Will Hinchliffe

[ame] [/ame]

Very good, whatabout this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E-pHM:001_smile:

Me to.

Thats a great idea, super cool.

My tree austria keeps doing that to. I keep meaning to get some velcro and sick the spare stuff down with it.

Hows about Carpinus betulis 'fastigata' ? Oh and beautiful bit of vetrinisation:confused1:

Cool photo set. I like the use of the rigging plate to attach the two slings to the vertical section and also the splitting on site.

I found some cord for my footlock prusik at work, its white and blue, 9/10mm works well. I always assumed that rock climbing accessory cord would glaze really quickly, ive not seen any that really appealed to me.

I am such an amateur:blushing: Please ignore my advice

Were also keen on leaving an access line in the tree for rescue on larger trees. It really doesn't get in the way on most trees. We leave a set of kongs clipped to the line, so its ready to go.

Guess it saves a bit of messing about with the throwline if you dont have to isolate the branch and that is very cool. Do many of you lot have dedicated static lines for SRT/ footlocking ?

That badgers head burns bright

So what SRT gear did you buy then? If you tie of at the bottom to a lowering device for rescue you need a rope more than 3 times the height of your anchor point (or a joined rope) and it doubles the loading on the anchor. Seems like a running bowline choked to the anchor is the simplest. When you footlock there doesn't seem to be the need for a built in rescue system. I would love to have a proper go at SRT I think in my fantasy system I would tie my VT and sit the pulley above the chest ascender (not clipped to me). I would choker the climbing line to the branch with a caribener through the eye. then when you get to the top you ditch all the Srt gear and your VT is already on the line ready to go. Will

We have done this a few times recently. The thread is standard. The bearing and housing comes of with a 3 leg puller. My workmate got the rear shaft out with a stilson and scaffold bar but he had to heat it up with gas first. If you can get the slot in the fly wheel over something solid. My boss got the replacement bearings for half the price of the timberwolf dealers from Vaughn agri in Standerwick (Frome). We ended up taking it to Lister weilders to get the bearing set perfectly as we didnt have any shims. Apparently when you spin the fly wheel and it stops it should go back a quarter turn if its all set right. We spent some time hitting the bearing housings with a nail bar and a sledge to try and get it all setled but without the shims it just wouldn't sit perfectly. Good luck.

I want some new friction cord. A couple of bits for my VT and about 3.5 meters for a footlock kleimhiest. I wanted to get tennex for my footlock doobrie and some 8mm for the Vt. I have got beeline and ultratech at the moment but quite fancy something new. I was going to buy from proclimber but they want £9.50 for postage.

Thats really cool, chain speed is a bit low. The future ?

Arbtalk: Interweb cottaging at its best.

I am also studying for the tech cert but have little experience with decay detection. I'm going to add my bit though because it is good for a bit of exam preparation. There are limitations with all devices marketed as decay detection devices. It is important to understand that most do not actually detect decay. Decay detection devices are mostly used to make an estimate of the dimensions and quality of residual wood where a cavity is suspected. Many other factors must be considered to determine acceptable residual wall dimensions for tree retention. The limitations of the internal investigation techniques must be fully understood by the user to allow an accurate report to be completed. To overcome the problems of individual decay detection devices two investigations using different methods are often used. A core sample can give an accurate measurement of the residual wall at the point it is taken but it is necessary to take multiple samples to get an estimation of the shape and size of the decay pocket. Core samples are invasive but allow for inspection of reaction zones and growth rates. A fractometer can be used to measure the bending angle and force required to snap the core sample but to expand on this measurement to give an idea of overall tree stability requires consideration of so many other factors that it is not practical. Drilling with a 4mm bit is invasive but can yield a range of information. Resistance to progress of the drill bit is felt and interpreted by the user. Shavings can be collected at measured depths and can be investigated further. Acoustic testing (mallet) can indicate the presence of a cavity and its location but further investigation is often required to justify retention of a tree with potential targets. Shigometers (and Vitalometers) measure electrical resistance across two points very close to each other. Resistance is higher in healthy cells, decayed cells have a higher concentration of inorganic salts. The probe can be inserted into a drilled hole and the resistance measured at intervals. Changes in readings may indicate decayed wood. Dry decays can give false readings. The Shigometer is not widely used. Digital microprobes measure the resistance to penetration of a 1.7mm blunt probe. The resistance is recorded graphically and digitally. The resistance to penetration is measured very accurately and growth rings can be detected. The problem is that the probe does not always go in straight and may bend. Multiple measurements must be taken. Resistographs measure resistance to Torque of a 3mm probe with a cutting tip. Early detection of Ketzshmaria deusta is often missed. Widening of growth rings provides less resistance to the cutting bit and this can be misinterpreted as decay. Deflection of the probe can also occur. Fungal colonisation through the breached reaction zone has been shown to occur so this should be considered an invasive technique. The Picus measures the speed of the leading edge of a sound wave as it travels through the tree. By using multiple sensors a matrix of sound attenuation is recorded. Using the speeds relatively computer software is used to create a map where colours are used to show areas of different sound attenuation. If a stem is evenly decayed the software may show the whole of the cross section as healthy wood. Ring shakes can also distort results. Thermography uses an infared camera to detect the surface temperature of the tree. Uneven heat distributions are associated with degraded tissue or cavities. This system does not provide an estimation of residual wall thickness, but may help in targeting other investigations. Would you include anything else in the decay detection topic? Tree statics, VTA ? Please feel free to point out any false statements I have made and any criticisms.

Im going to have a think about getting a couple what should I look out for ? I think I would like to do purse netting.

How do you avoid feeding them on bunny, is this about the time of year you put them down the hole?

I have always wanted a ferret. I went out ferreting once when I was 11 but have had nothing else to do with it. Is it a best to keep a few ferrets or can you get away with just having one ?

Im up for it.

Excellent thread comrades!

Freda and Agneta