Marc

I've put out of action all of my DMM carabiners got tired of the maintenance they needed, that's not a slight on DMM mind more me as an individual and climber, I use mostly Petzl and Rock Exotica as they are less fussy and can go months without a clean the savings in WD-40 and graphite powder are immense. Personally I'd never fail a DMM biner unless it didn't snap shut from an almost closed position even after cleaning and living.

Ropeknight/throwpod are 2 different things in my opinion and cannot be compared. The ropeknight is a much more technical piece of kit and very good at what it does. As for set up, if your going to get serious for storage a faltheimer cube or a petzl cube which I have no experience with other than seeing one it has a much larger opening which I like. The line either zing it or petzl airline would be my choice. The weight a throwpod or the fabric weaver or Buckingham bags as a cheaper alternative. I'd avoid Harrison rockets in my experience they dropped off qaulity wise as I have a four year old one still going the rockets I've bought in the last 2 years have fallen apart they also seem to get stuck more than other bags and cost twice as much. Stein cubes are also a false economy.

There is nothing wrong with the Stein set-up it does the job. If you can though get a hitchclimber there are key differences like rounds edges to the pulley side plates to fair lead the tail and be kinder to your rope, the third hole also opens up other possible configurations and tricks. Check out Taylor hamel's hitch climbers guide to the canopy on YouTube.

Had mine about 4 months now so far I am happy with it, I prefer using it over a 200t seems more comfortable and better balanced, the way it cuts is different doesn't seem to have the grunt of a 200t but I've knocked big tops out of ash with it where I've needed to chase the hinge and its been fine rigged bits of ash oak and beech down fine. My only gripe is it doesn't feel as robust build wise so if you was prone to breaking bits on a 200t you will break a 201 so don't let it slap about and keep it clipped short.

Why not use a 2 ring cambium saver with a stopper knot? This should make retrieval providing your using natural redirects easier?

Pricing £200 per man a day is rock bottom pricing but agree sometimes you just have to get what you can to survive and win it back on other jobs. There was a time when I worked for a company looking for £925 a day for a 3 man team this company knew very well what it needed to earn to be viable and was not being greedy in their rate. I doubt they are hitting that target at the moment and all suffer because of it. I am feeling the pinch my savings are getting eaten into I'm having to make savings where I can and I've not asked for a pay rise in 3 years and its still not the right time. I will never run my own thing I have no desire for it, I just want to work the tools and climb the trees how am I as a long term worker going to provide for my future after I am no longer commercially viable, I'd like to go to 4 days and further my education on 1 day, I am far from a top climber and I'd need £175 a day to do this and not all epic days I feel this is a reasonable rate for an average climber top climbers should be on £200-£250+ but that is just dreaming in the UK we are probably to far gone to reverse the attitude that we are just trimmers and fellers.

Yeah in many ways, Judge I just find supplying industry goods to guys that need it is different from the freelance climbers who want the day rate they are worth, or the company getting the price they want to cover the business running costs-profit-and some on top for future investment in kit or staff. Having worked in Germany where I was paid a decent rate, one thing I need notice in Germany was my rate compared to those even better than me were far greater, where as in the UK I am paid nearly top climber rates. The Germans are not that different from us and from what I saw they appreciate why it costs what it does. Alas it does appear it may be changing who knows in 20 years what will change there as more see it as a high earning profession I could see rates staying fixed as cost of living goes up much like here when I remember a good climber in the 90's getting paid he rates I see today.

I don't think supplies and services can be looked at in the same way. I've always looked towards getting my equipment from those I trust and offer me the best kit even if it does come at a premium, like everything though I expect the same respect in return, which leads to the happy and content I'm always content even if I pay more as long as I feel fairly treated. A supplier needs to always make sure he and his staff do that for the good of the company! Services wise I cannot comment.

Indeed a good solid starter kit. The Elderid Tree magic is an excellent harness.

Indeed or have a right and left and try to alternate, as its not only your knee that will suffer also your back long term. Hence why I do not use mine in the tree, only for ascent with a foot loop in a suitable single line set-up. Once in the canopy maybe on rare occasions if I can have one foot on the stem, if I'm hanging free I find foot locking more comfortable in a doubled line system, paradoxically I find foot locking to ascend very bad for me and a cool hardy pursuit for anything other than competition climbing.

Bigger trees equal bigger profit and generally easier to do, small back garden jobs profit margins the same as there is only a minimum we can work for. It all depends though on how the individual company operates and is set up. For us the big money is in planting and tree moving don't tell anyone though!!

It's worth ringing around, although you could just get them from Freeworker they are very easy to deal with prompt delivery and Benedict is easy to talk to over the phone.

No, I'd need to man up again, I don't think I could be bothered.

I do them on every opportunity that arises even when not needed, because one day you will really need it.

Public right of way near the tree,

I'd look at CT and the new pantin avoid the CMI, I have 3 Pantins now my first one fell apart only kept it to use for something else. Although I rarely if ever use mine during a work climb only for ascent in a rope walking system if I need to drop through a fork I either use a retrievable redirect or make sure I can re direct my whole system back to me without climbing back through.

Sarcasm is more fun on a Sunday, Chunky's approach is the right one.

Yes I am intrested in your wood it will cost you £xxxfor my time to collect it.

I,d have to agree with Adam looks potentially difficult to take out the soft lock on the fig 8 under load. Ah wait just had a second look all you would have to do is pay out a load of slack between the fig 8 and hitch then pop out the soft lock the hitch is there just as a back up in case the rescuer loses control of the line somehow. Still it all looks overly complicated and fussy, I loved shebrookes vid so simple but not ideal as no back up. I'd like to see the simplest set-up possible with minimal gear, so far leaving a midline knot for attaching a second system (back-up climbers kit) is what I'd favour just not sure how practical this is.

You should see a line in most instances, I sometimes pull the chain up a little on the bar and check if drive links are being lubricated, even the tie straps should have a small amount of oil present. How old is the saw?

Why not climb it, if there is no pressure and time allows always good fun to practice positioning and making cuts from a rope and harness.

Well I didn't have a wire on mine for about 2 years never noticed a problem, just assumed it was there to maintain its position. I don't like them personally, if I was to use mine again I'd look to replace the wire.

Would some brake cable from a bike shop not be suitable?

It's not worth anything until it is a saleable product, which mean the labour to shift it turn it into firewood size pieces (however that may be some here have varying sized wood processors often these guys want certain size timber straight) then seasoned for the appropriate time.

I am seeing a lot of this lately, hope it does not become the norm, the job costs what the job costs and re sale value in the timber is a bonus/part of the job cost if the client wants that bonus then let them negotiate and sell the timber, unless the client is a good potential future customer.