Marc

In keeping with trying to keep the discusion about the subtle differences in rigging techniques employed by others going! I've looked at the video again, disregarding what pulley Mike is using or the fact he hasn't done his oil cap up properly,,,, The setup is not as tight as i'd do it, yet i don't think a greater force is being introduced, its hard for me and my uneducated brain to explain its just something i feel is due to center of gravity of the piece being lowered off. This picture shows how i'd set up for snatching, the way the piece is tied of if I moved the half hitch preceding the bowline up another foot i'd still be below the cog and would not be increasing the fall distance of the piece before it loads the pulley, but i'd be increasing the amount of rope between the pulley and tied off piece and some say giving more line to absorb the force although it wouldn't be greater, if that makes sense. Look again at Mikes video particularly at 4:20 and 4:40 you'll see the slack between the pulley and log being taken up, i reckon by the weight of the bollard dropping and pulling it through, but it demonstartes the arc the piece takes around the pulley/pivot, which you cannot change as this will always be the logs center of gravity no matter how you tie it, unless there is a greater distance than the center of gravity and pivot point.

I know someone who is not to far from you Richard, he has plenty of experience and qaulifications i'll give him a ring tonight and pass on your details. Glad to hear your still keeping busy.

I had noticed it looked like a swing cheek pulley but couldn't say for sure. As for the slack there are some who would say slack is a good thing as it gives a bit of shock absorbtion before the intial run, there is also some who would say a foot makes little difference. Its not how i do it but after reading briefly the isa guide to rigging the distance between the tie of point and rigging pulley doesn't play a huge part unless there is a huge difference. Basic explanation

Depends on your perspective, I have 2 faltheimer cubes, 3 zing it lines and 4 harrison rockets. My throwline is a daily tool so I want the best to make my life easier and less frustrating. The cheapest alternative would be a simple small tarp availible from most diy outlets, it gives a clean surface to throw from and flak onto, you can then just fold the tarp up and stuff it into your bag.

I agree a silky is quicker and requires less effort, also produces better results.

A question of morals, such an old topic that will as Buzz so rightly put it be debated till the end of time. There is a difference in my opinion to doing work not to best practice because its what the client who owns the tree wants after all advice about the pro and cons of good v's bad work are explained and ignored, and someone who does bad work because they know no better or do not care about this industry. You can't save them all.

Just an observation and not a criticism, if your doing tip work then why use a 200T a sharp silky will deal effciently with anything upto 3" with ease. Also cutting off pegs with a 200t one handed is risky ask jamie, just flush cut the stem straight off or better still use a step cut.

Your not the only one, I rarely one hand dues to the stress it puts on my elbow, i'll always try to find the position to allow me to cut safely with less stress to my elbows, I don't suffer from tendonitis these days but there was a stage when i did so i choose to change the way i work to reduce stress and fatigue on my elbows. Unlike Mike where he one handed the 200t I probably would of used a sharp silky on the small limbs, thats just my own personal way of doing things.

In the scheme of things crushed digits and broken windows are nothing, my post was just about why Fridays seem to be the day if anything can go wrong it will? My bad luck was nothing just a denting to my pride, I will recover. There are a lot worse things that can happen. I'm sorry to hear about your friend Allan Stevie.

Is that a serious reply? You cannot argue with Mikes smoothness and ease with the saw, there was a mixture of one handed chainsaw use and two, it all looked good to me. Only those with less experience should stick to the basic principals taught by the nptc. Using the saw left handed in that scenario allows the branch to be gripped without crossing your arms a safer alternative. As for chainsaw gloves since when have they been essential ppe? Any assesor or instructor who sees this video and says Mike is not fit to operate a saw or undertake tree work safely should hang his head in shame. This is the reality of modern treework. I do see your point though, i know its how a seansoned treeworker would undetake a task, but for someone starting out and seeing this video could see something different. No 2 treeworkers are the same we all have our own way of doing things, to stick rigidly to best practice is impractical, treework is complex and varied we have to adapt and find ways to carry out our job safely suited to our individuality. If that makes sense?

From felling dead hawthorn to dismantling a 100ft popular thats a hell of a step up! Glad your getting some good work coming your way though.

Is the climbing comp going to be the same format as the isa climbing comps??

I'm not to bothered about the busted finger, yes it hurts like hell, and i'm unable to hold a saw or climb till it heals enough. In the scheme of things a crushed digit ain't so bad, i've gone 3 years without injury not even a significant silky cut, so this i can accept although annoyed it happened in such a stupid way on a simple job. Sending a piece of chip through someones window cause i hadn't noticed the spout moving is plain bad luck, my mistake and i made sure to put it right myself. Its just the day as a whole, me trying to make a good impression to a new company and forgeting my ppe, bashing my finger then breaking a window! It was an omen, i should of gone home after anyone of those 3 things. Instead my pride took a beating and so did my finger. Thats treework for you.

When something goes wrong why does it always seem to happen on a Friday! I had a bad day, was working for a new outfit for me, so have been trying to impress, got to the yard only to find i'd forgotten my chainsaw trousers! The other guy I was working with had a spare pair only he's a big fella and i'm not so ended up looking like MC Hammer in parachute pants. First job was pointless a dead wood of a mature ash knocked it out in good time with no real problems. Next and last job reduce mixed boundary hedge to level plain, there was 2 Leylandii that had been left to grow as trees so severe reduction on these, nothing taxing apart from BT cable and small drop zone with windows that i had to be wary off not breaking. I'd been knocking one protion off onto a part of the hedge then going down and safely rolling them off butt facing the right way into the small drop zone making life as easy as possible for the other guy was up the last stem and decided to take a bigger top off as everything was going well, I opted to make a more open gob to fold it down onto the hedge,,, mistake! I was holding the butt hoping to guide it and roll it off at the same time, the tip hit the hedge first broke the hinge and pushed the butt back and down onto a tiny peg mangling my finger properly, at first i though i'd banged it badly when i looked all i saw was sinew and bone with a big bit of skin hanging off i put the skin back and clamped it with my hand, for one crazy moment i thought i may be able to carry on and it wasn't that bad took my hand away to see blood pouring out my mangled digit, as calmly as i could with one hand descended out the tree. The good thing about working for a good outfit with good employees is there response to even minor situations like this, very quickly and easily i was off to the nearest hospital with minor injuries unit as stated in the risk assesment. 6 stiches and 6 tape stiches due to the jagged nature of the wound i was out in no time at all. I insisted we go back and finish the job with the other guy climbing and me feeding the chipper with one hand, i'm not used to there chipper and whilst feeding cord through i noticed the chute had worked loose and was blowing chip across the drive towards the neighbours house,,,, and through their window:sad: I got a qoute to have it fixed and left them with a blank check, so i worked all day yesterday for nothing other than a busted finger.

I'm well aware of the research done on this(can be found on the treeimagineers website i think) and using appropiate karabiners such as rounded profile karabiners are best if you are going to do it this way I also have a karabiner i only use for this purpose, personally i prefer using a karabiner as it is quicker and easier, the force needed to cause a biner to fail in this was is still pretty high. I don't own a lockjack so wouldn't know

Thanks for the explanation Reg, i did wonder why you was doing an outboard step cut but i was sure there was good logic to why you was doing it that way.

See so many ways never thought of choking my lanyard although not sure on how you would transition over to your life line safely? not to keen on pegs idea though.

Sooo many ways, rope guides/adjustab;le cambium saversare great just not always long enough. I cinch my climbing line round the stem by clipping the biner onto my line, then i would depending on distance come straight down on the hitch in a single leg. Or use a large cambium saver ring with revolver by pushing a bight of rope throurgh the ring and attach the revolver through bight with short sling to harness buffers the load to the hitch so you can descend on one leg srt style over long distance. Aother way is to have a pole kit, basically 20-35m of 8mm static line in a small sack/bag use a karabiner to choke it to the stem and have a belay device pre-set on the line. Good thing about this is you can leave the rope in the bag so no rope to get in the way on the groud or tree, and is there for emergency decent or hauling up tools. Fairly inexpensive as well.

I really want some of that Dyneema Globe 5000 rope, a wallet busting £275 without vat! May just have to go for Snakebite bit more friendly.

Nice video as usual Reg always good to see your thoughts and stratergies in action. Just an observation out of curiosity when your removing those heavy side limbs are you tensioning both lines with the handle'd tensioner?

Its all about discussing best practice nothing truly negative meant by it. I thought the pics were great, as for the pegs I didn't really see a problem with gary's approach, looked like he was cutting the branches before the bulbous branch collar which makes it easier for ground crew and climber (please tell me this was intentional:))

I admit it i'm highly skilled in the art of driving on road, and if anyone can get a unimog buried to its axles its me. To be fair its only happened twice, most of the vehicles i drive have road based tyres at high pressure, so you really have to read the lay of the land first and not go for it. In my opinion though Unimogs are more than just 4x4 off road vehicles, don't buy one for that reason alone.

Nod at Treeworker will be able to help you out i reccomend him, his link can be found at the right.

Yep that'll help a lot, you need to get the spec you want from the off, as it can get expensive to change things around.