Choker Cable Size Recomendation

[Beltzington]

I have grown tired of dragging chain around and it coming undone and would like to try a choker cable. Started to order one from Baileys and see there are several choices. I have narrowed it down to two, the 3/8" @ 14,000 pound rating and the 1/2" @ 26,000. I will be mostly pulling southern pine <4" diameter trees. Go big or go home is my usual solution but not sure how much flexibility (ease-of-use) I would loose with the 1/2" compared to the 3/8"?

Never used cable before so your experience would be appreciated.


Pre-Made Fse Choker 3/8"X12' (5 Lbs) | Chokers | Chains, Cables & Grapplers | www.baileysonline.com

 

[bcp]

On my 4 inch firs, I used old ski rope. Never broke it.

Up to about 12-14 inches, I used 3/8 cable. Never broke it, either.

Bruce

 

[sal64]

this is what i use 3/8" Choker Hook For 3/8" Chain Choker System | Chains & Chain Chokers | Chains, Cables & Grapplers | www.baileysonline.com

 

[Gordon Gould]

Unless I misread your post you said trees less than 4 inches in diameter.
Choker chains need to be hooked to something with good weight to make them choke down so the chain links dig into the log. They are a pain with small trees. Just not enough weight to make them work. And if you try to choke up on five or six little trees to make weight the middle ones slip out. You will have better luck if you make two wraps of chain around the tree. Then tighten the choker by hand because the chain won't slip round the tree easily to self choke when doubled. But it will hold better.
With light trees your choker line has to be very flexable to grab. I can't see 1/2" or even 3/8" cable that I have used wanting to close down around a 4" tree unless it is very very flexable. I would try the rope suggested by bcp.

 

[oosik]

The 3/8 cable choker will handle trees larger than your tractor can pull.

 

[sal64]

Unless I misread your post you said trees less than 4 inches in diameter.
Choker chains need to be hooked to something with good weight to make them choke down so the chain links dig into the log. They are a pain with small trees. Just not enough weight to make them work. And if you try to choke up on five or six little trees to make weight the middle ones slip out. You will have better luck if you make two wraps of chain around the tree. Then tighten the choker by hand because the chain won't slip round the tree easily to self choke when doubled. But it will hold better.
With light trees your choker line has to be very flexable to grab. I can't see 1/2" or even 3/8" cable that I have used wanting to close down around a 4" tree unless it is very very flexable. I would try the rope suggested by bcp.

I misread the
post

 

[PhysAssist]

I misread the
post

Perhaps you might want to try something like the the Amsteel Blue rope we used to replace the winch cable on our plow. It's light, but has amazing strength amd very good abrasion resistance. It is definitely not cheap, but sales do happen, if you can afford to watch amd wait for them.

http://www.wesspur.com/rope/amsteel-blue.html

http://www.riggingwarehouse.com/pro...E01@@2e03@@2e02/ROPE01@@2e03@@2e02@@2e01.aspx

http://www.amsteelblue.com/amsteel-blue-3-8-synthetic-winch-extension-17-600-lbs/

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...=11151&productId=38118&langId=-1#.Uoawi8e3PMI

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=amsteel+blue

These are just a few of the sites for it that I found in a quick search.

Thomas

 

[/pine]

Perhaps you might want to try something like the the Amsteel Blue rope we used to replace the winch cable on our plow. It's light, but has amazing strength amd very good abrasion resistance. It is definitely not cheap, but sales do happen, if you can afford to watch amd wait for them.

Samson Amsteel Blue: Super High Strength Rope

Samson Amsteel-Blue

Amsteel Blue 3/8" Synthetic Winch Extension - 17,600 lbs - AmsteelBlue

SAMSON ROPE AmSteel-Blue Dyneema SK-75 Single Braid at West Marine

Amazon.com: amsteel blue

These are just a few of the sites for it that I found in a quick search.

Thomas

some of the new fiber products are amazing...just look at the braided fishing lines...some 50#+ test braided lines are as small (dia.) as 6#-8# test monofilament...!

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I use a poly fabric straps and choke around the tree using a shackle as the choke point. I then use a shackle to connect to the chain. I have a couple 20' chains that I have installed a open type hook about 2' back from the grab hook, the bight of the chain then slides through the smooth hook and really chokes down tight even on small stuff. To each his own but I hate to use cable unless it is fine strand and very flexible. You hate wrestling chain, wait till you mess with stiff cable in the snow with gloves on. Problem with fine strand wire cable is the outer strands break easy and leave all those little wires sticking out to tear up your hands and gloves. I will stay with straps, shackles and chains rigged my way. Voice of 70 years experience with many rigging set ups.

Ron

 

[s219]

Both of those cable sizes will be too stiff for 4" trees.