Hi, I have made my Fid’s from knitting needles, you can get sizes to over 1/2 inch,cheap,durable and you can easily cut the base at an angle for easy insertion of the line.
This was such a really good video..just wish there was another camera covering other angles to see wht you were explaining but super helpful in the end..Thank you both somuch🌲 🌲
Thanks for watching. I agree, I didn't know what my daughter was seeing and when it was finished she didn't have time to do another video. So I just went with what I had. Just can't find good help these days.
I am going to do this in the next month or so. I am planning to use 1/8" amsteel. I am also going to modify my hawk helium sticks by chopping them to 22" and putting on a DIY versabutton. A few questions, if you have time: 1. what size spacer would you use for the versabutton? I am tempted to simply double the amsteel diameter or go a little bigger because this system doesn't require the ropes to squeeze against each other and a little room in there might make the loop easier to disengage for removal from tree. 2. is there any advantage/disadvantage you can see to making the first eye very small so that the bolt of the versabutton must be fed through it (and it can't be pulled off and on the versabutton). I suppose the advantage is that it isn't ever coming off there! I'm considering putting a rubber stopper on the free end of the amsteel so I can swing it around larger trees without much noise. Thoughts on that?
If you can find a bushing that is 1/4" that will be plenty. Make the first daisy chain just big enough to go over it. I like being able to take the rope off of the versa button so I just have the first loop just big enough to get it on. It isn't going to fall off but it can be removed if you want to take it off for any reason. Removing the versa button to remove the rope is a hassle. As for a weight on the end, that will probably work ok, but, I just lay the daisy chain rope over the top of the stick and by holding the bottom of the stick I can reach it around the back of the tree and allow my other hand to reach the rope. It essentially makes my arm 2 feet longer. I find that easier because I don't get the rope tangled in the brush. There is always brush.
I am either going to do this or go with the mini versastraps. I am thinking the strap might work a bit better on smoother bark trees. Have you tried the 7/64" on something smooth like quaking aspen?
Hey Paul, know this is an older video, appreciate it, question: am a bigger guy, want a daisy chain of 1/4 " amsteel to attach my platform, is it just as easy to make a daisy chain of the larger rope?
I go over that in a subsequent video, but basically, it's more secure, not as bulky and doesn't slip on the tree as much, which makes it quieter. The ropes wrap up really small on the stick so they are easier to stack. Thanks for watching. Let me know if you have other questions.
I go 280 with all my gear. No problems here. Some guys use 1/8" or even 3/16". Those are obviously more stout ropes. I'll keep an eye on these but so far I've had no issues at all.
So can you pass the one side down through the center of the other side after making the first loop that goes over the versa button? This would be through the roughly 18” straight section of amsteel line prior to making your daise chain loops. Not sure if you follow but it seems to me that having one thicker amsteel line vs the two independent lines would be better? Just a thought. Do you see any reason structurally why this shouldn’t be done? Thanks
Sure, give it a try. It's not easy passing it through but you could use a wire and grab ahold of it to pass it though. I don't think you'll find and significant difference in the use of the daisy chain but it might look clean and cool.
there are guys who make them and sell them. I just don't know who, offhand. I made a gear strap with offset loops so they stay open when the gear strap is tight to the tree. Way less than an ounce and packs so small you have to be careful not to lose it. lol Love it. I sold my Tether Gear Strap as it was bulky. Nice, but bulky.
