Mark Bolam
-
Posts
30,057 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
340
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Classifieds
Tip Site Directory
Blogs
Articles
News
Arborist Reviews
Arbtalk Knot Guide
Gallery
Store
Calendar
Freelancers directory
Everything posted by Mark Bolam
-
This really F's me off. Excellent ISC swivel krab = £14 Petzl swivel = £30+ (no krab) It's all a load of you know what.
-
Matty, lets set up a workshop for these dinosaurs and make our fortunes! Apart from Mick Stockbridge. On that bike I reckon he could get to Ashford and chin me in about 25 minutes....
-
Needless to say I will buy a copy. Thanks fellas. (I'm not sexist. Linda, is fella offensive to lasses and that? I am quite old fashioned and from Northumberland.) PM me if I am being thick.
-
Much improved avatar mate! Shigo is the man, but his books are expensive, and hard going. Stick at it mate. I can lend you a few anyway. Bill 07958 508524 How's the green boiler suit?
-
Excellent. Will have one. When is the Stevie vs Frank bout? Capel or AA? Owe them both a beer, so need to check. Braveheart vs Clipart - I may open a book....
-
Has anyone got/borrowed/read 'The Art & Science of Practical Rigging'? Is it worth buying? I am determined to improve my rigging skills after years of cut and chuck and crash bang wallop. I still think too many people over-rig a lot of the time, but Reg's vids in particular have made me realise that decent rigging is often the quickest way of getting a tree on the ground. Positive and negative comments welcome. Cheers.
-
4 days in. Going ok, odd cranky moments and I'm eating like a horse with munchies. Saved £22.80 already I reckon. I AM A NON SMOKER!
-
Think all climbers should know the basics, prussik, blakes etc. before using pulley systems. Then they can appreciate just how much things have improved! Don't get me wrong, I was a both rope ends / prussik man for YEARS just because I learnt my stuff alongside a very non-progressive climber. It pains me to think of all the unnecessary torture I put myself through. Lucky I'm not still using a bow saw.....
-
Great post Pete, thanks. A Silky demands the same respect as a 200T IMO. I've also stopped cutting myself since I started thinking like this!
-
Just leave them and let the more 'continental' style players pick up a couple of twigs every time they throw themselves screaming onto the turf whenever they even smell some boot leather. Be clear in no time.
-
It is such a great feeling to know there are people out there who studied and woken up to the same facts you have. Nice one fellas.
-
Got a smallish tree in my Father-in laws garden that is riddled. No targets or risk, so I've persuaded him to leave it as a case study to see how manky it gets. Can't imagine having no conkers!
-
Can't help you Matty. My new lowering style is all controlled and smooth after watching too many of Reg's vids. Not a shock load in sight... That 19mm double esterlon might do you. Nod at Treeworker would know. So would JJG I reckon.
-
Always wash my ropes using Dean's method, coiled in an electricians braid to prevent tangling. Come out gleaming. Sounds like you might need a big washing machine, though....
-
Looks like a nice job mate. Apart from the ivy. Love the cow shot! .
-
Er....think the factory wanted the work done, John. The Beech was consulted but declined to comment. If only they could talk...... How was the VT today Danny? Any slippage or have you discovered Nirvana?
-
Always thought it was 22KN spine loading for krabs, though I couldn't tell you how I know. God we'd be a useless bunch on 'Millionaire' wouldn't we?
-
Think it's also true that if you eat a whole packet of 'Space Dust' candy, then drink a whole can of Coke, then jump up and down - you will EXPLODE! Honest.
-
Crazy tree behaviour! Maybe something to do with water availability? Or maybe the trees have emigrated from Kent where people seem incapable of leaving them alone. They need a good lopping....
-
Rod you're not going mad, mate. (Well you might be, but not on this topic). Climbed a dead Willow last year. Aiming to get to a fork and lower each stem off itself. Got about 5 feet below the fork and the whole tree was moving and sounding really strange. Called the client out and said I could come down and not charge him, or launch the whole head into his apple tree. Did this and the Willow blew into about 1000 bits and the apple was undamaged. Still shudder when I think what would have happened if I'd gone for my original plan..... Gut=Good
-
Does it hold it's position well after adjustment? Problem with my Butterfly II is that the straps creep after each climb so I have to constantly readjust it. How are the quick release buckles holding up? They look a bit plasticky.
-
Cheers Phenom. I'll order one this week.
-
Had a Robin sit on my shoulder once. In a shed doing a chainsaw maintainence course in Northumberland in January. Probably trying to get warm! Good job John. I always find Ash tough to reduce purely because of the amount of growing points I snap!
-
Keep at it Danny, sounds like you're getting there! Use Ocean and Marlow, both ok when bedded in. Hoping to get some Armor Prus from NZ next month. Had the same problems with slippage at first - 4 wraps then keep adding braids till it doesn't slip. Jobs a good 'un. The VT / HC combo never seems to work for anyone the first time they try it, but it's awesome when you nail it. Sending a loop of rope down to the groundie and letting him pull up your saw is another great benefit!
-
Thanks for the input fellas. Groundie reckoned I was like a headless chicken today, didn't know what to do with myself when I wasn't climbing. Bait box was empty by 2pm. Some really good advice. Problem isn't really the nicotine as such, it's the habit of smoking itself. Walk round tree discussing strategy? Smoke. Come down for brew? Smoke. Pull away from site at end of day? Smoke. Need to replace those moments with something healthy. I'm not using any nicotine replacement products because as stated I think that may prolong the agony.
