Talk to me about zip lines (Page 2)

Folks, we have a live one...AWESOME!

OK, based on what you've said, we're definitely going to need to do two zip lines.  One easy one that will be a hold on--primarily so that the kids can navigate it without an adult on the platform, and a second one that will be the real deal--steep drop, harness required, long run.

Petzel double pulley--do you have one you like specifically? This one looks good (but I might not be looking at the right features)http://www.karstsports.com/petrplp24dua.html#.UZECJ7qwWKI

So 7 x19 cable is 5/16" steel cable, right?  Anything else I should look for specifically in cable?  Quick search found some at $1.06/linear ft. from FarmTek.  Is that about right cost-wise?

Thanks so much for your help!

thats a great looking pulley at a good price.  ours is 9 years old (and still in great shape) so they have made some strong design improvements.  7 x 19 is the stranding configuration that we have and I believe you can get different diameters with the same stranding.  Honestly you could  get away with 1/4" cable which is cheaper and lighter. I just think the 5/16 rides better than 1/4 or 3/8.  Can't help you much on price, although that sounds high. Our cables have always been free.  They are used as safety cables on the buildings that I build and I get the left overs and take downs.  Your biggest challenge is simply dealing with the weight of the cable.  Even leaving it slack requires some heft to get into a tree and properly clamped.  But you have farm implements right?  When you get closer to making it a reality ill share some tips on pulling it up and testing different elevations.  I guess I should disclaim that I am certainly no engineer and my methods, while tried and true, would probably certainly be shot down by the real zipline pros.  

Is it odd that in 5 years of lurking around here that the only thing that stirs enough passion for me to post about is ziplines?

Makes me curious what your other passions are. 

I admire your restraint.   Once I start, I'm all in;) 

We're still in the early stages and growing, but our farm will always be pretty small.  We rotationally graze our animals and don't do row crops.  As such, we don't have any real implements, much to my great disappointment!  I was reading in the recent purchases thread about somebody getting a convertible for their wife.  That made me smile. My toy want list looks very different--gator, skid loader, tractor (in that order).  At least my husband wants the same toys, so that makes it a bit easier.

We do have real farmer friends though, so we can borrow equipment.  I'm a little worried we might not be able to get it into the spot though.  One side wouldn't be a problem, but there really isn't good access for big equipment on the other side.  I could probably get a truck with a winch down there, but a tractor might be tricky.

Good info here.  One of ours will be about the same height off the ground as yours. What kind of break?  What do you use for a handle? Do you have a brands or links you could give me?

Bringing it back up with a hanging rope makes sense for these shorter ones, for a longer sip line is there some sort of crank or winch you can put on the starting side so someone can bring it back up from the bottom while on the platform?

We have a lot of opportunities like that out here.  We often have no idea what we're doing, and it makes for some pretty fantastic dork-outs.  The two city kids who are trying to learn how to farm generate lots of material.  You should have seen my husband work the sheep and goats yesterday--whole lotta awesome in that.