I'm trying to shoot a line over a tree limb to hoist my next
generation of wire dipole.

I'm using a slingshot, a 1 oz round lead fishing weight, and in this
case, 40# test fishing line.

Although I have had fair success in the past, I'm having difficulties
lately. My weight won't pull the line down the other side of the limb
beyond where it stopped.

My Question: What weight do you guys recommend? Does anyone know
what weight is used on the EZhang system? Comments sollicited.

Right now I'm waiting for the wind to blow and hopefully move the tree
limb enough to make the hanging weight pull my live over to the point
where I can reach it.


Ed K7AAT

Addendum to first post: a couple hours later:

It didn't take a light breeze more than an hour or so to wiggle the
tree limb and allow the weight to drop down a bit further. I grabbed it
with a pole and have completed that phase now.

But my question still stands. What is the recommended weight and line
for this type work, and are there any recommended techniques to get the
weight to drop down when friction of the tree limb tends to hold it?


Ed K7AAT

I've done the same type shooting over the years, with good success
rate.

I think 1 oz. is minimum, 1.5 oz. is better. I favor 30 lb.
line........and I only use monofilament. Mono is "slicker" and will
slide over branches better than other types line.

As you found, patience helps......give the wt. plenty of slack line,
and leave it hang. It'll usually gradually drop lower and lower.

Also.....winter is better time to do this, when most trees have lost
most of their foliage, especially in the North.

Lee Carkenord KA0FPJ

On Sun, 30 Oct 2005 00:29:25 GMT, Ed
wrote:

any recommended techniques to get the
weight to drop down when friction of the tree limb tends to hold it

Hi Ed,

You've just experienced it. Wait. Gravity is your friend.

I use 1/16" braided nylon (so no curl is built in).

I've thrown it by hand (swinging the weight);
used a slingshot;
used a bow and arrow.

I usually scatter fill a large bucket so that the random loops do not
tangle when the weight goes into flight. There's nothing so shocking
as to find an arrow coming back with a snag caught on the nearest bush
(and isn't there always a bush near a tree?).

Always allow for free movement of the line afterwards. Don't tie it
firmly in place. Balance it with a counterweight, otherwise tree and
wind movement will wear something to failure.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

I use 1/16" braided nylon (so no curl is built in).

I've thrown it by hand (swinging the weight);
used a slingshot;
used a bow and arrow.

What - no potato-gun ??
conduit, hair-spray, and a potato with fishing line.
spray into the conduit (closed at the other end except for a small hole.))
force potato into open end a ways.
put a match to the small hole. ka-pow
I heard it works pretty good, but sounds dangerous.

I use bow-and-arrow - with a fishing arrow.
that arrow is heavy enough to pull the line to the ground

I've been doing this on Field Day for a long time.

First off, I use about 6-8 pound test line. It's heavy enough to pull a
nylon cord back over the tree, but light enough so it comes off smoothly
and so I can get plenty of line on a reel.

Second, I use teardrop-shaped fishing weights (narrow at the line end),
never round or pyramid. The latter types snag too readily if you have to
pull the weight back up. Try dragging the weight across a weedy back
yard if you need an illustration.

As for the weight itself -- over the years I slowly increased the weight
to as much as 3 ounces, so it would drop freely through fairly dense
pine and fir trees. But I had an increasing amount of trouble with the
weight coming out of the pouch during the shot, leading to very short
shots and even occasionally a cut elastic unless everything was just
right. Dropping back with the weight cured the shooting problem, along
with using a slingshot with wide spaced arms. I've settled on about 2 oz
as the best compromise between trouble-free shooting and the ability to
drop through the tree.

I never use this method for a home installation unless it's for no more
than a few days -- the twine or even rope cuts into the tree, making it
impossible to get down. This might not be as much of a problem with
hardwood trees as it is for softer and pitchier conifers. Also, I've had
people tell me that very heavy nylon monofilament is less prone to this
-- I haven't tried it.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

Ed wrote:
I'm trying to shoot a line over a tree limb to hoist my next
generation of wire dipole.

I'm using a slingshot, a 1 oz round lead fishing weight, and in this
case, 40# test fishing line.

Although I have had fair success in the past, I'm having difficulties
lately. My weight won't pull the line down the other side of the limb
beyond where it stopped.

My Question: What weight do you guys recommend? Does anyone know
what weight is used on the EZhang system? Comments sollicited.

Right now I'm waiting for the wind to blow and hopefully move the tree
limb enough to make the hanging weight pull my live over to the point
where I can reach it.


Ed K7AAT

"Ed" wrote in message
. 93.175...

I'm trying to shoot a line over a tree limb to hoist my next
generation of wire dipole.

I'm using a slingshot, a 1 oz round lead fishing weight, and in this
case, 40# test fishing line.

Although I have had fair success in the past, I'm having difficulties
lately. My weight won't pull the line down the other side of the limb
beyond where it stopped.

My Question: What weight do you guys recommend? Does anyone know
what weight is used on the EZhang system? Comments sollicited.

Right now I'm waiting for the wind to blow and hopefully move the tree
limb enough to make the hanging weight pull my live over to the point
where I can reach it.


Ed K7AAT
6 pound monofilament line is more than strong enough. I use that to pull up
a nylon string, which in turn can pulll up anything. The secret is not to
lay the line on the ground. A 1 inch twig is enough to spoil your day. First
lay a drop cloth on the ground, and lay out the line on that. Some people on
this newsgroup use a plastic bucket.

If you miss the right branch, don't try to pull the weight back up. Let it
go all the way to the ground, cut off the weight, and then pull back the
line.

I use a bow and arrow, with a small solid rubber ball fixed to the front of
the arrow. I have one wire going between branches 70 feet up. It works
better if you wait until the leaves are off the trees.

Tam/WB2TT

Ed, did you forget to climb the tree and grease the limb so the line would
slide over?


"Ed" wrote in message
. 93.175...

I'm trying to shoot a line over a tree limb to hoist my next
generation of wire dipole.

I'm using a slingshot, a 1 oz round lead fishing weight, and in this
case, 40# test fishing line.

Although I have had fair success in the past, I'm having difficulties
lately. My weight won't pull the line down the other side of the limb
beyond where it stopped.

My Question: What weight do you guys recommend? Does anyone know
what weight is used on the EZhang system? Comments sollicited.

Right now I'm waiting for the wind to blow and hopefully move the tree
limb enough to make the hanging weight pull my live over to the point
where I can reach it.


Ed K7AAT

Thanks Roy. Good discussion on my qeustions.

Ed



I've been doing this on Field Day for a long time.

First off, I use about 6-8 pound test line. It's heavy enough to pull
a nylon cord back over the tree, but light enough so it comes off
smoothly and so I can get plenty of line on a reel.

Second, I use teardrop-shaped fishing weights (narrow at the line
end), never round or pyramid. The latter types snag too readily if you
have to pull the weight back up. Try dragging the weight across a
weedy back yard if you need an illustration.

As for the weight itself -- over the years I slowly increased the
weight to as much as 3 ounces, so it would drop freely through fairly
dense pine and fir trees. But I had an increasing amount of trouble
with the weight coming out of the pouch during the shot, leading to
very short shots and even occasionally a cut elastic unless everything
was just right. Dropping back with the weight cured the shooting
problem, along with using a slingshot with wide spaced arms. I've
settled on about 2 oz as the best compromise between trouble-free
shooting and the ability to drop through the tree.

I never use this method for a home installation unless it's for no
more than a few days -- the twine or even rope cuts into the tree,
making it impossible to get down. This might not be as much of a
problem with hardwood trees as it is for softer and pitchier conifers.
Also, I've had people tell me that very heavy nylon monofilament is
less prone to this -- I haven't tried it.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

Thanks, Fred, (and others). I'll try the plastic bucket method of
dispensing next time!

Ed