BenR

Yea sorry Steve, I've just read it again. But my point is.. I was that unexperienced person, who read about splicing on a forum, followed the instructions and did a splice, that follows the instructions exactly. Ive tested that first splice by putting 3 people on it. Ive also tried to pull it out gently under low load. If a splice is done correctly following instructions it is no different to a splice done by an experienced person following the same instructions. Maybe I could have explained myself better. So am I competant. Every splice I've done that I have climbed on regularly and has not failed would suggest that I am competant. And before, anyone says anthing to me with regards to complying to any BS CE blah blah blah, It has absolutely no influence on me whatsoever, because for the moment I don't work in the Arb industry. I climb almost everyday, but I have no qualifications, I'm entirely self taught as a Rec climber. I've never had a near accident etc.. I would say I am a competant climber, but if I were to work in the industry without tickets, Im incompetant. So in the context of the original post, I would use a whoopie sling! Obviously not one that has been used for rigging. But if it does the job why not. SLATE AWAY.

Does learning something from a book or an online resource mean I am incompetant. If thats the case, almost everything I know, I don't understand and am incapable of explaining or understanding. Surely competance means you are capable of doing something properly regardless of how you learn it.

unrelated to lichens, but I found this after a quick search on klinger: http://www.remineralize.org/saving_california_oaks.pdf and this http://suddenoaklifeorg.wordpress.com/ presumably his site..

Forest canopies is EXPENSIVE though! Hama has klinger published any papers on this subject?

Top post Mr.Tree. In one of Steve Sillett's papers, he mentions finding some sort of organism in the water of these mats (Can't for the life of me remember what) that only normally exists in sea water. Go figure. Oh and check this link: Error For an online key to identifying lichens Also : [ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pollution-Monitoring-Lichens-Naturalists-Handbook/dp/0855462892/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299101398&sr=1-9[/ame] This was a good one for my dissertation and has a good key too!

Yea, Im sure you know exactly what I was talking about Hama. But I just thought it was worth clarifying for the benefit of anyone else interested in the subject. Just a quick search on google for : 'lichens bryophytes and fungi management' The first link (other than the google scholar articles) This may give a bit of an overview.

I think it depends on the situation Hama. I would agree with you on the mosses because I think they require more water. Lichens however can completely dehydrate and survive for years in dry conditions. There are lichens growing in the Negev desert in Israel for example. One of the driest places on the planet. They rehydrate when it rains and then photosynthesise briefly. In the UK they are on most trees and get all of the water they need from stemflow when it rains. So I don't think that is any more damp than normal conditions. However, when you start getting mosses and actual brypohyte matts which retain water and can develop their own soils in the trees (Those Sillett papers we were talking about mention this) I would agree that the conditions must be very damp, which as you say favours pathogens.

To my knowledge Ed, they do absolutely no damage to the tree at all.. They can make trees look a bit messy though!

Thanks Hama, that really is a compliment coming from you. I live so close to you, I really should pin you down for a climb/foray sometime!

I would enjoy that too:thumbup1: I have much to learn!

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At around 3mins Taylor shows some ideas for the ringloop. I'm sure there are plenty of other great uses. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYHGg79dF3U]YouTube - multiSLING 2 with ringLOOP[/ame]

But surely testing a core is not representative of the strength of a branch as you are only testing the wood perpendicular to the branch direction? Forgive me if I have misunderstood, as I know very little of this type of subject.. I was thinking more of a practical test, anchoring two cut branches of the same diameter, one with fibre buckling one without and winching them both to failure and measuring which was strongest? Or is that too subjective? Due to differences in the internal structure of each branch and different small flaws within the wood? I guess you would have to repeat the test 100s of times.. Interesting subject I just want an excuse to snap some wood really

Sorry David, don't take me seriously. I'm in a stupid mood and a bit wound up with work. On topic however, It would be interesting to perform some tests on buckled and un-buckled wood of the same thickness and species. The trouble would be developing a fair method that could be practically performed..

Oooo! Nice.. Looks like a ribbed condom:001_tt2: haha:lol: Does this compressional fibre buckling increase the strength of branches or weaken them? Sorry to be so ignorant on such as interesting thread, but if you don't ask you don't get I suppose..

I didnt think holm oak was denser than water but I may be wrong. Box on the other hand is.. And for the record, I was only kidding.. Who am I to say what anyone should or shouldnt cut down

Ah cool. Will get down and have a look next time I am near.

Is that near roehampton gate sean? on the left as you go in beyond the car park? I may be completely wrong!

Speak to some wood turners about it. Apparently they like the stuff.. And shame on you if it is box. Box wood of 8inch diameter would be bloody ancient. Shame to loose such a specimen, if it is indeed box.

Yea I really fancy a double handle one. But its just more expense I can't justify, seeing as I cope perfectly well with the single handle. The only problem with basket or girthing the slings is it takes slightly longer to connect to the system.

Looks good Ian! :thumbup:If you can shorten the length of the cutaways to make the croll closer to your waist the system would be a bit more efficient because you could get a longer stroke before the croll gets close the the kong. I basket hitch my slings back to the large maillon connected to the croll.

I use a wire fid. There are some little tricks you can learn that help:thumbup1: As far as I know hadleigh (old snake) is the best person for advice.

Are you suggesting David and his crew don't look after trees properly:sneaky2: Fair point there Tony. Everyday is a school day for a beginner like me. They do look lovely though!

Dawyck gold fastigiate beeches look awesome! Would be my first choice for my own garden

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