TO RIG A STACK WITHOUT A GIMBLET WIRE
When this proposition confronts you it may look to you like a job not worth fooling with. It can be done and, on some stacks, almost as quickly as with a gimblet wire.
There are a number of ways to rig without the aid of a gimblet, of which I will show you two of the quickest and most simple.
Look over your guy wires and pick out the most solid of the lot running to the top band. Make sure of its anchorage. There are supposed to be two clips at each end of a guy wire where it is connected to the turn-buckle, and at the band place the double block without the stack hook on the guy wire.
Tie a long and heavy line to the block. Take this line, passing it around all the guy wires with the exception of the one the block and falls are attached to. Then reave out your line to what you would figure the length of the stack to be. You then take hold of the line that is around the guys, pulling on it and at the same time switching on your rigging. Unless the guy wire is slanting at about 45 degrees down, your rigging will slide up very easily.
With this system it is possible to get your rigging to within a very few feet of the top band, then tie off your tug line, be sure to some object that is good and solid. Remember your weight will be on that, and also your life.
SAFETY FIRST always. You only fall once. Use every safety device available. Remember this book only tells you how to rig, but it takes common sense while following these methods, and that is, take no chances where you think a thing will hold. Be sure it holds.
The first thing to do when getting into the boatswain chair is to see that your lines are not twisted. Have your helper walk out some fifteen or twenty feet from the stack. Take the fall line with you on your way up. The stack hook, extra hook, sling string, small stick, hang line, and you are ready.
Quite a load going up! After placing the line between your legs and your helper stands away out, this helps to avoid the twisting of your line. While going up remember this: A very steady pull, the two pulling together. Long grabs and jerks are liable to prove disastrous, as it may cause the line to snap. Half-inch line has tremendous straining power; nevertheless, there are flaws in rope and rope also rots.
My first experience on a stack I remember I wanted to buy 1½-inch line. Now wouldn’t I have had a wonderful time trying to get that ton of rope to the top of a smokestack! Since then I have used ¼-inch rope, but that is too small. At any rate I had the correct idea of “Safety First” at the beginning. However, ½-inch is the proper size for a job not over two hundred (200) feet high.
Now, when nearing the top guy wire, have your helper slack up, allowing you to continue the pull alone. When the two blocks are together tie a safety line to the wire. Tie the extra hook to the stick and the end of the sling to your chair, then in the hook, passing the hook over and in the eye of the band. Pull the stick away from the hook. You then tie the stick to the block attached to the guy wire. After this is done, lower yourself until your weight rests on the line hooked in at the band.
Make sure when lifting the riggings away from the wire that they don’t fall, leaving you up there in a great predicament. If this should happen, you will agree with me on that point.
Experience is a great teacher. I have had this experience: On lifting the block away from the wire, place it in the eye of the band; also draw yourself up close to the band. Untie the sling, tying it closer to the hook, then draw up a long pole—the size you figure you will need to reach the top with. Tie the stack hook to the pole; put the block and falls in the hook; push it to the top.
Poling to the Top of a Smokestack
Now, not in all cases is this as easy to do as to say. If the top is only fifteen or twenty feet from the band, it can be done without much effort, but should it be a reach of thirty or thirty-five feet, I would suggest the following method:
Tie a hook to the pole just so it will stay on. A light hook is required for this. Place your handy line through the eye of the hook. Tie the handy line end down about eight feet from the top of the pole, then lash yourself to the band, pull yourself up and stand in the chair, throwing one leg over the guy wire. Make yourself good and solid, spread your feet out in the chair. Do not have them together. This sometimes prevents the chair from sliding to one side. Above all remember never to let your riggings get away from you. You are in a mighty tiresome position. Always be sure to have a handy line with you in making a reach of thirty or thirty-five feet. Figure your pole, which is only two by two or so, is easily broken in a little wind. I have had poles break eight or ten times before reaching the top of a stack.
Now, in pushing the pole up with a handy line, always wait until the wind ceases for a second, then up with it. This has to be done quickly. With the pole leaning against the stack once over the top, pull the pole away from the light hook, lower the pole until the top end is at the band. Tie on the hook and block, then, with the handy line now over the top, pull on it and at the same time push on the pole with a steady push and pull. The rest is very simple. After this is accomplished, undo yourself from the band, lowering yourself into the boatswain chair. Hook up the riggings to the chair, start for the top, cut away the pole, lower it down and start your work.
Climbing Guy Wire with Slings and Chair