Al Duffill

Thanks all, some good ideas there👍

Hi all, We all know chain oil takes an age to fill a saw in winter because of the cold but can you recommend any that fit Stihl cans that will make things a little quicker, I’ve seen a Husky spout for winter but does it fit a Stihl can and is it any good, maybe you just do away with spouts and pour straight from the can? Thanks✌️

I’m in my 56th year Mick, I don’t climb full time anymore, the young uns do it now, I’m quite often envious, but still have the occasional work climb and reccy’s too, still love it.

The reason I “evolved” hitches and devices was to save my body so I could climb for many more years, as Dan said, to make things easier on myself. Every time I switched I found climbing became the next level up, apart from the ART, didn’t get on with that. I was watching one of our younger climbers having to advance with two hands, on the rope and hitch, and just thought how awkward and inefficient it is, I try and educate our climbers but it ain’t happening, I shudder to think of their reaction when I show them a foot ascender!! Some of you guys are tight arses, a zig zag at 50% off, was it one of the recalls?😆👍

Hey, does anyone still climb on a prusik loop/hitch? In my opinion I feel it’s a useful hitch to learn on and start climbing, which I did, then progressed to Blake’s, followed by the same with tending pulley, then switched to VT/SRT, the rest is history ( rope wrench, bulldog, rope runner), never went back to prusik or blakes. I find it hard to watch my much younger talented climbers still on a prusik and don’t want to change! X

As above, no doubt, ash with Chalara.

Defo Whitebeam ( Sorbus), top pic is yours, below a whitebeam photo 🙂

It does look like the soil level has changed at some point, that was my first impression before reading the replies, so this could rot the bark due to moisture and organisms at work. How long have your clients been at the said place, maybe it happened before they were there?

Hi all, Spotted this Kretch on a lime we were crown lifting today, the old blackened, dead part was indeed crumbly when crushed in my fingers, the new fresh fungi can be seen as the lighter, greyish growth. Thought it may be of interest for anyone trying to ID Kretzschmaria deusta. I informed the owner that a more thorough inspection would be advisable, we couldn’t do one as we don’t have the tech for such a detailed inspection.

Hi, the company I work with, Trees N Gardens, are looking to get a LOLER Inspector in, preferably before January 8th 2024, small company up-to 3 kits max, Warwickshire based, Stratford on Avon close by. Please call/message Anton 07866 778831 for more info. Thank you

Never heard that before, how and why would you do that?

I’ve just checked the packing slip, yes there’s an item number and all the manufacturing/certification is in the product spec on the web page, of course. I guess I’m so used to seeing tags on spliced ropes, hence the question. Sorted, thank you all 👍

Thanks Dan, I’m cool with that, yes it was by the metre, quite happy to climb on it, I just thought all ropes should be marked up, especially after reading this?

Ok, I don’t have any paper work with it ( apart from a receipt) but I know the manufacturer, type of rope but no idea when it was first manufactured because there’s no evidence for me, I feel a little unhappy about this, I thought all PPE had to be marked up?

Hey all, Do unspliced climbing ropes have to be marked up with a CE/ID tag at one end or is it down to me to mark up for ID purposes given that the rope is manufactured to the said safety limits and has no splice? I feel a bit daft asking as I’ve been climbing for 20+ years, maybe the grey matter is letting me down!😆