Tree Machine

Thanks, Ekka.

Wow, that pdf article is the best I've ever read. True, it takes some deciphering, but at the same time it's a technical article that doesn't require that you understand really any of the mathematics, just the concepts that the mathematics describe.

I've had two semesters of college physics, but truly I can't use or understand the equations, but friction IS physics. It follows universal laws of behavior and can be calculated. On planet earth, in outer space and throughout the universe, friction is friction. It's predictable and doesn't change. What does change is the friction coefficient, or how frictiony something is on something else.

The author does a fabulous job, though, as he drills the well deep into the heart of the the science but does an even MORE fabulous job of keeping the article on track in that we're talking about ropes, slings and friction devices. It's quite understandable if you weed out the stuff thats not understandable.

This is the stuff that we as riggers and climbers and search and rescue and aerial technicians do. I would encourage everyone to follow through and read the article, more or less ignore the math and formulas and pick out the nuggets of knowledge that apply, which is quite a bit of practical, understandable stuff. Just don't be intimidated by the equations.

Hey, here's a good supplier of all things slings and rigging. My personal, most-used rigging sling for solo, aerial rigging is the 4-foot, rated eye-eye sling, which when the two eyes are binered and clipped to your hip is only half that overall length so it doesn't get hung up in your feet.