silvafox
-
Posts
172 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Classifieds
Tip Site Directory
Blogs
Articles
News
Arborist Reviews
Arbtalk Knot Guide
Gallery
Store
Calendar
Freelancers directory
Everything posted by silvafox
-
I am based about 15 miles west from Wolverhampton and 20 miles south of Shrewsbury. I need to get my gear LOLER Certificated as a matter of urgency. Can anyone help?
-
Hey Matty, I will post you the details of a bat willow buyer. Looks good in the pic.
-
I've never used a GRCS. Had a good look at one and thought it might break easy. I have a Hobbs, 2nd generation. Does what I ask it to do, solid, simple and very heavy! Occasionaly I wish I had two!
-
Thanks BigA. That link has filled a void in my understanding of KN rating. Its critical stuff to know when deciding which block or pulley to use when rigging. I don't think we need to get the calculator out but its essential to have a good idea what the gear can stand. Don't forget your safety factor folks!
-
Win A Pair Of Stretch Air Chainsaw Trousers
silvafox replied to Steve Bullman's topic in Past Competitions
Well done winners and everyone who shared their pics. Really great response from all on the forum. MasterBlaster's falling top is a megapic, shame he's not UK! -
Rules are made because morons need a nanny. When I make a single handed cut my body, legs and feet are safely away from the fall of the saw (including deflection). If there is a danger of kick back I won't do it. If the saw is likely to pinch and fall with the cut limb I won't do it. Work position and situation asssessment is key. Otherwise, yes there is risk in all we do. Its up to the individual. I think its ok if your sensible.
-
Swekipps diagram was good but if I'm looking at it right it leaves a hinge. Hinges are unacceptable whether you cut out the ears and/ or bore out the heart. The tree must begin to fall no sooner than all the stem (or just a tiny little on the outside remains) is completely severed. I tried felling this preciuos timber with the slightest of bored out earless hinges and the resulting fractures, however slight, made the log unusable for the cricket bat maker. One big split or even a few providing they where radial may not be so critical as the bat blanks may be cleft around or with these splits. A little damage at the outer edge of the stem is also forgivable as the last 2-3 years growth are later cleft to waste. Hinges seemed to induce fractures both radially and tangentially resulting in a criss cross mosaic of hairline shakes. English Cricket Bat Willow is sensitive stuff and extremely valuable. Its not to be approached as you would poplar or ash. Truth is its a pain in the jacksy.
-
Yes I did. Forget wedges. 1. Bore in from side approximately where a hinge might have been and push cut towards felling direction. Remove saw having left as little attached (say 2 or 3 ") as poss. 2. Repeat if necessary from opposite side. 3. Place saw back in to cut and cut towards the back of the tree. Be extra sensitive to potential pinching or tree fall/ split. 4. Leave just a 3-5" block at the back centre and pull out saw. 5. Cut in from back just above previous cut and pop she goes. All being well the only damage will be a 2-3" tongue attached to the underside of the fallen tree about 6" wide and this my friends is neither here nor there!
-
Good pics too!
-
That is a tremendous example of a moron who thinks he's a tree surgeon. The culprit must be so dumb and arrogant that he actually charged to do it and slated a pro arborist to boot! All that tree is good for now is hanging. I come across this sort of thing occasionally. Weekenders who otherwise work in a factory, retired policemen, all sorts who just fancy themselves as tree surgeons but fail to learn the job properly. The client must take some responsibility.
-
I'm fitter now than I ever have been. I could run or climb rings round me at 20! Experience, technique and method save much time over sweating and bashing round in a youthfull hurry!
-
I do a lot of that sort of thing but never trimmed round such a big bell as that. I have felt a prick or two. Shaping holly off a ladder!
-
Thats a fine job Steve. Is it a beech or hornbeam or what?
-
Over the years I've learned not to get too serious about business. It doesnt suit me to plan projections, strategies and work schedules etc down to the nth degree. I've tried many times and it doesnt work for me. Dont get me wrong. I do my own vat and accounting. I can make a considered decision about quotes or asset purchases. What I mean is don't let it all overwhelm you. Keep things simple. Keep your diary as flexible as poss. Stress will come looking for you, don't go looking for stress.
-
I reckon experienced tree surgeons are at their best between 25 and 35 years of age. I'm 32. LOL. I sub a climber who's in his early 50's and hes really quick and going strong. He also climbs mountains. Fit as a fiddle.
-
Fairplay vduben. Its amazing how quick we can respond in times of peril. In this game intelligent reflexes are all that may stand between you and the earthworms. I'm sure we all can remember a dodge, duck or fingertip save that we did without time to think about it. Of course the opposite may be say...catching a boiling kettle or swerving to miss a cat and hitting a wall!
-
My day today has been painful. I was cutting a 6" thick 30' willow branch under tension. When it came free it shot into my kneecap. I thought for a second I'd broken something but walked (hobbled) away after a minute impersonating an Italian footballer. Had to fight the tears a bit. Its easily done and a whacking reminder of the risks involved in what we do. Won't be climbing or much else tomorrow. Plenty of ice on it now and in my vodka.
-
I neglected to tie on the lump of pine limb I was lowering over a garage. The lowering rope was still resting in the block on a stopper knot. I signalled for the groundies approval and he gave me thumbs up. I was tired and in a hurry and he was blind or maybe I was just a chump but I only made that mistake once. The owner of the garage was cool as the lump fell thru the corragate sheet roof onto her winters logs pile. I just said " you can have that one on the house".
-
Common sense over bravado. No big deal.
-
I would not be so arrogant to judge Matty either way on this one, or state that I would or would not have carried on. Matty alone checked the tree/site/weather out, and made a call that was right for him. The fact that he made the call makes it right.
-
Are you all waiting for the perfect picture?
silvafox replied to Steve Bullman's topic in General chat
And by the way thats not me in my avatar just a nice pic. I just WISH it was me! -
Are you all waiting for the perfect picture?
silvafox replied to Steve Bullman's topic in General chat
I'm just going to beat you all to it. Yes my 3rd pic was technologically enhanced but it wasn't me honest (the wife did it!). But I have to say I thought it was quite nice to look at. As you can probably tell in this house she (Vix) wears the trousers. Gotta go, washing up to do.. -
Thanks for all your feedback guys. I nearly called it a day on this contract when I damaged the 880 trapped in a falling tree (pics coming soon). All your comments are helpful. Your bang on 18 stoner, more wedges the better. The saw traps when its almost out the back and the tree takes an unpredictable lean. I also went back to more recognised felling techniques having realised the danger involved trying to pamper the timber. A very small open notch gob, then as Nod suggested setting the hinge with a boring cut, leaving attached at the back then coming in from the back. Still risky. Hard to judge whatever strategy and I don't want to write off a good saw.
-
Win A Pair Of Stretch Air Chainsaw Trousers
silvafox replied to Steve Bullman's topic in Past Competitions
Last but not least... -
Win A Pair Of Stretch Air Chainsaw Trousers
silvafox replied to Steve Bullman's topic in Past Competitions
The second:
