Large Porta Wrap Lowering Device

The large porta wrap is the bigger version of the classic friction lowering device, sized for heavier rigging lines and the bigger pieces that go with them. Mount it at the base, take wraps and the ground worker has full control of how fast each piece comes down.

When to step up to the large size

If you are rigging big wood on thicker rope, a medium device starts to run out of room. The large port-a-wrap has the surface and diameter for heavier lines and gives the ground worker more friction to work with. It also suits crews who run long lowers, where the heat built up on a smaller tube becomes an issue.

Smaller crews that mostly do pruning and light removals are usually better served by the medium Portawrap.

A larger tube also spreads heat over more surface, which helps on long lowers. If your rigging line has grown from medium to heavy over the years, the device should grow with it.

Mounting and wraps

Anchor the device to the trunk on the side facing the rigging point, with a sling, chain or strap rated for the load. Set it so it cannot ride up the stem. Wrap the line around the tube between the horns: more wraps for heavier pieces and longer drops, fewer for light ones.

Let pieces run a little before stopping them. A hard stop multiplies the force on the block, the sling and the top of the tree. The ground worker should hold the tail with gloved hands and never wrap it around a hand or arm.

Mount height matters too. Keep the device low enough that the operator can work it standing comfortably, but high enough that the tail does not drag in debris. Set the anchor before the climber goes up so rigging starts without delay.

Rope care

Friction devices create heat. On long lowers with heavy wood, the rope and tube can get hot enough to glaze rope fibers. Give the system a breather on big jobs, and inspect the rope for glazing and stiffness.

Keep the tube clean of sap and grit, which wears rope faster. A rope bag at the base keeps the tail off the dirt and ready to run.

Wash rope that has been through mud or sawdust, and let it dry before storage. Clean rope grips the tube more predictably, so the ground worker can feel exactly how much friction they have.

Retire rigging rope that shows core damage, flattening or heavy glazing; a lowering device cannot make up for a tired line.

Inspection and safety

Check the tube and horns for grooves, cracks and bends before each job, along with the mounting hardware. Retire a device with deep grooves that could cut rope. Lowering devices are rigging gear, not life support. Size every component for the load, train the crew, and work to ANSI Z133.

Brief ground workers who are new to the large device. It holds more and stops harder, so they should practice on modest pieces first and learn how quickly heavy wood builds speed on a long drop.