RC0

Hey nice work and video Tom. When the camera first switched to the ground perspective it showed some rigging down one of the stems (I assume to protect the lawn)....but then later on the rest of the heavy wood was just bombed down anyhow. What was the difference?

If sheer cranking power is what you’re after, then buy the GRCS….there’s none better! I chose the Hobbs over the GRCS because its attributes were more relevant to the type of work I do and the preferred methodologies. One day I hope to own a GRCS also! As far as this latest design is concerned, I was simply given a target retail-value and asked what could be achieved within that budget. So far I’m very pleased at the way things have evolved….but you must understand that I have put emphasis on different values than those prioritized by Greg Good and Ken Johnson's respective LDs. However, please appreciate that it’s too early to elaborate further. What I will say though (such are my impressions so far and so long they continue to be favourable) is that the Hobbs is no longer the automatic choice in the tool kit, given my personal methods and preferences. In fact, I probably wouldn’t have bought it at all I’d had the option 12 months ago….and more likely had change left over to buy an additional 3.5 ton winch, if I was that way inclined! Thanks

Guys, if you are considering the purchase of a new lowering device this year but can’t yet afford or justify either of the big 2, then you might want to just hold off for a while as something new and interesting is on its way. While it’s still relatively early stages, the first prototype is currently being put through its paces and we are aiming to have the product on the market before the summer. In case you’re wondering, my role is the design an development etc, beyond that it will be passed over to a reputable company who will then put it into production. Rest assured, this isn’t just another Portawrap/Hobbs/GRCS rip-off that you see floating around Europe in one of those all inclusive Rigging Kits etc In fact, over the last several weeks I’ve purposely avoided my Hobbs and any other LD for that matter so not to be influenced or distracted by them. Obviously I did make comparisons upon completion but was satisfied that upholding the discipline turned out to be a good decision. Although I don’t really foresee the product making it to the US, out of courtesy I contacted Norm Hall (portawrap) and Greg Good (GRCS) to tell them what’s going on….I also wanted to pick their brains a little. Anyway, both were receptive, helpful and very encouraging to say the least….truly, they are gentlemen through and through. Unfortunately, I can’t give much away about the actual design just yet, only that it is a circular object that is anchored to base of the tree….I look forward to revealing more when the time comes, but for now all I ask is that you bare it in mind. Thanks Reg

The Hobbs a very workable winch indeed, we've used it several times now with great success. It'll take upto 20mm rope no problem, and whats great about capstans is that you can simply attach-detach your pull rope without having to route the whole thing through the unit i.e. Tirfor. Obviously a tirfor (or similar) has the superior power and is more convenient to anchor though.

A little more on the Great De la Hoya Shane Mosley was a fabulous lightweight champion round about 98-2000, regarded second best only to Roy Jones in the pound for pound rankings back then. De La Hoya owned a version of the welterweight title, and obviously put-out by Mosely's status, challenged the much smaller Mosely to move up 2 divisions to welterweight. Mosley did and beat De la Hoya convincingly. Mosley's reign didn't last long though as he was beaten by Vernon Forrest (another one who definitely didn't figure in De la hoyas plans). After a second consecutive defeat to Forrest and one no-contest, Mosley was considered to be a fighter on the slide. However, recognizing this, De la hoya (now a junior middleweight) challenged Mosely to a rematch but at junior middleweight, forcing Mosely to fight even further out of his natural weight category. Mosley, being the true fighting man that he is was happy to oblige and guess what....beat De La Hoya again! Mosely then went on to lose twice to junior middleweight champ Winky Wright (another one on DLHs 'to be avoided' list) and more recently to Miguel Cotto. Mosely now has another shot in January in the form of formidable and avoided welterweight champion Antonio Margarito. Mosley is not expected to win, but such is his willingness to fight anyone (unlike De la hoya), he is still likely to receive a huge amount support and recognition, whatever the outcome! In light of his recent surrender to Pacquiao, it seems unlikely that De La Hoya will want to go out on that note, so his company 'Golden Boy Promotions' will probably look to make a another 'Fight of the Century'.....but dont be surprised Barry McGuigan and Jim Watt are on Oscars shortlist of suitable opponents!

Hey, just settle down a minute... Fine, if you see it differently but dont start throwing bad language in my direction over a post that made no personal reference to you whatsoever:thumbdown: Pacquiao at 5.6 is a natural super featherweight who won his first title at flyweight....this fight was made at welterweight. De La Hoya has had it in for Pacquiao for years since he signed for Bob Arum instead of Golden Boy Promotions and has made no secret of this. With De La Hoya's star fading over the last couple of years, he only took on Pacquiao because he assumed he'd over power the naturally smaller man....same as his philosophy in his previous fight against shop-worn lightweight Stevie Forbes, before that it was another lightweight in Mayweather (who also beat De La Hoya), before that it was consistent loser Ricardo Majorga. During all that time De La Hoya has completely ignored the true Dangermen and respective champs in his own weight class - Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto and Paul Williams....they've been calling out De La Hoya for years but to no avail. Had De La Hoya in fact beaten Pacquioa, his plan was to fight another naturally smaller man Ricky Hatton....again, avoiding the most worthy opponents, and bigger Stateside names Margarito, Williams and Cotto. Winky Wright is another that DLH has spent years avoiding, instead beating up puchbags like Auturo Gatti! In fact, the most character the man has shown was in facing Felix Trinidad, whom he lost to and was booed for running like a scared Rabbit throughout the fight, and the only naturally bigger man he's ever faced Bernard Hopkins, who KO'd him also. Manny Didn't knock him out though did he, De La Hoya quit. Ironic how De La Hoya was so damming of an 'old' J C Chavez all those years ago when Chavez quit during they're second fight and yet De La Hoya chose the same option against Pacquiou! But in comparison, Chavez fought the much bigger De la Hoya like a lion, while DLH seemed only concerned with self preservation in his timid showing against Pacquiao! Mozza, how old are you and how many of De la hoyas fights have you actually seen?

Don’t know if anyone else cares, probably not….but to a long time boxing fan like myself and millions of others around the world, in a modern day David v Goliath scenario ‘Philipino’ Manny Pacquiao was just inspirational in overcoming previously unsurpassed natural size and strength disadvantages to give U.S bully-Oscar De La Hoya the hiding of his life. Of course I’m not suggesting that Americans are Bullies and all Philipinos’ gentlemen by any means, but in this instance De La Hoya has gotten away with it for years until finally picking on the wrong ‘little man’….and after getting a spanking for several rounds was eventually forced to quit on his stool. With such an abundance of courage, determination, dedication and ferocity, that God-fearing little fella is the true epitome of a warrior in every sense! Anyway, just had to share that with you guys. Good Evening:001_smile:

Well it was rough but watchable Yalta RE: the folding cuts Back/top cutting can be very unforgiving and dangerous when you use it at the wrong time, and to have any kind of success you must have a fast cutting saw to get through the wood before it barber-chairs. Also, try cutting it on an angle (as if cutting out a dagger) which can allow the branch to hang on that little bit longer. Although, probably best of all is an open face notch and then you can just edge through your top cut at what ever speed you want e.g. watch Mark fold the last one over the wires [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_VLHd6FBBzE[/ame]

I had this on loan for a week and it worked pretty good for the trees we had to pull over, but not so great at dragging them thereafter. I'd read good and bad reports before trying it....and while I can now better understand the different points of view, I'll just keep my opinions to my self in this instance. Thanks [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=giAgMte-p3k[/ame]

Here's a link to the camera stetson, plenty of others on the site also:http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/buy-viosport-pov1.htm Andy, I dont no why people are somehow drawn so close to a lowering device at the base of the same tree that is being worked:confused1: I can hardly think of a more dangerous place to stand!

Matty, he has used it alot but perhaps not in the last month. Tim, I was just trying to warm him up with that first shot as we had much bigger to deal with later on....guess it didn't work! Never even crossed my mind to use a tag line on what should have been a real straight forward procedure. I'd expected it to swing out and then be landed on the way back. The sort of thing Andrew could normally do with eyes shut.....but for what ever reason his mind was elsewhere, as too was mine for being so assuming. Jamie, in this instance a log-truck was booked so keeping the logs big was an attempt to save labour rather than create it. But in general I'm a believer that its far safer and faster to cut and disect wood with two feet on the floor using powerful groundsaws than having to manoeuvre and attempt the same from up in the tree....its not always that black and white though, I know!

Here’s a couple of rigging mistakes while removing a Robinia this last Thursday. Nothing major but seems as I had the camera rolling I figured it might be worth posting. The Hobbs ‘winch’ allows the ground-worker to reel-in unwanted rope slack which might occur as a branch/log begins to move after or while it’s being cut. The technique is especially useful where the pulley/block is set below branch/log i.e. blocking down a spar while implementing the notch-hinge technique. While rigging a spar you wont notice the slack because it all happens so fast….but it happens i.e. when you cut a notch out of a log, what you’re doing is shortcutting its fall-path….kind of like having your feet kicked from underneath you and falling on your knees before folding over face first. So a deep, open-face notch induces more rope slack but is easy to tip, while a shallow notch falls further, minimises the slack but takes more effort to push/pull over. In the first clip, the ground-worker (usually excellent) somehow manages to fall over while tending the slack but then instinctively grips the rope and causes the log to slam into limb that I’m attached to. Thankfully, it wasn’t my primary attachment point, so I was able to keep my footing easy enough….however, if not for that high tie-in point, I may have been found wanting….it wouldn’t be the first time either. In the second clip the hobbs winch is utilized to pre-tension the line, so to aid a back-leaning-log, fall in the opposite direction. When pre-tensioning with either the Hobbs or GRCS-Harken (for those who don’t know), several wraps are required to gain the rope-traction needed around the spools to stop the rope from spinning as the winch is cranked….but once the lift/tension is achieved, the operator will more often than not have to remove a couple of wraps in order to then lower the log, unless it were extremely heavy of course. However, on this occasion the ground-worker forgot the second part but I should have really glanced down to make sure anyway. The rotating log kinda looks like a big fish swimming around a very vulnerable prey….and don’t be fooled by its appearance on the clip, the wide-angled camera lens really squashes everything in so it all appears much smaller than in real life. WARNING: The latter scene contains bad language so don’t watch if you're easily offended. Unfortunately, these things slip out in the heat of the moment. Thanks [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KKVU6F3VU8Y[/ame]

Good work and video Tom!

So not to appear rude, Thanks Ed.... but this thread is tired mate, and I'm sure your questions have already been answered, I'll pm you if not Cheers Reg

Dean, the pictures I left out were even worse. Re: the getting my face sliced scenario – having worn it today, it seems not only unlikely but would also require a very unusual set of circumstances if safe climbing practices are adhered to. Treewizzard, you get both the clear and meshed so a person can use which ever they’re most comfortable with….and little less cynicism please. It was raining for of much today, yet the clarity of the visor remained more that adequate for this climber….I would have said so otherwise. If the visor does happen to get badly scratched or damaged, so what, it’s just a visor, much like a pair of safety specs, just buy another. FWIW it did get bashed a few times today as the tree was quite compact and congested….but it held up just fine. However, if it fails tomorrow or at any time within the next 3 months, of course I’ll post about it. MisterT, I think its one or the other visor as far as I can see. Highscale, I haven’t actually paid for it yet….I used the ole ‘must have left the wallet on the kitchen table’….old ones are always the best Carl:sneaky2: Re: changing the earmuffs etc, I only just used it today and had no reason to think along those lines. For any further technical info at this stage, ask Jonsie….he’s the man! I'm simply passing on my first impressions upon using the helmet today, which just so happen to be good impressions, thats all. Thanks.

It’s always pleasure to give due credit to a good product and this one is no exception. While I’ve been disappointed by similarly modernized climbing helmets in the past, and have twice now had to revert back to my traditional style peak-less husky….finally, I’ve found an Arborist helmet that’s ‘right on the money’. Compact, ventilated, well balanced and secure, the Stein Arborist helmet comes with a clear and/or mesh visor which are easily swapped in a minute or so. The clear visor is also available smoked, although I personally didn’t bother as sunlight is hardly an issue at the moment. The visor is close fitting to your eyes and bridge of the nose, yet is well ventilated to keep it from steaming up. The helmet is available in a range of colours. I’d hoped for sky blue after Manchester City football club but this was as close as they could offer. I hate spending spend money on climbing-type gear….slings, blocks and other rigging essentials yes but I have little enthusiasm for climbing stuff. However, my husky was well past its use-by date and the salesmen assured me that this particular helmet was a winner and that I would not experience the same dissatisfaction of experiences in the past. In summarizing, if a genuine, working Arborist didn’t have a hand in the design of this helmet then whoever’s behind it got dam lucky!

I've used a ratchet strap as an extension to the Hobbs strap and it was fine, as are many a home made bollard that you see floating around on the net....but the straps are all similarly applied where both ends are terminated at either side of the bollard, which are also designed to remain static against the tree under loading (hence, the stress is uniformed where the strap is attached)....unlike a porty-type design which flops around. To simply run the strap through a porty is asking for trouble. A good analogy would be like trying to pull a piece of paper apart as opposed pulling but also adding some twisting action....obviously the latter would instantaneously start a tear. I heard just recently that a new lowering device might be in the making, a step up from the porty if you like. I'm glad you're alright Sam

Thanks again Perhaps a good not to end Andy....pretty positive thread all round! Come on now, M.B, SteveBullman your turn to go in the middle in the middle:001_tt1:

It not an exact science, just adding support where it’s most needed. Almost all of the other lifts were balanced with but 2 slings placed next to one another, for my own convenience….obviously it takes experience to recognize the balance/attachment points. However, the limb at 5.30 in the vid was the longest and required the furthest extension of the crane….I left it till the end to make sure the operator was well groomed by that stage as I’ve only ever worked with the individual once previously which was a couple of years earlier. Anyway, a little sideways roll on a horizontal is usually nothing of great concern but this one was weighted in such a way that would have resulted in a considerable jolt on the crane….all things considered i.e. the weight, momentum, multiplying of forces, the crane at full stretch….extra measures were definitely needed. 4 dead-eye slings were used to cradle (often referred to as spider-legs) the limb. http://www.honeybros.com/gbu0-prodshow/HB91PA.html Countering the seesaw (butt to tips) effect is relatively easy, but the sideways roll can be a little more challenging to stabilize. In this instance the crane/hook was positioned slightly favoring the most weighted side of the limb but just beyond where its spine ended thus splitting off into several sub-laterals. The slings were appropriately positioned to counter the opposing sides but because the hook had now over-run the longitudinal-balance-point then a sling also had to be set further towards the butt to compensate for this. The slings were attached using up any excess with half-hitches and then finished with a running bowline or timber-hitch. When multi-slinging, its important that the hook remains in its original position when you tie off the slings i.e. if, when attaching the first one you pull the hook off-centre, the others can become somewhat redundant because their support of the load will be diminished due to the changed positioning of the hook. Also, for any lift, one should always allow the crane-op to position the hook before attaching the slings…..never grab/attach the slings until the hook has settled where you want it, or chances are it’ll be in the wrong position and you wont know until the cut has been made, after which the load can dramatically shift in any which way or direction. About 6-10in of lift was applied to that limb before it was cut, I checked that the tension on each sling was equal as far as I could tell. The cut was made from two opposing directions, first the top then the bottom, meeting somewhere in the middle. I watched each cut carefully for signs of compression so I'd know which one to finish with, or/and incase the tension needed further adjustment, I finished with the undercut and it actually came off pretty good. I hope that helps Craig While crane work might look like fun, and it can be for sure….there’s a very serious side to it where just a slight mis-judgment can lead to catastrophic and fatal consequences. One should be a proficient rigger before taking the plunge. And there’s no better place to practice/build up to crane work than during day-to-day rigging practices….many of the same principles apply, only, for the best part, branches are heading in the opposite direction….although the Hobbs and GRCS etc add yet a further dimension this. Been at the dentist this morning so I’m glad I only had to write this lot as opposed to speak it. Thanks again

There was probably about 17 as I had to clear a couple of small ones from around the tie-in point plus one more large horizontal but which was zoomed up too close on the camera so I left it out. In truth, I spent most of the job with nothing much to do since the guys weren't untieing the slings until first stripping out the limbs and then craning the logs off to the side. On all but two lifts, my slinging involved minimal fuss, so the rest of the time I was a mere spectator! I dont know about the exposure on the camera for sure although I very much doubt it. I'll have a look though later today. Thanks

Same company but often different drivers and cranes. Thanks

Thanks guys Pete, we used only 2 slings for all but 2 of the lifts which needed a little more care....but even then an adequate arrangment is usually pretty easy to recognize when you're up there The only problem I had on the job is where I'd stabbed my knuckles with a silky the day before. The top of my hand had swelled up like a balloon by the morning of the job, so much so that I couldn't even make a fist let alone grip the rope....hence the gloves