hesslemount

I know this is symantics but are we talking crown "reduction" here or crown "thinning"? Reduction cuts reduce height of branch architecture whereas thinning reduces canopy density. Sorry not being an arse here just working it out. If it is a "thinning" then bravo .. the art of thinning is reducting by 15-20% without anyone realising you've been up there.

I was of the understanding that you needed to sawmill timbers on felling or soon after to avoid warp .. at least my carpenter friend tells me. Woodmizer that's the way forward ... a nice portable one

Just inherited an ART lockjack twin. Just for the record am I assuming correctly the following: 1) rope with spliced loops are no good. 2) you have to feed both ends of rope through after throw line installation (time consuming if using long ropes). Now I'm 100% for innovation and development in climbing but just can't see how the lock jack saves that much time if you do have to feed rope right through? Long ascents are few with working tree surgeons who use long extension ladders. The concept is great but the limitations of not being able to use spliced ends and having to feed rope through just turns me off a bit. Any comments? Desperately seeking good innovation!

Does anyone have a decent photo of the set up for a ART Lock Jack Twin used for the SHORT arm pull? Has anyone used this method in ascent? Is it worth it? Like the long arm pull but can only imagine the short arm set up is for branch walking with this rather unforgiving yet interesting piece of engineering!

Hi Guys Thought this would be of great interest. http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001h-O0HYk2hJnFw_bNMzeiDgMHK4hEx3Pl-V_l7DugEzzjEphx5cogibpfANfdc56kf-DZfqAIX_d3h5865Sd3JcVAOqOFU3aYbJ-wPbUISZX56Tgq8e4B0eZVXqmZWym9JQJ5iJ9zKD6MGZZLNSfaQNlD_p3wLHQfdb8VgPoBE18%3D Any comments in particular with which species of tree this technique would be most advisable? Comments appreciated

Spread the word Deer Man!!! How did you get one, how long did it take, under what circumstances do you get one, etc etc etc. This is great news. Living, breathing proof that we no longer need a waste carriers' licence. 13 pages of forum eventually come to fruition. Please post a comprehensive word in the forum so we can follow your example.

Here is my e-mail to the E.A. (see below) Dear Sir I am a sole trading tree surgery business operating within the domestic market. The majority of work I carry out is a result of my experience in ecology / tree surgery and of the advice I give the client as to the best course of action to be taken with the tree, bush or shrub. After my work is carried out I retain all woody timber >4inches for firewood and chip everything else through a timberwolf 6 inch chipper into my transit tipper van. All the wood and vegetation is processed on the same site where the work is being carried out (i.e. the client's property or roadside). All timber greater than 4inches in diameter is cut to 1 foot lengths. My ultimate question is am I elligible to waste carrier's exemtion as I am carrying a by product that is mine (i.e. it was my decision to fell the tree, remove the branch, etc). I was informed over 6 months ago by an employee of the Env. Agency that this makes a difference. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Business/wmx00v01mar08_eform_2004958.pdf.'>http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Business/wmx00v01mar08_eform_2004958.pdf. Also are my "arisings" exempt under para. 21; Recovery or Reuse: Chipping, shredding, cutting or pulverising of waste plant matter? See hyperlink below: Environment Agency - Paragraph 21 exemption If I am not exempt please would you give me reasons in detail. If I am exempt please would you inform me on how I register for exemption. I believe I can e-mail this form http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Business/wmx00v01mar08_eform_2004958.pdf to this same e-mail address as described on your website. I look forward to your reply within the near future. Yours Faithfully Richard Thewlis

The Last Word (But I doubt it) Please refer to the following hyperlinks to see if you're exempt and if you are to apply for excemption. Really guys you do need to know and if as tree surgeons we are; then put out the word, apply and get what you deserve. If the EA have decided our waste is exempt then the least we can do is honour them by not paying up! I'm appling and I'll inform you all how I went on. Just to clarify I've my own tree surgery business and my "reusable by products" are firewood (chocks noit sticks) and chipped branches (<4"). All firewood is sold or kept by me and all chippings given to schools for play areas. Watch this space Paragraph 21 (Exemption for Chipping, shredding, cutting or pulverising of waste plant matter) Environment Agency - Paragraph 21 exemption

I'm surprised that black pop's are so rare in West Yorkshire. Is this info credible?

Viburnum opulus no question: File:Viburnum 01.JPG - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Certainly never come across Laetiporus sulphureus on Tilia sp. before nor any other Laetiporus spp.. However the powdery rot especially at the base would fit with this especially if it's got to the heartwood? The fruit bodies are usually quite prolific with this species though, occuring May - Sep (ish). Maybe scrape a small fresh wound and see if a fruiting body materialises due to the presence of a fresh wound and O2. If it is Laetiporus sulphureus (which as I say is rare on Tilia spp.) then expect a brittle fracture and the tree to go if it's got to the heartwood. I presume the lime is Common Lime, T. x europea?

smart water is great stuff. the ink is forensically identifyable to you and you alone and it's hard to pick up without high powered UV light. What's more the forensics only need a small spot of the stuff to nail it. However you've gotta find the nicked chipper / saw 1st; that's usually the hard part.

Twin cab there's absolutely no choice. Kits stays dry, locked, out of sight (if blank windows in rear) and great for working the council estates. Can even opt to take out rear seats and bolt your van vault (outback) to the van using lockable loops so you can remove easily with key. I prefer less weight so I went against the van vault so I have to empty van daily. Make sure your engine can pull a full load & chipper. Ford Transits are amazing vehicles but are a swine pulling loads + chipper up hills. Tweek that fuel pump.

can you assess your own equipment when you've got assessor quali's?

DdRt = DoubleD Rope Technique aka Body Thrusting / Prusiking DRT = Double Rope Technique aka single rope technique with a belay back up or any climbing system with a SEPERATE 2nd redundant rope as back up. Tom Dunlap quoted it first with his usual necessary attention to detail in http://www.treebuzz.com/pdf/SingleRope.pdf I used single rope technique (S.R.T.) climbing huge 70 metre + dipterocarps in Borneo. SRT is only necessary in climbs above 30M as it takes time to set up and is more equipment intensive. It's how Industrial (IRATA) lads climb. It is way more energy efficient on climbs above 30M but up to this limit you're as well off with a long extension ladder and Ddrt - body thrusting.

Hi All Just to spread the word on some great new chainsaw boots I bought at a snip for £80 (inc. vat). Check them out see what ya think. Had them a week and very pleased and similar quality as Haix. Here's the link: http://www.bestinthecountry.co.uk/Cofra_Power_Chainsaw_Boot_7774.aspx Rich laola:

Can't think of any possible reason where a flipline doesnt help the job. Keeps your rope free from falling branches using only one end of the rope and you just flip it across and snap in ready for ascent with rope to next branch. Surely fliplines are always essential kit???

The fact that others have used a sling for longer ascents between harness and pulley pleases me ... as that's the solution I reached. I find that having to pull through the tail after advance is more cumbersome than a Blake's / Prusik hitch so will go with the sling idea. Think that's the best solution for now. Still think the only reason a vt or other self tending hitch is good is for leaving a free hand whilst branch walking; and for that it's great. Thanks guys and thanks in particular for the you.tube video of Steve Bullman on page 1 of this thread. Now I get it. Merry Christmas to all. My harness is hung up until the 5th Jan. Now where's that case of Stella?

I'm getting to my wits end with the vt despite having heaps of help on the forum. I get it for branch walking and one handed self tending friction hitch and in that respect it's great. What I don't get is using it whilst ascending. It just doesn't advance right without someone pulling the rope through at the bottom. I was told the vt stays about waist height and the rope feeds itself through. What I'd REALLY REALLY appreciate is some photo's of the vt IN ACTION: i.e. clipped on harness pre ascent and mid ascent. I don't wanna be beaten but I'm getting close to going back to my old Blake's hitch and to never return to vt world again. At the moment I'm using an isc fixed cheek pulley with 1.5M of 8mm aramide tied off with single fishermans onto crab. Go on make my Christmas. Please

Does anyone know of a process that can convert your usual chippings into fire bricks? The reason I ask is I remember about 20 years ago the cub scouts used to sell fire bricks made from old newspaper which they mached and made into bricks. With so many chipping generated by so many of us it'd be ideal if we could pioneer a nationwide project with an institution such as scouts whereby they could use our chippings to make fire bricks. I know the fuel pellet product is well known and established now so why not make "the fire brick"? I'm tipping that the hardest part of the process (and probably the idea's downfall) will be in drying the chippings. Just throwing ideas out into the mix here to see if anything comes of it. Anything which promotes our by products as a useable resource has to be beneficial to all involved.