RC0

No problem:001_smile: Like I was going to stick to my VT on the doubled line for the rest of my career, but now realise how much more time and effort I'd have wasted in the process. As I said earlier, bad representatives always put me off SRT in the past, but now I know the reality I cant see of 'any' significant advantages in DdRT.

FYI, let me start by saying I weigh about 11st, have done since I was 20. What strength and conditioning I do possess comes solely from tree work over 22 years, although my DNA and attitude probably comes into play also. All-in-all I have what I'd consider very good power-to-weight Ratio for tree climbing. I’ve been using a RW (for-pruning) for a couple of days now. Felt a little strange at first, the whole SRt thing really, but then I got the feel of things. After the second tree on day one I couldn't think of a single reason to why I'd ever want to go back to DdRT (doubled rope technique)....I still cant believe I'm actually saying this:confused1: I was always put off SRT for tree work after seeing photos of guys with lots of gear (clutter) that I assumed you needed to make the whole thing work. When in reality you really don’t need half of that stuff, just your hitch, the wrench, lanyard and a pantin. These guys, while they probably know their stuff paint a quite negative picture in the tradition of tree work, more likely to scare than convert anyone. Re-direct slings are really handy also, with the line being non-moving you can snap them on anywhere along your route that might give you a better line-angle or potential swing reduction For long ascents a basic frog-walker system is easy to compile by adding a grab and a sling for your foot, along with the stuff you already have. Hang it on the back of your harness for when you need it....but even 20-30ft ascents with a sole pantin on the left foot is still way faster and easier the any DdRT frictionless system that I've ever used....although having a pair of gloves does help a lot when raising you foot/pantin each time. The base-anchor technique obviously has the rescue option and non-required limb isolation with your throw-line. You do get a little extra sit-back which can put some wear on the cambium so that’s something to consider depending on what your working on. Also, you can judge exactly how much line (tail) to use relative to a particular tree as the base-anchor can be set anywhere along the length of your line....so you've not got 50ft of line hanging below that you don’t need. Limb-walking, in or out, just get on with it, there's nothing to it....grab the rope and tend the slack, find your balance. The recent DMM/TM pulley-savers and ART stuff, while very well thought-out and engineered to the highest standard are realistically as good as it’s gonna get for DdRT....while SRT, for me at least is already way faster and yet still in its infancy. Again, I can only speak relative to my own experiences and climbing ability. My wrench was given to me to trial, I didn't pay for it and otherwise would've been happy enough to carry on never knowing. I reluctantly accepted it only because the guy seemed to know how to put its best points forward. Glad I did, and don’t regret not having one earlier as I now have it all to look forward to. Taking nothing away from Morgan Thompson’s ingenious unicender, but tree-guys generally feel better with a hitch, they know exactly what to expect....and the simplicity of Kevin's rope-wrench offers that feel and familiarity that we all know. I don’t have the quick-release pin yet and am not too bothered for now....it’s not that difficult to work around. I have yet to do any removals but don’t foresee too many sticking points there either. Still early days but my feeling so far is that this device and the technique (SRT) it complements is a huge step forward for better efficiency in comercial tree-climbing

I was fortunate enough to meet and even grab a couple of beers with Trev last month. Top bloke:thumbup1:

Not the best camera angle but it was no less than 8ft dbh

you would think so, but I've used brand new 84-88's that start wandering on large horizontal cuts many times, could never quite understand why. Never had that with the 3120, coming in from sides and all, straight as a ruler, nothing wasted.

Still building up to it.

Spectacular footage Mark:thumbup1:

Takes a little time to run-in but the 3120 all the way for me. Never used another big saw that cuts through hardwood with such accuracy.

Not meaning to stir things up, but for the record. I thought out and designed the stein trolley before that German one was brought to my attention....I think that would be further apparent when you see its sole application as intended by its designer compared to the several that I included in our original video....and the rest, again, thought through before anything was even put together. The German version took years to develop, apparently....mine took a day or two. Anyone who actually knows me will testify that I do not steal or borrow other peoples work. As for that 4 wheel version, it appears to me that several advantages and applications have now been lost. So I guess there are some advantages a treeman has over a business man i.e. one perhaps has a better understanding where and which design features are actually going to be useful for treework. Thanks

Feels like forever Dave, but it isn't. You would try to work one side on the way up and then the other on the way down. The Big shot will get you somewhere near half way, where the work starts etc. Thats a building lot right underneath there, hence the major deadwood removal.

Deadwooded 4 tall firs today, about 160, maybe the two taller ones were a little more. First couple of shots are taken from another tree, the next two you have to look really closely....I'm at the top left of the very end tree.

They are very fast, secure and tough....better than chains by a mile. Not as nice as using a soft sling with a shackle but they were loading the logs into a skip at the same time with that choker, so I didn't want my slings getting ripped out from under the logs. WRS, 3/8" x 8ft Wire Rope Cat Choker - Cat Chokers You'll get your chance Stu, lots of crane-co's out here carry them.

Thats the spirit Matt!

A 390 for the high stuff, 3120 for the last few. Thanks

Hard to believe but thanks anyway Jack thats quite a compliment. I'm 39

Yeah I moved out there in June. Running a tree businees has never apealed to me for many reasons....but am aware that I might have to one day. Thanks again

Thanks again, Jack I'm still contract climbing for a few different outfits. I do the best job I can everytime and that gets appreciated, so we all get along fine. There are good and bad climbers everywhere. Plenty of productive guys out here, but perhaps their key strengths are a little different than mine. I can do hedges and apples Will....dont really get much out of it but will get stuck in if that what needs to be done.

Thanks a lot. The tree was here in Victoria I dont know why he didn't like radios, old-timer I guess....but very, very good. I was all business on this occassion Ben, no time for the head-cam. Although in a way I wish I had just to show what the wind was like in those tops. About 2 and a half hours climbing. There was a couple a long faces (subbys) on the ground by 11:30, who otherwise thought they were there for the full day....the way it goes sometimes, just wasn't the day for messing around.

A large Lombardy removal today. 90km winds had been forecast but fortunately it turned out little less. A lot more difficult to get your sense of balance, movement and direction when the tree’s being blown all over the place like that. I used the logger’s choker for speed and had a balancer hooked on if I needed it The lower part was left as a wildlife snag so we were away for mid-day. 40t crane, a good op but who wouldn’t use radios for some reason....no matter it still worked out pretty well.

everyone but the climber's head as I recall, which I guessed was the thinking on that particular job.

I'm only suprised he's still post's at all. I dont think I would having to endure the kind of spite that comes across in Dans thread....maybe you have to be part of it to see the funny side:confused1: Has anyone here even met him? Ask questions by all means if you weren't actually there with him, dont just look for oportunity to pass a damming judgement. Dan thanks for taking the time to post your vidoes on Arbtalk. Whether I agree with everything or not they offer food for thought. Your implementation of the VSL, while simple was probably the most impressive for me. And thanks for at least retaining a sense of humour (Dadio) throughout it all. Andy Collins started a thread called 'flaming' a while back, lets all bare that in mind in keeping it civil and constructive guys.

Good shot Dan....and with it being a high cut I'm assuming you were relying soley on the gun-sight. For those suggesting that was somehow staged for youtube, you shouldn't forget that the footage was taken from the customers phone, probably as evidence in the event of it going wrong....had that happen many times, not so much the going wrong part.

My pleasure Dave. I'll be offline now for the rest of the week though, got to attend the tree-expo on the east coast of the US....been snowing heavy there. I went out on Sunday to hoping to buy some new clothes to show up in....its been a while. Boy I must be just well out of touch nowdays. Nothing made any sense to me at all, and whatever I tried on just look wrong....you know you're past it when that happens, right. I was going to get a hair-cut also tomorrow, but am now wondering that there's any point in that either!

I'm not sure I can explain it any better than what I have already Adam:biggrin: Its all there in the previous posts....the initial face opening and closing is the same, but what happens after that differs depending on whether the horizontal (shorter plane) is on top or underneath. The moving part is only and always above the face though....hence the dynamics are different between the two techniques. Tell me you follow Adam:thumbup1: Try it on conifers, lombardy's, sycamore and ash saplings....proportionately, sender, straight trees with enough top weight to break the hinge. The bigger the tree the more noticeble the effect.

Dave We are agreed then that one surface extends past the other....and one surface is static, the other is dynamic. Switch the cut around and the reaction will be different....because one part is just a stump while the rest is the tree-top. If you cut put a face in the top centre of a fallen log which was lying under compression then there would be no differet reaction which ever way you cut the face. A standing tree or top are obviously totally unequal entities either side of the face....unlike the fallen log. cheers