Mike Hill

Depends on where in the Country it is.I would be keen for September.

Leaving the limbs on top of the Hedge is wrong. But maybe the client wanted it "lower" and the climber took their time explaining why it would be a back idea........but thats what the client wanted and is happy with. Did you ask the Tree owner if they were happy with it?

We often do that on bigger jobs,especially if the wood is to be removed as well.Here the price for a 30 yard skip is close to a Ten yard one.Huge bonus is that sometimes if the Skip is passing the yard,the digger and tracked wheelbarrow goes with it to the job.

I found some old fire extinguishers in a layby the other day.I will try and turn one into a flame thrower that uses jellied Petrol and compressed air. I hate Wasps,Bumble Bee nests

Fun to use untill your mates find out?

Looks like a great job to me! Call outs at "double bubble" mean sunday roast at the Pub!

Yes,but in my head the timber frame would be demountable so I could replace it with the bucket for landscaping. Its all irrelevent really.Most of the people are keeping the Logs today.When we do remove them we cut them into rings and load them into the tracked barrow or carry them out with the digger.

I think the idea that I posted above would work for someone with the time and Steel to make it up. I have thought about making up a frame with a grab that uses the tipping assembly on the tracked wheelbarrow.Then you could grab the log,pull it back over the track frame and then back out with it. Long on ideas,short on time.

Imagine if you took the bucket off a tracked wheelbarrow.Then made a tow behind chipper with a removable chassis and axel. You could drop the legs down on the towed chipper,unbolt the cutting unit and engine from the chassis,drive forward and then drive the tracked wheelbarrow underneath it and bold it on. The you could have a tracked chipper when you need it and a two behind when you don't.As the tracked wheelbarrow would still have the tipping ram and frame,you could use it to carry the wood out when you had remounted it to the tow behind chassis?

I have a feeling that there are other factors at play. I am amazed that some of the Tutors and assistant tutors at the arb schools in the UK lack a solid industry background.Some or even many are not and have never been profficiant production climbers. When I went to "Woodsmans School" in New Zealand the Tutor was a guy in his fifties that had seen and done it all.He had started in the Forest as a lad,owned and run logging crews etc.We learned the course and more.He skimmed over the impractical and ephasised the applicable. In an industry that recognises experiance and aptitude over tickets and qualifications.Have we gone to far in our quest for "education"?

I like the Petzel Vertx Vent.I bought a new one from Jonesie with some grade five Ear Defenders.Total Brilliance! I wish I had used Grade five Defenders from day one,they are abit more bulky when the Defenders are off your ears and riding the top of your helmet.But the noise reduction when they are over your ears is supurb.

I don't think tracked chippers really have any of the problems you stated above Steve. They only rip up Lawns or paving slabs if you turn them in to tight a circle. Turning the variable track machines on hard standing is easy if you narrow the tracks in. I have been impressed with how little damage the machine does to peoples gardens,even when the grass is soaking wet.The weight of the machine spread out over two tracks is so much less than a four wheel machine.

Haha! I see Ronald Mc Donald.

Its Chestnut. It will be a mess of Epicormics next spring,but thats nature. I will be more than happy to take photos of my next Penis carving.In the States I felled a Tree for a freind,caved a Phallus into the last bit and left it covered by a Tarp.

Normally I use lenghts of Stactic Rope I buy from a Ships Chandlers.I have loads of these in different lenghts and use the ones I think will do the job.Usually I double them onto the stem and Timber hitch them.Some times I tie a double Bowline in one end and fit the pulley in that and timberhitch the Rest onto the Stem. When they get to knackered I use them for strops on Zip lines and things like that.I use slings somtimes to,normally of the kind you use to lift equipment onto Trucks. Most of my lowering kit is very low tech.

The Client wanted a seat on the stump.This is a unusual departure from the comic male Genitalia that I usually carve.

Actually..since I am waiting for my Ballistics to come out of the Dryer,if you have more rope out,ie al longer distance between the Block and attachment point.As the rope is pretensioned by the groundy prior to wrapping it in the lowering Device,is falling distance between the peice being lowered and Block negated some what by the rope "recoiling"? Not sure.

Swing Cheek pulley's are almost always used in any kind of rigging now days.You can install them mid line and on the ones used in cable logging you can replace or tighten up the bearings easily.Actually with the exception of the tiny Petzel fixed Cheek micro pulleys I think you would be hard pressed to find a light weight fixed Cheek unit. The ammount of distance you have between where your peice is attached and where the pulley is does matter,but not alot it you keep it sensible.In my opinion having a longer distance with some room for error if the hitch should slip or you need to clear a bump is preferable to having it in a notch or notches close to the end of the log. Limbing when Spiking up is a great technique in the right situation.However trailing 150FT of line and dropping all the branches onto it takes alot of the speed out of it.If I am Spiking up I normally wear my Rope in a Back Pack already attached to my Harness with a Fig 8 and terminated with a Loop Sling.If I should get into trouble I can choke the sling to the Stem and come down. Yes,even one handed. At the end of the day its up to me and you to choose techniques that we feel comfortable with.I have only been doing this 14 years now.Like anyone in this industry there is still alot for us to learn.

I think they look pretty good Mick.After some one asks for your card they seem to be seeking your number anyway. When I first got to London I had large business cards printed up,walked around St Johns Wood looking at Trees from the Street, noted the address and sent them a letter reccomending any work to be done along with my card.Had a few good weekends work with a hired Van and chipper.Untill Mr Tree Officer spoilt my fun.

"Polish Dave" my groundy,loves the "Gypsy Stick" so much he will even sned up tops with it.He locks off the Pota Wrap and then cuts off the Branches while its hanging off the ground. "Eeet saves your back Mike" As long as he is happy and uses two hands.....

Actually its probably more comfortable. No Doors to whack your elbows on.

This Video is a demonstration of the methods we use,it is intended to be a Tool for prospective clients to veiw our services. Here in Norway I can climb in cut off Jeans,with earplugs and flipflops if I want to.There is no legislation regarding PPE for ariel use.I use the techniques and equipment I feel comfortable with. If you feel comfortable with two hands on the saw all the time,then thats great and up to you.Like a Steering wheel in a car,there are times when two hands are appropriate and others times when one is ok.

The guy who made the Video composed the music so we would have no difficulties with copyright.

I agree with Stevies advice.Go and call a Lawyer. People like the guy you are dealing with must also have freinds that could try the same tact with you.If he receives a letter from a Lawyer then its a clear message to him and anyone else that your not to be messed around. Clients like him are clients you don't want.

Here is mine.... I was just a half second too late taking the last picture of it.