Marc

I wore my cinch out, have gone back to a knot and prefer it as it's more versatile, the cinch is good though, simple and no fuss. Wear mine on the left to as my first harness used to have the tool clip on the and it would irritate me to have my tool lanyard twist up with my side strop. I use to twist the body rather than use the handle to pay out slack.

Well kinda hoping they paid attention to other criticism's of the device as strength was not its only short coming, from that pic they have not but it is not the same as some of the other pics I've seen so still some hope.

Lucky boy! have they improved the fair lead much? That and a third attachment hole would make it the ultimate tool for me, do away with the swivel too but that's just my own personal preference.

The fig 8 revolver technique is my personal favourite, although it still uses a hitch it is one of the safest ways to choke a single line to a pole using kit you already have, you don't need a revolver either a simple round profile carabiner will suffice. Jnewton a soft lock is no real back-up in commercial use, figure 8's are pretty pointless in arb work and more for alpine climbing or at a push used in commercial work with a blocking back-up like a prussik.

I like the sip progress non PPE, wore mine most days for 3 years for general climbing, very tough and reasonably priced, or go to go outdoors and get some Montane terra pants.

Same as you cannot picture what the problem is, unless he is using an o-rig type of set-up the. A Sliace or whatever it's called is ideal and I don't think you could go wrong with the Tachyon not sure if the Sliace is available with Yale as I thought it was tefeulberger/new England only. Marlow splice are usually pretty solid at the neck and that black protection sleeve is annoying (not sure if they still use this) a picture may help and save you buying a new rope.

I will not comment further in my opinion there are a few items of kit we use daily that can and have caused accident and injury through improper use, and you could argue that had the piece of kit been designed more thoroughly these accidents could of been avoided. Petzl took the bold step in recalling the item I think they should be praised for this.

I'm a hitch man for life, having said that I had a zig zag and its the closest most consistent device you will get to a hitch, it just lacks the all important 3rd hole. I'm really glad they flared the fair lead of the tail hopefully this will stop premature wear of ropes. The previous zig zag was no death trap, considering only a 3rd ever got returned and a lot of climbers are still using them proves there was little to wrong with the last device. People fall with any given bit of kit. My only major gripe was the to low mbs of 15kn hopefully they have increased this, the lack of a fair lead and 3rd attachment point. It was a good first effort.

2 years is the average lifespan of my helmets, which to me seems a long time considering I wear it all the time.

They are out just give Freeworker a ring in Germany, Martyn I think is the guy to speak to, look at their online catalogue for part info. Also Nod at Treeworker may have some as he had them at the Trade show.

Very common on Ash, Apple, Walnut and Plane. Like you I've always wanted to know the significance on Walnut, on Ash it can be a concern in relation to how long its been present and it location. On Plane it's less of a concern due to the higher concentration of Lignin I believe, as for Walnut I do not know and on that basis I treat it like Ash.

Next you will be telling me you've got a Spiderjack! On a wire core go with a hitch. I had a cinch but eventually wore it out have since gone back to a hitch and prefer it over the cinch that I had for years.

And long I hope this will be. If someone followed an Internet tutorial on such an dynamic activity as this and injures or even kills themselves then it was their own free will that got them there. Its the same freedom that allows someone to post a video in the first place without fear. You cannot regulate freedom so easily, and you cannot protect against stupidity.

Just seen it, he is better than half the qualified arborists I know, he seems to have an aptitude for it which is intuitive, the saw was sharp and so is he. Ok lots of poor positioning and other issues but for a rookie impressive stuff.

I care less now then when I first started. I feel I've gotten more professional, but at the same time more realistic, this is just a job to me a living to be made by my skill and knowledge. I prefer not to carry out bad work and am fortunate enough that the majority of those I work for do good work, but every now and then I do very questionable down right shoddy work, does it affect me? No! As long as my mortgage is paid I sleep well, you cannot save every tree and you cannot educate everyone on good practice.

I have thought about it, the problem is the variables are immense, for example worse case scenario a 150kg piece can achieve a peak force of 1500kg (x10) when snatching. In perspective that's a bit of timber about twice the weight of an average climber turning into 2 trailed 6" chippers being dumped into the rigging system, given that the safe working load of your average rigging block by ISC is only 15kn or 1500kg and your average 16mm rigging rope around 800kg you can be pushing the limits with only small timber. Reality is different, letting timber run, dynamic absorption from the line the length of rope in the system etc.

Why would a hitch climber be wasted on you? I'm not saying breast cancer awareness is a great cause, and I do not want to be sexists, but tree climbing is a mostly male dominated profession, so why not a more male dominated cause like testicular/prostate cancer?

Mine does that particularly when worked hard, it's also stock and not modded.

I made super static up yes. It gets confusing. If you've ever climbed on static lines they are the same as our arb specific ropes, which can be referred to as semi-static. Beal antipodes is a classic, also the Tefuelberger platinum and patron all with some stretch/bounce,, these are sold as static lines and are static lines. Globe 5000 is not a static line as it does not conform to the standard of a static line and therefore does not have CE approval and never will unless used as part of a system.

All arb ropes are static lines. Dynamic lines are generally used in rock climbing as they will encounter dynamic falls. CE approved static ropes still have to have 3-4% elongation which is what most arb lines have and also most industrial static lines. Globe 5000 is a dyneema line and what I'd call super static as in it has absolutely no give what so ever! And is not CE approved for climbing (as it doesn't have 3-4% stretch required for CE approval as a static line) unless used as part of a CE footlock set-up as sold by Tefuelberger this incorporates a dynamic foot locking prussik, used in this set-up it becomes a CE approved system. If that makes sense. Some people love globe or similar super static ropes, personally I'm no fan I find them hard on the body as there is no cushion, and a little uncomfortable to handle. Although I do use Sterling HTP which is close to being super static (and not CE approved) but has enough give for me to feel comfortable using. I'd look at Kernmaster or even Velocity which is cheap enough to buy, and avoid globe 5000 for now.

I look forward to reading it, I used to practice thin to reduce, and can see the logic and benefits of it, for one its much easier and quicker leaving a more natural flowing outline. Like everything it can be done badly and used inapropiatly. I'll have a read later.

This type of injury is quite common amongst hobbyist/casual home owner types, I've seen 3 incidents of this in 6 years it comes from placing your foot on the log to hold it steady and usually cutting with the nose it bites rises up (kickback) and into the leg. I believe I'm right in saying similar accidents where occurring on rail work probably whilst brushing down, it's now a requirement to where type C's on the ground. My frustration is these accidents come for in appropriate use of a chainsaw not inadequate PPE, with good chainsaw handling most of these accidents can be avoided. I've seen in poorer areas chainsaw operators going at it with flip flops and shorts, whilst having a beer with these guys in the evening fathers and sons doing forestry work most of their lives I was surprised how few injuries they had, given they have had no formal training and absolutely no PPE. It comes down to respect and a need to provide, these people are poor and live in remote areas, medical care costs, even getting to a major hospital can be difficult so any injury has major consequences. I can't help thinking we are reckless, taking our PPE for granted thinking it will allow us to make that dodgy cut, health care is free and we have insurances to protect our families.

Protein shakes are a bit of a con, unless your doing this job and training for an ironman event. Although can't agree more on the water this is essential. I'm a grazer eating little and often, I also eat as much fatty food as possible and I do not mean McDonalds! Things like Oily fish, the dark meat on chicken (I avoid skinless breast if it ain't got the skin I'm not intrested) humous, avacado's, eggs with the yolk and nuts etc. I avoid to much Fruit as its high in sugar. I suspect my calorie intake a day is around 3500 The most important thing is pace I've worked 12 hour days 6 day weeks you just have to work smooth and deliberate not beast yourself as its pointless to go balls out one day and need a few days to recover, after a while by being slow you can be very productive and require less calories to sustain you.

I agree with what that, it's just very difficult to find a happy medium, as I often look at the work we do as making people happy with their trees, having reduced a vast quantity of trees over the years I honest think sympathetic works can be carried out to healthy trees that will help to keep a harmonious relationship with the tree and owner. If that makes sense!

Your my Hero, its the goofing around that makes the days to by. @Dave the Dog yes it is and if I see Maurice again I'll say hi.