Mike Hill

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.

Nice one mate! Liked that!

Nice pics mate! Good idea to have a second anchor and means of decent though.

If you are going to do an engine swap,consider removing the cab.Its not a big job with a hiab and once its off taking the engine out with said hiab or minidigger would be little trouble. I recently removed the cab on mine,I coded all the air and electric connections as well as photographing them.It made it a breeze to reconnect everything when you have codes and a lap top to veiw the pictures.

Well done you and your groundy for keeping cool! Hope you heal fast!

Nothing wrong with the Harness if you don't have Genitals or any nerve endings.

Knocked out the day early by doing half of the work yesterday. There is not enough fine weather here not to have a short day now and then!

Sounds really good Pete!Have you any idea of the BHP?Sometimes Tractor or Truck places have Dynometers,you might get it on one of them for the price of a few Pints.

What size Engine does it have in it Peter? Are you planning any "mods"?

Did you just take the backsteaks? To be fair I think this one and its mate jumped the fence at the Safari park down the Valley from this picture.

I bought my Mog ex Council from Germany.I went over there a few times looking for one and ended up spending 30% more than I had intended. They are complicated expensive machines and I felt more comfortable buying one off a established dealer than some bloke with one for sale. Like any vehicle the more you pay the better you seem to get. Unless you do the fixing yoourself,they can get expensive very fast.

That looks very smart Tom.I enjoyed the pictures of the loading and attempted unloading! How long does the Oak have to season before you can bring it inside?We are getting some milled before the end of the summer and I would also like to make a Table.The Oak has been sitting outside as logs for about a year. I am worried that once milled,and brought inside it may crack to bits.

Buzz could lend you some Cement. Probably fix it.