Getting a rope over a tree branch

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Depending on how far up it is and how mobile/agile you both are

Limit the distance between manual or launch area - Mount the longest ladder you can SAFELY put against the tree - less distance between you and the branch means more accuracy.

Could use a little square scaffolding tower - appreciate you may not have one , I do - can get you up a good 20-30ft ( although wobbly leg syndrome can kick in ) - These can be hired from Builders merchants - think about what other jobs you may need to do around the property before hiring to minimise cost to task ratio..

Ways to get over the branch

Three Roofing battens - joined at the middle so Two battens sandwiched over 12" of the third batter can give some length and rigidity - can be harder to handle the longer you get. This could be the cheapest most sacrificial option of creating something long and rigid.

Throwing object - tied to lightweight fishing line ( with a VERY good knot ) and have the fishing line tied to whatever needs to be on the end.
Throwing an object over a branch is however a lot easier said than done IMO - normally smaller branches that get in the way leading to much frustration and swearing which is why I suggest trying to get closer to the target via ladders 1st as you won't need to ace a parabolic throwing arc with perfect apogee.


I've not suggested any Crossbow / Bow / missile options because not everyone has a William Tell streak to them.
 
Lot of people missing this bit from @GreyCat..

"It's a bit high for a simple throw line.'

Catapult with a fishing weight attached to a spool of line, bow, or crossbow seem to be the obvious options. If you have a reel and rod, then use its ability to unspool line quickly by having someone hold it while you catapult the weight over the branch.
Depends dunnit?
If you throw like a rightbanded person using their lefthand instead thats about ten foot up but I've thrown fast enough to skim a half inch drive ratchet so I reckon I could launch a M20 nut (or other tie-onable small heavy object) with length of strong string the height of most UK trees unless were talking Welingtonias.
Catapult being another OK option and we're getting a bit spendy when we get into bows. Depends what you have in the garage next to the mowing machine and half bag of cement that went off two years ago I suppose.
 
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I am after some ideas for getting a thin rope over a branch of mature oak tree.

The other half wants to sling an amateur radio antenna wire from a tree. He has an idea (apparently seen stuff about) using a catapult and a tennis ball....

Any thoughts on catapults and other ideas for this? It's a bit high for a simple throw line.

(No, don't mention drones, I have already discounted that one, drones don't like carrying things and definately dont' like trees).

Thanks in advance,
GC
Fred Dibnah used a bow and arrow and that worked, xxx
 
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I am after some ideas for getting a thin rope over a branch of mature oak tree.

The other half wants to sling an amateur radio antenna wire from a tree. He has an idea (apparently seen stuff about) using a catapult and a tennis ball....

Any thoughts on catapults and other ideas for this? It's a bit high for a simple throw line. I 99% of the time use the throw bag, only time I don’t I when I have forgotten it.

You can make a throw bag cheaply with air rifle pellets, a ziplock bag, duck tape and an old sock
(No, don't mention drones, I have already discounted that one, drones don't like carrying things and definately dont' like trees).

Thanks in advance,
GC
I do similar when putting up an 80m dipole in a tree, I use an arborists throw bag, with a bit of practice you can get very high.
I have also used a catapult with golf balls with a hole drilled threw them, and a potato and a nail once lol

I use fishing line as the light line to pull over as if it gets stuck I can pull it until it snaps - o can remember the poundage sorry.

It will get stuck for sure at some point.
 
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Thank everyone for the replies, I did have a chuckle at some of them....

Looks like arborists throw bag might be worth a go, and I do have a bow or two lurking about, done a lot or archery in the past so perhaps that's worth a go....

@TeeDee : we're reasonable agile but the ground is very uneven, steep slope into a deep stream......

...... failing that, some trees on the boundary do need thinning, it is a climbing job and there is a chap in the village who is apparently quite good, chap with the field over the road had him in recently.

Oh, and @Nice65 is correct, GC is indeed a "she"....... :cool:

Not that I'm ever offended by assumptions either way, day job is in a male dominated sector and my name is not from UK, doesn't give a clear gender indication to English speakers- so the confusion is not at all unusual

GC
 
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You can make a throw bag cheaply with air rifle pellets, a ziplock bag, duck tape and an old sock

I do similar when putting up an 80m dipole in a tree, I use an arborists throw bag, with a bit of practice you can get very high.
I have also used a catapult with golf balls with a hole drilled threw them, and a potato and a nail once lol

I use fishing line as the light line to pull over as if it gets stuck I can pull it until it snaps - o can remember the poundage sorry.

It will get stuck for sure at some point.
Air rifle pellets? Have you seen the price of those lately? It would be cheaper to pay King Charles, to climb the damn tree using only his ears, than it would to do that with air rifle pellets.
 
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Here is some pics
Air rifle pellets? Have you seen the price of those lately? It would be cheaper to pay King Charles, to climb the damn tree using only his ears, than it would to do that with air rifle pellets.
to be fair I haven’t, but I g have loads of half empty tins!

You can make ‘shot’ by drizzling molten lead from a short height into cold water, the bits it makes are not terribly neat but would work in this application
 
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Throwing or launching projectiles could be tricky, dangerous and maybe hard to get to the right height though either an attached weight or blunt arrow from a simple bow would work

Alternatively-


child-workers-were-purchased-from-their-parents-and-they-often-died-on-the-job-photo-u2
 
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