Dan Curtis

As you well know Mr Bourne, I'm currently a Unicender man, previously a rw/lj man, previously an srt access man. Srt access wise I've probably been at it for 3 years now, full time SRTWP since October 11, SRTWP rec climbing since August 11. I love the Lj/rw combo but the fact the uni does it so beautifully in one single item is fanstastic for me. I do have hitch withdrawl every now and then and give it a while on the rw/hc for about a fortnight until I get annoyed that a hitch won't self tend or gums up in the rain:biggrin: For me, SRTWP makes massive sense as I generally tend work work on trees of the larger end of the scale (not to say I don't do small ones too) I can access quicker, with less physical extertion. With a little forethought and careful throwlining, I can get my TIP, then direct my rope to my first work station, meaning I can start work quicker. Previous to working SRTWP, I was climibing on a LJ/Pulleysaver, and whilst ergonomic and user friendly, my body did take some abuse. I often ached at night, whereas now, I feel fresh of an evening. SRT means using your legs more, the things that have evolved to carry your weight, so it makes sense to utilise this rather than dragging yourself about with (relatively) puny arm muscles. With regard to climbing style, it's changed due to the possibility of redirects, today for example, I climbed a willow with the main top cracked out and hanging, and no central tips, I managed to tie in right out one side, redirect a little closer to the middle, then redirect over the top of the hanging top,to the point I could climb up and carefully bring the whole lot down in little bits. Ddrt I would've done it somehow, but Srt it was a breeze, with multiple suspension points in a structurally knackered tree. SRTWP in my opinion requires a retraining of the brain to route your trees differently, whilst being very careful of redirecting, understanding timber charateristics and most importantly understanding and having a working knowledge of forces in redirects. A little handy reading; http://vtio.org.au/Content/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Working-the-Angles-i.pdf http://vtio.org.au/Content/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Introduction-to-Redirects.pdf

Thanks for the links oxman! Gonna watch them tomorrow with a beer. Would love to have a climb with Jerry! Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Yup Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Very well balanced then. Its so light, yet feels solid, and accurate Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Do you mean between the bar and power unit or power wise? Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

I found that this morning, it seems to need a good warming up before use. Also the handbook says 9 pumps minimum on the primer for all cold starts regardless of whether there is fuel in the bulb, so perhaps could have been an issue with fuel being there with yours?

Thankyou:thumbup1: I too have a love of good photography, just wish it was a passion I could indulge/be any good at!

Unicender mate it was snowy and my hands were cold so didn't faff about too much getting a shot:lol:

Had it out today, took down a couple of manky chestnuts. The first was a pole to walk up and drop the two tops out of. I took the littl'un up to clean off the epi as I went and it did the job beautifully. Weight wise, it is barely noticeable hanging on your harness. Once up I had the intention of hauling up the big saw and dropping the tops. One wasn't too big so I did it with the 150, a little bit large for it but it managed. The only difficult part was getting the reach around to finish the back cut due to the bar size. (see photo- near enough full bar length from both sides) The other tree was a strip up, then dropped in two sections with a bigger saw. I was putting the 150 into ~7" wood at times, with no issues. So, the saw is beautfully light, well balanced and responsive. The power is there when you want it, and in the amount you expect from it. You do need a light touch cutting anything over 3", as there isn't quite enough torque to dog in and go. Luckily, I have no dogs on mine, so all's good there. You probably won't be chasing cuts or doing proper spears with it. But as far as using it for it's intention goes, it's lovely..............so far. Got some beech later in the week to do, so we'll see how it copes with harder wood.

I meant twelve who have tried both and are therefore representative in the survey. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile Sup

Done! Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Was it run from new on aspen or was a change made during its service life? Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Ha Jon, climbing gear I meant, for desertrat to try srt! I don't do that either mate:thumbup: Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Go on then, I'll bring some gear down:thumbup: Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

I understand that mate, but as you saw in my thread, brand new 576XP AT, drained 2 stroke, filled with aspen, no life in it. Back to dealer, carb cleaned, filled with 2 stroke, back up running. Makes no sense to me. But luckily, got a different 576 that does run on aspen so I'm happy:) Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

I'll do some testing if you supply the aspen and sort any necessary repairs:D Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

I don't in the 200 for various reasons. One; I've heard the rumours and I'm scared it won't like it and will die, like the 576 I had that didn't like aspen. Two; its the saw that I run most fuel through, so no worries with old or stale fuel, and the cheaper option. Three; generally, being up in a tree you're better ventilated than down on the ground so no worries about fumes-my main reason for using aspen in others. Four; if I did try aspen and it went bad, 200's are getting nigh on impossible to get hold of, and I won't buy a 201. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

I reckon so, at the rate mine is wearing, I'll be looking for a refurb by the start of April:sad:

Twelve people? Hardly representative of the srwp community Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Could do, I generally go for the silky up to 1", then anything over is chainsaw. Obviously a 200/201 is a bit much for a two inch cut so hopefully it'll slot in there nicely. Even better for those reductions where its mostly silky with a handful of chainsaw cuts, the 150 will not get in the way while not in use. Maybe this saw is not for everybody, maybe some people truly don't have a need for one, but for me and the work I do, it'll fit right into the team:) Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Let us know what you think of it

Sorry to hear that mate. This does pick up the ergonomic point well. How many people are switching to srwp and other more efficient systems to save their bodies? Hundreds if not thousands globally, so why should using smaller, more lightweight saws be any different? Work smart, not hard.

Pulley and hitch here, 5m flipline, 3 just won't do it. Plus with a 5, it's likely in a rescue there will be enough length to release without having to cut stuff to get me out. Touch wood. If you have one of the single eye fliplines, it gets around the problem of having a cutaway when using a flipline with a hitch, as the other end should still come through the pulley, depending on brand.

Not as yet, it's on the list. I'll give it a good run this week and keep you posted

10", could've had a 12 but the purpose of the saw for me is being small.