Pedroski

cough splutter..... $425!!!!

Hi Oldmill. I did reply to him on the thread I started that he posted on. I'll drop him a separate line. I'm pleased to say that the landowner has given permission for us to use his trees so I just need to sort out a date and time that suits people. Also, I'd like to get a couple of experienced climbers along. Thanks.

I saw a bear only last week toting an AK47.

I think you can claim vat back on MTFU cream as well.

Signed and shared on FB. Here's a plan, chuck Nicolas van Hoogstraten out of the country so he can stay permanently with his bosom chum Mugabe, and we'll keep Gari here. That'll make this a better place for many.

Also..... they don't show cash squirrelled away in places. A person we work for owns a limited co, and on paper the limited co looks to be worth not much, with assets being balanced out by liabilities.... yet he recently bought an apartment in a rich arab place, a couple of hundred k on a car and heaps of other stuff. Minted. But still tries to knock money off what he pays us.....

Shoulda ordered from Lawson-HIS. £10.19 + vat, or if you buy 5 of them then only £9.74 + vat. Delivery charge same as Machine Mart. Always worth checking Lawsons-HIS - I've had boots and things from them before, and not found anywhere cheaper.

David, I'll sort some pictures out as soon as possible. Hopefully something by the weekend.

Olive oil works well too.

Forgot to say, the ASAP is a massive hunk of mechanical stuff.....the Rocker is so much smaller, lighter, simpler and user friendly.

Kamilosan works good.

No. It applies friction in exactly the same way as the RW by bending the rope into an 'S' shape, however it grabs the rope harder when fully loaded by having a cam that "rocks" and clamps the rope. This is why it also works for fall arrest and works for work positioning without requiring a friction hitch. Provided it's not loaded then you can move it up and down the rope as fast as you like with no drag.

Hi Ian. The SAR Rocker is exactly same as ISC Rocker (and Troll and Yates, which are both made by ISC). SAR is the name of the company of the fella that designed this particular device. They make a wide range of access, climbing and rescue equipment, and supply stuff to the likes of AAK in Norway. I can't think of any reason why it shouldn't be possible to pull a hitch up under a Rocker in the same way as the RW. I'll have a play with this and see how it works. One thing I do know for sure is that it only takes a few seconds to attach and remove mid-line, and I certainly can't see any problem with quick changes from DRT to SRT and back. Depending on work commitments over the next couple of days, I hope to get some more play time!

Great vids Ian. But I've just got to mention something that I've mentioned a couple of weeks ago in a thread I put up concerning the SAR or ISC Rockers. These are like 50 quid (as opposed to £90) and they are designed and properly approved for work positioning AND fall arrest without rope damage, and is a proper piece of PPE. They run free up and down the rope, completely self tending, simple and easy to operate with gloves, they can be locked in place on the rope, they hold the rope properly well for work positioning, they engage dynamically in the event of a fall, they can be held in a neutral position for fast movement, they bend the rope into the same S shape as the rope wrench, they can be attached mid line (without having to spend more on a special pin), they are recommended by AAK Competence Center in Norway for work positioning etc for arborists. Maybe I'm missing a trick here, I don't know, but I can't see anything that the RW does better than a Rocker in terms of work positioning etc. All I see is an expensive device that might not grip the rope in an uncontrolled descent and that isn't an piece of approved PPE. I've got 2 rockers here, and I'd be more than happy to get another one so I can let you have a go - I am just really curious as to why the Rocker is completely ignored when it's something recommended by an organisation like AAK Competence Center. I've mentioned before, I climb mainly for recreation and for doing pruning work with a Silky, but I can't see my needs being any different from someone working with a chainsaw. P'raps I'm missing a trick, or p'raps marketing and lack of knowledge of other devices is swaying people in direction of RW and ignoring everything else.... I dunno.

You be careful on them there poles. A bloke down this way died in October after climbing 50ft up a pole and falling backwards. And he wasn't drunk. Inquest hears how partygoer fell from 50ft pole (From The Argus) As well as climbing trees, I like the walls and have done southern sand stone a few times. Really need to do more. Two of my daughters climb and have a lesson every week now so I've got a good incentive!

Nice Escort in your av, by the way. I love 'em - proper car that.

Not at all. Water based acrylic adhesives are what is used. You're probably thinking of flour and water like what we used as kids in the olden days!

ah, yep, it was the early polycarb helmets that solvents didn't agree with. According to SNELL, polycarb has come a long way since the early days though and I'm not sure if this is still an issue or not. Most stickers for helmets and cars and stuff now use waterbased acrylic adhesives now anyway, as opposed to solvent based contact adhesives.

The stickers affecting helmets issue, as far as I know, comes from motorcycle helmets that are made of fibreglass and various composites. These can be weakened by solvents in some adhesive. I don't think the same is true of yer typical polycarb or plastic hard hats.

Money

I'd have Dr Pedroski on mine, and my qualifications PhD and BSc plastered over it.

1/10, missed a bit, right hand side sticking up vertically. He'll have to re-do it

Helly Hansen do some great technical ski socks with merino wool. I find them perfect with boots and they don't have stupid big seams across top of toes like typical work socks. Over time, though, feet, just like hands, do toughen up.

Ah, and instead of a bulky lumpy bowline that gets all in the way, use an anchor bend instead. It's much sleeker and cinches tight properly. Just make sure you tie it properly. I understand that using an anchor bend enables the SJ to be used proper like.

Sam, are you going to enter the race to see who can descend fastest?