michigan. These are perfect for the climbing sticks where the bottom has two steps! They weigh under 2 ounces each for single step, 4 ounces each for double step, and 6 o…
doublesteps.com doublesteps.com
Click to expand...

Finding someone else using an aider in the same manner as you doesn’t invalidate the pervious argument nor does it prove that the aiders are safe.

You will also not be able to say that it is safe or unsafe unless you do destructive testing or stress analysis. Jumping around and climbing on these sticks will not tell you if the metal is failing or not. You can’t see fracturing and fatigue in metal until it fully fails. You will also not know how many cycles it may take for it to fail.

I would say that I think @DanO is biting off some risk by selling aiders with an intended purpose that may or may not compromise the integrity of the hawk step. That would depend on if destructive testing was performed to validate its use.

I think your best bet as a DIYer is to say that you’ve accepted the risk associated with your DIY gear and leave it at that. Trying to prove or claim it is safe or unsafe can’t be substantiated with the current means.
 
The thing I would be concerned about and constantly checking is the webbing to stick contact points.....I ended up pulling a sheath over those areas on the aider I use with climbing sticks....I had noticeable fraying after a season of use.

And I do agree with others..... you are stressing the material with it attached like that.....aluminum usually will totally fail without signs of stress
 
Sure is a conundrum.
I'm on a tether while one sticking for safety.
Until someone destructively tests a Hawk Helium with aiders of this type we will not know. Kind of like most of the other DIY devices seen on SH. Maybe some of the commercial devices as well.
 
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For the people that have concerns over the integrity of the attachment method: Couldn't you run your webbing through the hole in the step closest to the upright and then tie the knot at the back (side facing the tree). You'd only have one knot and you'd be supported by the upright plus the step. You'd be going through the step and around the upright making a loop when knotted. Maybe they wouldn't fold up then (not sure how Heliums work)
 
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Jtaylor said:
For the people that have concerns over the integrity of the attachment method: Couldn't you run your webbing through the hole in the step closest to the upright and then tie the knot at the back (side facing the tree). You'd only have one knot and you'd be supported by the upright plus the step. Maybe they wouldn't fold up then (not sure how Heliums work)
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The steps would not fold and the biggest advantage (keeping the step open for easier foot engagement) would be negated.
 
The Amsteel aiders could be girth hitched around the entire outside of the step and then the end tied in place with almost any kind of string just to hold it there. That would be better and would satisfy almost all doomsayers, I think. There would be wear on the Amsteel due to boot contact so it is not perfect but nothing is.
 
Not trying to stir up anything new but I am trying to figure out where I want to attach my aiders. Does it matter that the section near the bolt hole is thinner than the sections under the slots so wouldn’t that be the most likely point of failure regardless of where the aider/ whether or not there is an aider attached to the step?
4640D095-05DC-4A19-BCAE-1A8C95ABD9A1.jpeg
Amsteel or webbing over that 90 degree edge though is probably a different issue altogether.
 
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I’ve been running my aiders run through the middle hole and tied in a knot. Pretty happy with it, I’m close to 300 with gear on and it doesn’t feel any more unsafe than all these people changing straps, or drilling holes in their sticks, or cutting sticks down or building their own gear. Inherent risk in being 20 feet up a tree.
 
bj139 said:
I just hung two sticks on the telephone pole across the street, the one step and two step aider sticks. i jumped down on them many times, both top and bottom aider rung steps. Nothing happened. On descending, I know the aider rungs are going to be in the middle of the stick. They rest on the ball of my foot. There were no broken rungs like I have seen reported on the Muddy sticks.
I remembered someone posting that removing the buckle and passing the strap behind the standing part attached to the button worked well. It did work well. I put a half hitch in it and no movement. I had to pull the stick upwards to remove the slack to get the half hitch undone. I am unhurt. I guess the Helium sticks must be made out of good aluminum. It may break in the future but I could say that about everything.
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I think you're fine here man... aluminum is typically about 35 ksi (on the low side)... I highly doubt 200 or so lbs would cause a shear failure in the aluminum... only think I would keep an eye on is the webbing... make sure it's not fraying
 
when i had a helium stick i ran a section of tubular webbing through those middle holes and tied both ends together in the back with a water knot. in the middle of the webbing i put a foot long section of thicker hss safety line rope. i never had a problem with it with my 250lb +gear. it held open nicely and the water knot in the back was tight against the stick, alleviating some of the pressure directly on the steps. however i wanted to see how others weighed in before voicing my experience
 
I wish Heliums were about an inch or two taller on top so we could just hang an aider over the top and be done with all this. I think the absolute best is have one around the bottom tree legs instead of the step anyway. All the pressure is on center of the stick and pulling down. I know the original intent is to help keep the the foothold open to make it easier and I agree but there are 100 different ways to mod webbing or cable or rope to be a little more rigid to accomplish this. JUST BE SAFE.
 
Tr33_n1nj@ said:
Not trying to stir up anything new but I am trying to figure out where I want to attach my aiders. Does it matter that the section near the bolt hole is thinner than the sections under the slots so wouldn’t that be the most likely point of failure regardless of where the aider/ whether or not there is an aider attached to the step?
View attachment 30399
Amsteel or webbing over that 90 degree edge though is probably a different issue altogether.
Click to expand...
Are you only using one aider or one for each stick?
 
Tr33_n1nj@ said:
Not trying to stir up anything new but I am trying to figure out where I want to attach my aiders. Does it matter that the section near the bolt hole is thinner than the sections under the slots so wouldn’t that be the most likely point of failure regardless of where the aider/ whether or not there is an aider attached to the step?
View attachment 30399
Amsteel or webbing over that 90 degree edge though is probably a different issue altogether.
Click to expand...
...This is exactly right... I’ve not measured mine but assuming you’re right and this part is thinner, this would be the weaker section... it’s also the point with the most loading... by eyeballing it, the section at the bolt is under 3-4 times the amount of loading as the section being discussed in the post, so whether the material here is a a little thinner or not, a block shear type failure at the step bolt would control here...
 
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