brachiator

I'm a qualified arborist and have been in the game almost 10 years and been climbing everything since I could walk.. I was shocked to see this setup at the latest climbing competition in Auckland NZ, Western Park, none of the contestants had climbed the tree yet and when I alerted the judges of the obvious hazard, I was pretty much scoffed at and actually told "did you notice the whole tree is dying?" which was not only not true but completely illlogical.., after pointing out that while the tree had minor dieback on the other leaders they still had foliage, this limb was dead as a dodo.. I told the judges how ridiculous and dangerous that is and that I would fail anyone who climbs the tree, I figured I'd speak my piece so my conscience could be clear. It was to my dismay when I went back the next day to see they had done nothing to ensure the contestants safety.. While the rest of the tree had slight dieback, this secondary branch of a topped leader was completely dead, and pretty much directly over the footlocking rope.. as you can see by the first photo it's not the kind of limb you want falling on you, in fact if I was pruning/removing the tree I would've of climbed the backside and removed it before doing anything else, amazing cause I asked a couple of bystanders and they were able to point out the obvious hazard to me.. not even arboriculture 101, thats just common sense no?? I know for a fact this wouldn't of been allowed under the supervision of my tutors who used to run the event.. very sad state of affairs as far as I'm concerned. I'm interested to hear ummm excuses for this definitely no justification in my opinion.

I'm sold, cheers Stubby definitely gonna give it a go my next saw, red's faster than orange isn't it

lucky you, still got one of the dinosaurs MS200T is about a third more powerful than the new 2stroke4stroke eco-friendly engine of the 201 which as a chainsaw is also far weaker structurally (in my experience anyway) let us know how ya find that new one, definitely had lemons out of the box, some just never go right/how they should upwards and onwards mate

as a fan of Tim Taylor's attitude towards more power aurggh rugh ruh ruh.. I'm extremely disappointed with the latest 020 (MS201t) I've always been a fan of the smoother husky cutting, but they've just never had a cool top handle, is it time to say goodbye to Stihl or are Husky under the same eco-regulations?? seems backwards seeings how you use more fuel going through a cut with that new saw, and the danger aspect of not finishing quick enough.. well, cant we just all drive hybrids or something ??

bits possibly third more than you think, you gotta love it and live by that rule, specially if you like your ropes to have a life lol.... (bit like slicing wood to fit your chipper without maxing it out (i.e stress and strain), seen some stress and then ive seen ropes take strain to the point of snapping, some stuffs just way heavier than you 'think', (communication with the rope man for anchor points on difficult trees is essential for me, i know from holding the rope on the ground, responsibility for climbers safety is on you! (i explain trees to folks in the same way, you can stress them but it'll recover as soon as you put strain on the tree it loses life) "if in doubt throw it out" Ross Smith, , alpine butterfly seems a pointless knot to me i use bowline with a bight for any midline knot (the marlin spike way) (not on the bight like they tried to teach at my school, that ones BS and cinches hard under heavy loads)

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDIQ0pcD3OY&feature=related]DMM Impact Block Configurations - YouTube[/ame] anybody used the DMM impact block?, i really like the look of the hole in the top of the spindle for a tag line, what a cool idea! at the moment i have the CMI one which i have no complaints about but always keen to upgrade if it's worthwhile.

Nice work on the cutting but all props have to go to the groundy on the rope, wouldn't wanna do that tree without a decent rope man, way to let it run mate

i have long and short geckos with the velcro legstraps, and leather footstraps, my only problem with the design is the wrap you put around the shank (way too much play... especially if your climbing around and taking pressure off, part of this is cause i wear hikers as opposed to knee high hard leather logging boots. im gonna get an aluminium loop welded onto the shank, see if that solves it. used to have the velcro footstraps but the footstrap is too low and stretchy and used to slip off the back of my foot. dont leave home without em

I have two sets!! I use american short gaffs for most work.. but i use another set with european long ones if dealing with thick barked trees or scruffy palms they reduce slippage (wouldn't recommend changing gaffs too often just cause of the shock force put on them. The short gaffs are much more supportive as your feet rest on the tree as opposed to balancing on little pedestals lol) what i've found anyway but each to their own.. P.S. spiking into trousers !!! you do know your pants have your legs in them right bud?

whats wrong with a biner on a bowline? (half hitch if it's big wood) you've just made things way more complicated than they need be... friggin arborists lol slings are the right way about it for sure, if time is money then slings are money makers!!! they're also the safest for awkward cut and holds (or big ones lol as much as your shoulder or anchor can take) I love slings!!! cant understand why so many climbers prefer ropes and tie knots, if anyone wants to enlighten me in it not just being podantic and time wasting? p.s. i always load my biners the right way i.e. gate facing out, half hitch on big wood and pull to bite in the correct spot, so tell me how or why a knot would be better, im open minded lol

is that left handed cause i like to tend my prussik the other way and then crossover's at the front? so many variations think i've tried them all lol ended up with four turns and two wraps and short as possible, that depends alot on your weight and climbing style tho.. you should experiment ..on the ground obvioulsy

thats stupid as, good one is ten ft (the Retreever) otherwise your just using a stick to switch channels on the telly. (that guy in the video looks like hes bed ridden!!) go hard or go home

as far as i've noticed there's three obvious design flaws with the 200 1) air filter cover too square (looks like they fixed this) 2) weak chainbrake handle connection (this too looks stronger on the 201) 3) part under exhaust (ive noticed heat weakens this when you go to hard out and it heats up, then you have to replace pretty much the whole cover if you don't wanna get burned) the main problem is how used to any tool you get and when they change it (even for the better) it takes a while to get comfy again. when are they gonna release the light sabers!!! (health and safety's worst nightmare)

Left Handed Scabbard at bottom of page (I'm sure someone in the UK must make them) Scabbards : Hand Saws : Wood Cutting : Tools / Saws : SherrillTree Tree Care Equipment can't beat this scabbard, holds my Zubat 330 & secateurs upside down

make sure to visit McLaren Falls Arboreteum (in Tauranga), also Eastwood Hill (largest in NZ) is fairly close by. (they'll let you climb at both)