"Caddy Pad" vs. Aluminum Climbers

owlperch · 11th April 2008, 02:18 PM

I climb with the Climb Right aluminum climbers. After reading good things about the cast aluminum pads on this site I decided to order a set to try myself. Apparently, somewhere along the way I missed the fact that they don't fit together. The climber shank is a little too fat for the pad. Has anyone fiddled around with this setup? Thinking about shaving a bit off the pads' slot to allow the shank to slide in.

Ekka · 11th April 2008, 02:25 PM

They're the best pads for sure.

I was warned about them not fitting the alloy climbers. You have to hammer them on the steel Bashlin ones initially to.

Yes, try to open the slot of the pads up, well worth it and so comfortable you can go hard all day in them no worries.

How much alloy do you have to file out?

owlperch · 11th April 2008, 02:31 PM

It shouldn't be very much material to remove. I started to pound them on, but wasn't sure if that was the route I wanted to take. They were going together though.

Ekka · 11th April 2008, 02:41 PM

As long as they didn't crack!

TreeCo · 11th April 2008, 06:33 PM

It took a little light filing to get the caddy pads onto my aluminum Bashlins.

JayD · 11th April 2008, 06:42 PM

I wouldn't recomend hamering these pads,Are they cast al, or wrought,? Either way Al files very easily and it wouldn't take much to make these fit real nice.
One thing though file the pad not the climbers.good luck.

owlperch · 11th April 2008, 07:14 PM

I figured that being cast, there was a chance they would break or crunch the end of the climbers so i held back. I will try the file tomorrow and let ya know what happens.

newguy18 · 12th April 2008, 10:29 AM

Well how'd it go?

owlperch · 13th April 2008, 06:43 PM

Sorry it took a while to get results. I did manage to get the climbers into the pads with a bit of filing and tapping. I took down a small spruce tree with the new set up today. They were comfortable, but I wasn't up there a real long time. The only thing I did notice was that it seemed that the gaffes were at a different angle entering the tree. It wasn't a huge difference, but noticable. Usually, I like them to hit toward the outside quarter of the tree, but it seemed like they wanted to cross toward the center more. Maybe it was just me-- I did get into the sauce pretty good last night.

Ekka · 14th April 2008, 12:25 AM

LOL, when you walk do you waddle like a duck?

Mate, trust me, it's not the gaffs.

What likely has been going on is you have been climbing with other pads where the shaft of the climbers was twisting around to the back of your calf.

These will hold the shaft solid in one place, you'll soon be used to it. Your feet should be about shoulder width apart unless of course the stem is smaller dia. I have noticed some people climb with their feet close together and twist their ankles out like some first position ballet dancer. Leave that for the bar and ya mates!

Therrin · 14th April 2008, 12:57 AM

Ekka, you really didn't need to go to the trouble to put those shoes on just to take a picture for us.

It was thoughtfull, but damn, I coulda gone without seein it.

owlperch · 14th April 2008, 04:57 PM

ekka, nice picture! Thanks alot! I work for phone co. full time (lineman)and they buy us the cheapest hooks available I think. Those do twist a bit, but I was using the velcro wrap arounds before the caddy pads on my climbers. I am not giving up on caddys or anything. I need to try them some more before I make any harsh judgements. The tree I did was small diameter so your probably right about that. I don't do a ton of take downs(side work) so it might take a while.

11th April 2008, 02:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
owlperch Break'n the ice Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: ticonderoga, ny usa Posts: 8	"Caddy Pad" vs. Aluminum Climbers I climb with the Climb Right aluminum climbers. After reading good things about the cast aluminum pads on this site I decided to order a set to try myself. Apparently, somewhere along the way I missed the fact that they don't fit together. The climber shank is a little too fat for the pad. Has anyone fiddled around with this setup? Thinking about shaving a bit off the pads' slot to allow the shank to slide in.

11th April 2008, 02:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,669	Re: "Caddy Pad" vs. Aluminum Climbers They're the best pads for sure. I was warned about them not fitting the alloy climbers. You have to hammer them on the steel Bashlin ones initially to. Yes, try to open the slot of the pads up, well worth it and so comfortable you can go hard all day in them no worries. How much alloy do you have to file out? __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

11th April 2008, 02:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
owlperch Break'n the ice Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: ticonderoga, ny usa Posts: 8	Re: "Caddy Pad" vs. Aluminum Climbers It shouldn't be very much material to remove. I started to pound them on, but wasn't sure if that was the route I wanted to take. They were going together though.

11th April 2008, 02:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,669	Re: "Caddy Pad" vs. Aluminum Climbers As long as they didn't crack! __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

11th April 2008, 06:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
TreeCo Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 260	Re: "Caddy Pad" vs. Aluminum Climbers It took a little light filing to get the caddy pads onto my aluminum Bashlins. __________________ ISA Certified Arborist

11th April 2008, 06:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
JayD Astronaut Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 821	Re: "Caddy Pad" vs. Aluminum Climbers I wouldn't recomend hamering these pads,Are they cast al, or wrought,? Either way Al files very easily and it wouldn't take much to make these fit real nice. One thing though file the pad not the climbers.good luck. __________________ Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Last edited by JayD : 11th April 2008 at 07:32 PM.

11th April 2008, 07:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
owlperch Break'n the ice Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: ticonderoga, ny usa Posts: 8	Re: "Caddy Pad" vs. Aluminum Climbers I figured that being cast, there was a chance they would break or crunch the end of the climbers so i held back. I will try the file tomorrow and let ya know what happens.

12th April 2008, 10:29 AM	#8 (permalink)
newguy18 Tree World Icon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,188	Re: "Caddy Pad" vs. Aluminum Climbers Well how'd it go? __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related

13th April 2008, 06:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
owlperch Break'n the ice Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: ticonderoga, ny usa Posts: 8	Re: "Caddy Pad" vs. Aluminum Climbers Sorry it took a while to get results. I did manage to get the climbers into the pads with a bit of filing and tapping. I took down a small spruce tree with the new set up today. They were comfortable, but I wasn't up there a real long time. The only thing I did notice was that it seemed that the gaffes were at a different angle entering the tree. It wasn't a huge difference, but noticable. Usually, I like them to hit toward the outside quarter of the tree, but it seemed like they wanted to cross toward the center more. Maybe it was just me-- I did get into the sauce pretty good last night.

14th April 2008, 12:57 AM	#11 (permalink)
Therrin The Tree World Bandit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lancaster, Ca Posts: 1,112	Re: "Caddy Pad" vs. Aluminum Climbers Ekka, you really didn't need to go to the trouble to put those shoes on just to take a picture for us. It was thoughtfull, but damn, I coulda gone without seein it. __________________ Ken Fessia I.T.S.A. Tree Service (661) 916-4703

14th April 2008, 04:57 PM	#12 (permalink)
owlperch Break'n the ice Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: ticonderoga, ny usa Posts: 8	Re: "Caddy Pad" vs. Aluminum Climbers ekka, nice picture! Thanks alot! I work for phone co. full time (lineman)and they buy us the cheapest hooks available I think. Those do twist a bit, but I was using the velcro wrap arounds before the caddy pads on my climbers. I am not giving up on caddys or anything. I need to try them some more before I make any harsh judgements. The tree I did was small diameter so your probably right about that. I don't do a ton of take downs(side work) so it might take a while. Last edited by owlperch : 14th April 2008 at 07:23 PM. Reason: poor english

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