WorcsWuss

I did have a search for a Dolmar but drew a blank, Makitas are a bit new hence I think a bit out of my price range...

I'll give that a try then.... recommend any?

How does it work? Do you just roll everything up in it?

Thanks Drew, will have a look and try that... Friction was definitely the main problem, followed a close second by pulling technique... both of which would have been overcome if I toughened up a bit! Fair point about the gloves, I have used 'sticky' gloves before but I do prefer these, I find them very comfortable and they're grippy enough for me.... To be honest, if I can't climb on them then there's something wrong with my set up rather than the gloves, I've never had a problem with my open system before... And ref Hitch Climber comments, of course, and it's not lost on me. So far as I can make out, the only difference between the HC Pulley and traditional is clutter on the ventral and the HC's natural ability to keep everything nicely lined up. In that respect it is just a slight variation on a theme, albeit one whichworks very well. I know that technically I was already a hitch climber on my open system!

My CS is a stitched webbing one from Buxtons, will a webbing prusik work OK on it? Plus I need a ring....! You'll have to enlighten me on an O rig Drew...

It's quite true, all these bloody no win no fee tossers are driving the cost of everything up. That said, for the first time in nearly 10 years, I actually got a renewal which went down this winter, from £340 to £240 I think ... which frankly bloody amazed me.... needless to say I still haggled....!

I have Petzl Cordex Belay gloves, love 'em... Not that heavy, just not tuned into this way of climbing yet I think, and my braking TIP did nothing to help! Yes and yes Rob.... I will try it again on the Croll with a short loop but I think a pantin will be a worthy investment, I do like using an ascender and a footloop... I'd like an adjustable CS... do I need to be able to splice to assemble the kits that FRJ sell....? As I see it, the main issues are the friction at the top of the system - this is easily rectified with a longer false crotch - and my technique. I will add a pantin to it I think, I do like kicking the line through with my foot and the system I have previously used doesn't seem very compatible with this, unless I add a strop in between the ventral and HC to position the hitch the same distance from me as my blakes was.... Experimenting is all part of the fun though isn't it!

Nooo! Not Fendts! Being British farming stock who want consumers to buy our goods we run Ford & New Holland, those now being the only medium horsepower mainline range built in the UK. Feels a bit hypocritical encouraging shoppers to buy British, then buying a Massey Ferguson, them having shut the Banner Lane plant and shipped manufacture to France... or McCormick, Argo having done the same but to Italy.... British built all the way for me! [if I was German though I'd run Fendts, lovely machines, always had a soft spot for them as a kid....]

You're totally in the right however it sounds like this is far bigger than you so they won't give a toss. Small claims court will be the route you'll end up having to take I suspect, if you can be arsed....

Think I've seen that one, is that the one where he uses Petzl krabs?

:lol:

Blakes set further away and tended from above on the standing part, pull down from below the hitch, easy peasy.... this pulling from above the hitch then manually tending slack is a bit new to me.....

You'll need some decent outriggers with a lot of reach, that will clobber your nose weight as well....

It all seems to be pointing to the reason I suspected...! Must try harder.... I think my TIP needs more care, as you say Pete, the harder I pull the tighter it locks... but mostly I just need to yank it harder.... funny, not normally a problem..... I will stick with it, I'm incredibly stubborn like that, but I'd like to be sure I'm not making it hard for myself!

You might have cracked it!

That was the end of it height wise, all snagged up in ivy and looked pretty dead above so didn't risk it. FS is is only 1m long. VT was good, 4 wraps 3 braids, ran well too..... Coming to the conclusion I'm just a drip....!

I think we need to see these modelled!

OK... first try on an HC today. Not blown away I have to admit...! Some known issues: Used a VT from a length of 9mm boa with fisherman's either end rather than OP - will be ordering a length of 8mm OP e2e pretty soon I think. Masses of friction at the top - I threw my cambium saver round the crotch but it's too short, so the rope was forced to run in an almost 'M' shape. It was only a couple of inches short but the rings weren't together. So at the very least I need a longer false crotch. However, even placing considerable blame on those 2 issues, I can't help feeling I have missed a trick on this set up. I found it nigh on impossible to make any progress up the rope at all. Using the 'all hands on rope' technique described in the HC guide I could move a little but not enough to get off the ground. So, what the hell is wrong with me? Am I just a total ponce who needs to man up and pull it harder, or am I missing some dark art...? Yours Confused and wallowing in self doubt. Worcestershire

Friend of mine who helps me out occasionally is a lighting designer and does, amongst other things, that one! A close second to the hi viz would have been to tag along to south africa with him and fatboy slim....

I'm hoping for a 'Strictly' one next....!

You know when someone gives you something and it's just the coolest thing in the world....? Well beat this...! [it's a genuine one as well, not something knocked up to take the p*ss!!! ]

I'll go with that one.... I didn't realise that sellers can only leave positive feedback for buyers, even if they buy something and then don't make any contact at all or pay for it.... And eBay won't refund your listing fee either when it happens. The only tool you have as a seller is to cancel someones bid if you think they're a shyster, which is tricky when there's no such thing as bad feedback for buyers.... The only actual tool you have is to block buyers with unpaid strikes, but even then the minimum is 2 strikes, not 1, and the maximum period these 2 strikes can be over is 1 year. Don't even get me started!!!!!!!!!!!

'I have pretty big fingers so it's hard to get them into a thin crack'..... 'purrrrr... show me...' Steady on love.....!

Jeebus.... mentalist.... And as an aside... what the hell is her accent..?!

Large portable fans - 110 volt and 230V ....?