Rupe

I'm unsure too, so am equally happy to learn something. I agree with what your saying peter. If you apply the same load through the pulley then the sideways force is less. But to achieve the same tension in the line (before any load is carried) is less efficient when tensioning at the ground so more force is required overall for the same effect, but yes there still would be less sideways force, and if the ground tensionign was at an oppoiste angle to the load then it would create downward force only.

Ok, I see the edit. now, so the sideways force is decreased due the downward force cancelling it out?? Is that correct?

I'm not sure about that. My simple mind thinks that tensioning at the base of the tree is less efficient, so to get the same tension in the speedline part of the rope, more tension is required to be applied at the base. This then means there are two forces acting on the top of the tree, these forces may partly cancel each other out but overall I think the force would be greater. As I said this is only my perception, I may be wrong but I'd need it explained to me in simple terms to understand.

90 minutes of grown men pretending to be hurt, no thanks. At least in rugby they pretend to not be hurt!

I should bring you your ascenders back at least.

I do agree, reductions are in the most part pointless form the trees point of veiw, thats why I don't really post pictures of such work. Also I always forget either the "before" or the "after" shot! In small gardens its the customers desire for something that creates the work, not the tree itself, we just provide what they want. The only surprising thing here is that I got the job in the first place, I explained my prefferred method and they went for it, so the tree got a gentle touch. Its not often that that happens on these smaller jobs where folk just want more off for their money. Good for them I say, and they are v. happy with the results and thanked me for not ruining their tree. Very occasionally the public surpise me and it has cheered me up this week!

I think I'm on another stag weekend, will check!

Is that the AA show one?

Yes, hope so. I fully intended to come on sunday, but did myself in due to the heat really! Did 2 thirds of the welsh 3000 and felt like crap, so I went home!! Took till monday to feel right again!

660 with oversized drive sprocket and 20 inch bar for everything?

I wanted to call in on sunday, but I made myself Ill in north wales on saturday and went home instead!

You not competign then Peter? How many did compete?

Isn't this what we do for a living? The ££££££ are a vital part of that.

For one time only I'll put up boring pics of a reduction. This was previously reduced 10 years ago, had recovered well with a little decay but getting bigger and denser. Customer had already obtained full permision for 3-4m reduction all over but I said I wouldn't be that harsh, just remove long leaders thoughout and lift and thin etc. Got half a truck full of chip off it, but only really reduced the overal size by small amount.

No, you can leave your mouldy helmet where it is thanks.!

Yep, figure 8 "should" be backed up, I don't always though, and a munter is even more unsafe. Simple decision to make really, or just use it very carefully. I used to use it often to come down the pulling rope before felling a stem, but am slightly more aware these days.

"Allowed" is deabtable. No ones going to turn up and tell you off. If you let go of the rope you will hurt yourself, and you know you would be in the wrong. Other than that, just don't hurt yourself. Its not a secure method, rock climbers would only use it a last resort for descending or belaying.

Good point. They were supposed to be attached with dowm head bolts with the nut on the outside but many were attached with waht ever came to hand. We have husky helmets that live in the chipper hopper for chipping, and petzl ones (without visors) in our climbing bags for climbing.

I think that in many people's minds the husky peakless IS still a climbers helmet. I've personally never owned or worn one, I went directly from earmuffs on a headband to a petzl ecrin roc in about '95-96. I have a good collection of old mouldy ecrins! Vertex is the best IMO. Unless you want to look like a power ranger, then go for the stein one, or "le helmet stain" as they say in france!

No, but, they are the only manufacturer (that I know of) that has cut the peak off there helmets with what looks like it might have been a jigsaw, cutting right throught the date stamp, and then called the helmet the climbers version. So the husky helmet with no peak and a chin strap is often sold as a climbers helmet. Or has been in the past, don't know if they still are.

I missed the last few pages of this thread but the start was good!! My thoughts are sometimes towards what the tree is going to be like to work on in the future. Lets say he's done a good job for the customer and has been paid etc. Its likely they'll call him back in 10 years time for more work. That tree will be a nightmare to work on then!! Even when we cut back trees hard at customers requests, we still bring the sides in and leave it managable in the future, that is as important as its appearance at the end of the initial works IMO. A Lime is better off pollarded and managed than reduced in this manner with the sided untouched, and reduction in height only is a poor job spec for virtually anything other than Leylandii. I had a look at his website and amazingly on the links page there is a direct link to this thread!!

Nope, ground use only really. Of course anything is better than nothing though.

I think bonuses should or could be given for bringing in (profitable) work, but not for getting work done quicker than estimated as that causes problems as raised above already. If you get a job done early then you get the reward of having a nice afternoon of washing all the vehicles, what more could a conciensus employee ask for?? Its all very well getting a job done quickly but if you haven't got another one available to book in at very short notice then its all for nothing. Soemtimes we have a pile of small council jobs that we can dip into whenever we choose but at 2-3pm its hard to find the motivation! Finishing a few hours early doesn't actually save any money anyway. Of course getting a job done a whole day earlier is a good thing as its saves a whole journey out to the job so that is a genuine saving, it makes it easier to book another job into that spare day and goes towards those wet days when nothing gets done at all.

Its not a climbing helmet. The chin strap (if you can get one) is next to useless and the helmets does not have the required side impact protection, put the visor on it and use it for chipping.

Smaller I think. I was looking from a distance!! Honest!