Buckingham Medium Portawrap

The Buckingham medium Portawrap is the classic friction lowering device: a tube with horns that you mount to the trunk and wrap the rigging line around. The ground worker controls how fast each piece comes down by adding wraps and holding tension on the tail. The medium size covers the rope sizes most tree crews rig with day to day.

How the port a wrap works

A port a wrap turns the rigging line's energy into heat through friction on the tube. You anchor the device to the base of the tree or a nearby tree, run the line from the block above down to the tube, and wrap it around between the horns. Each wrap adds friction. The ground worker holds the tail and feeds or stops the line.

Without a lowering device, the friction comes from wraps around the trunk itself, which works but wears the bark and gives you less control. A Portawrap puts the friction in one consistent, inspectable spot and lets you set it to suit the load.

It is the right tool for crews that lower wood regularly but do not need a winch or capstan. See all lowering devices to compare options.

Choosing the number of wraps

Light pieces need few wraps; heavy pieces and long falls need more. Too few and the ground worker cannot hold the load. Too many and the piece shock-loads the rigging when it stops instead of running a little to soften the catch. The art of rigging is letting pieces run just enough.

Start with more wraps than you think you need while you learn the device, and adjust as you get a feel for each tree. Keep the tail controlled at all times, with gloves on, and never wrap the tail around a hand.

Communication matters as much as wraps. The climber calls the cut, the ground worker confirms ready, and nobody stands between the device and the load. Agree on calls before the first piece.

Mounting it properly

Mount the Portawrap on the side of the trunk facing the block so the line runs in a straight path from above. Use a sling, chain or strap rated for the forces involved and set it so the device cannot slide up the trunk under load.

Some crews mount it on a neighboring tree to get the ground worker out of the drop zone. That works if the anchor tree is sound and the line runs clear. Keep the area around the device free of brush so the operator has good footing.

Inspection and safety

Check the tube and horns for grooves worn by rope, cracks and bends. Deep grooves can damage rope and reduce friction control. Inspect the mounting sling or chain every time you set up.

Rigging forces add up fast. Size every component, from block to sling to Portawrap, for the loads you plan to drop. Lowering devices are rigging equipment, not life support. Train ground workers on wraps and line handling before they run the device, and work to ANSI Z133.

Rope wear concentrates on the tube, so rotate which part of the line takes the wraps, and retire rope that shows glazing or heavy fuzzing.