Arborist Weight

[KA2AUB]

I have an air cannon with interchangeable barrels. so far, I have a 1 1/2" barrel and 1" barrel. I am trying to get paracord in a tree for my ham radio antennas. I have seen the suggestion of an arborist's weight bag. Does anyone know any good alternatives?

[quinn whitsitt]

how strong is your gun and how durable is your radio is the question but i might recommend 12 to 15 lb for a fairly good gun.

[mark.f]

I have an air cannon with interchangeable barrels. so far, I have a 1 1/2" barrel and 1" barrel. I am trying to get paracord in a tree for my ham radio antennas. I have seen the suggestion of an arborist's weight bag. Does anyone know any good alternatives?

Tennis balls were the go to at least over a decade ago for exactly what you're doing.

[eric19]

How powerful is your gun?

[pavina]

Using a tennis ball is a classic method! If you're looking for some alternatives, consider using a lightweight water balloon or even a small soft pouch filled with sand. Both can be easily thrown and will carry the paracord up into the tree. Just make sure whatever you use is light enough to be shot from your air cannon but heavy enough to reach the branch you’re aiming for. Another option is to attach a small weight (like a fishing sinker) to a mini drone if you have access to one; it can drop the paracord exactly where you need it. Good luck getting your antennas set up!

[vividrange]

Nice project! Air cannons are a great DIY solution for getting lines up in trees—especially for ham radio. You're right that arborist throw bags are commonly used, but there are definitely some alternatives that can work just as well or even better depending on your setup.

[ladygaga]

I’ve had decent luck using a small water bottle (partially filled) taped securely so it doesn’t rupture. It gives enough weight for a clean shot and is cheap to replace.

[miloz]

Using an arborist’s bag sounds like the safest bet, since they’re made for that kind of job. A tennis ball or small sand pouch could work too, just need enough weight to carry the line without being too heavy for the launcher.