Dom
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Everything posted by Dom
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Hi, I broke my ulna and dislocated my elbow about 7 weeks ago, have been out of cast for 3 weeks and doing a bit of hedge trimming and ladder work since, but no big climbs. Got a big old lump of metal holding my arm together. Have any other climbers had such bad injuries to their arms? And how long did it take to be fighting fit again? I can manage most tasks, but I don't think i'll be starting chainsaws in trees and dragging myself up 70ft of rope for a while. I imagine it'll always give me aches and pains, but how long realistically do u think until it'll be comfortable enough to use naturally and confidently again? Tis doing my tits in watching everyone else climb while I stand around raking up with one arm. Anyone had any experience of broken bones in tree work?
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Hi, Just wondering who the best underwriter would be to insure my new (well, it's new to me) BlueChip. It's securely stored in a big lockup, but would like to insure it, should the worst happen. Also would like to get the rest of my tools insured, would that come under the same policy as the woodchipper? Any thoughts or comments very welcome. Also, who do people recommend for Employers Liability insurance?
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Sequoia! So light and simple and comfy.
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How about a what makes an excellent Climber thread?
Dom replied to raafbeard's topic in General chat
Being consistently flukey helps.. -
Sadly this was when I was just an employee, so I had no say in the matter. If it were down to me, I would have left the trunk standing.
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I hid from the rogue snowmen in my igloo.
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Here's one I reduced earlier:
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And a nice dead poplar takedown from last summer. Tiny dropzone, speared everything straight down vertically. Great fun
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A gnarly dead ash takedown from last year. The most of the main limbs and trunk were totally hollow, with about a hundred years worth of silt inside. There were wasps nests, numerous ants nests, loads of woodpecker holes, and inside the limbs we found a perfectly preserved owl in the silt that had probably been there for decades. Not got that many photos sadly.
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Looks like a great fun takedown. How many days?
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Too true! I do occasionally use a sling and a carabiner to run a lowering rope through instead of natural crotches. Depends what is easiest at the time, but I do think that anything that is possible with the new methods is also possible with the old methods. Maybe I'm just lazy!
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I've tried a few of the new fangled methods and VTs etc, but for me i'm perfectly happy with 2 ends of my rope and a couple of prusiks. Never used a block and tackle for rigging, just 3 strand lowering rope with a couple of wraps around the trunk if needed. I'm a firm believer that the old methods work just as well as the new ones and simplicity is key. I've seen an excellent climber who just used one end of a 3 strand rope, tied his own prusik from the rope, no carabiners, free climbed to the top, bish bash bosh job done. I think a skillful tree surgeon should be able to carry out any work on any tree only using the old techniques. Once that's all been mastered, then maybe its time to dabble with the newer styles. But it's all about being safe and comfortable with whatever you use.
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I carried out quite a drastic reduction on one a couple of years, ago, its come back absolutely fine.
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I broke so many screens, and got so many screens full of dirt, I finally gave up on flashy phones, went to the o2 shop (horrible moneygrabbing multinational!) and just said I didnt care what the phone did as long as it didn't break or get dust in the screen. They recommended the nokia 5500 sport, was pretty cheap, has decent camera, internet, and all the usual gadgets. It's been dropped in the bath, run over by the van, squished by numerous logs while its been in my pocket, and dropped from heights at least a couple of times. It still works as well as the day I bought it over two years ago. I would imagine the nokia 5500 is quite cheap to buy now. Highly recommend it.
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I've been using a waterproof "Aquadry" fleece by craghoppers, seems to the the job admirably.
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The fear factor quickly subsides when you get used to climbing, but a little bit of fear is healthy, it means you check your rope and knots and carabiners. I subconciously whistle a little tune whenever I'm a tad bit nervous or feeling a little unsafe. I don't ever notice I'm doing it at the time but my groundie does, he calls it my thinking whistle.
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I only use gloves climbing on Oaks when I don't want to stain my hands with all the tannin in the bark. Best ones are the cheap £5 climbing gloves from treeworker.co.uk, really thin and lightweight, serves me well.
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sod that for a giggle..
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Cheers Mr. Ed!
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I did think it might be an old timberwolf, The chute is very similar and attached in the same way as other timberwolfs..
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Actually, not a briggs and stratton engine, its a 20hp kohler command. The bright yellow paintjob is the original paintjob, and Bear Cat chippers arent produced in Wisconsin. It's a 4 inch chipper, so it has no problem chipping pencils. Not bad for £900 with a brand new engine.
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Recently purchased this chipper/shredder. I know it's been imported from the US, and has a sticker saying it's manufactured in Wisconsin. But I can't find the make anywhere on the machine. And I need to track down some chipper blades for it. If anyone knows who makes it I would be much obliged.
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Anyone else stuck revising for this weeks AA Tech Cert practical exams when they should be sat in a sunny pub garden with a cold bevvy? I've got one more unit to retake, and then I'm a free man. Hopefully..
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I did a lot better on the practicals than I expected to, passed all but one of them, so going back this September to sit my very last exam for probably a long time. Time to knuckle down with the revision.. See you there!
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I've used the Buckingham Master II harness for the past 3 years, and would love to try another one. I'm sure it shouldn't pinch the crown jewels as much as it does, so I need to look for a safer, less painful option..
