Mr. Squirrel

Gotta agree with Scotspine. Safety is obviously important in this industry but I think a great deal of that comes from common sense and practical/logical risk assessment. Without that ability most of us would be dead or horribly disfigured, regardless of how much advice hse boffins had provided. That's not to say I'm against health and safety, on the contrary, but I think that most H&S guidelines and especially monitoring are pretty superficial and basically irrelevant. Ultimately I think if you lack that aptitude to look after yourself then you're in the wrong job. Climbing dead trees covered in wasps in a thunderstorm might be pretty dangerous, but it's also pretty cool. Next thing you know those bureaucratic boobys will be telling us we shouldn't be doing that! Pah!

How about width? The length of pfanners is fine, but their waist sizing is crazy, and the legs are based on the assumption your thighs are like tree trunks, and the same size as you're ankles.

What is the fit like on sip's? Of all the cutting trousers I've had nothing comes close to the pfanners for durability, but the fit is ridiculous.

So long as the anodising is colourful enough it's pretty much guaranteed to sell. Just look at zig zag, might well crack, possibly even snap. But make it gold... boobs on a hot plate.

Haha, they are pernikity wee things, for sure. I think mine is quite old and the spring quite slack, which makes kicking on and off much easier. Thinking about it though, when on my working line it definitely does pop out easier than on the access line. I guess it's the angle it leaves the pantin from, which if you're climbing srt and use it for most ascents might be a right faff when the tail of your rope isn't straight beneath you. I guess the clippy ones might not be all bad...

I use an old pantin and never really have issues with the rope popping out. I think if you get the technique dialled it's fine. I'd certainly view not being able to kick my rope out and get it back on hands free as more of a disadvantage.

Haha, been there. I was out on a limb and my lever fell off. The pin was still in place by the grub screw but the rest was gone, never did find it. Put an old short lever back on mine and never been a problem. I prefer them anyway for their resistance to the spider attack.

Maybe mine is just a duff first batch saw, I wish it came close to the 372! They are both stock though so perhaps I should look at tinkering a bit. I certainly wouldn't turn my nose up at a 560 with added grunt. And the 372, oooh... The noise they must make though? What talented individual 'breathed' on it for you? Ha

What have you done to your 372?!? 560 is obviously lighter with brilliant acceleration but is no match for a 372 when it comes to power...

Me too, I'm going to start using opposing snap gates instead. Sounds like interesting reading though.

I suppose that could be a bonus of the spikescender, given that is placed a little back. There is something really cool about a diy job though...

Free climbing, no question. Even with a rope it looked dodgy enough thanks. Watched the last few days on the live stream, it was like watching paint dry but completely fascinating at the same time. Amazing achievement.

But then the 560, even with an 18'' bar is, in my opinion, slightly obsolete in climbing. I do everything I can with my 200 & 14'' bar and then go straight to the 372 with 20'' for the big stuff. 560 is just a bit inbetweeny, and mine pretty much never leaves the ground.

Mine runs an 18'' alright. It isn't crazy fast cutting but it's certainly not bad

Bonkers! Well, unusual at least...

Come along now, you must be pulling our legs? Isn't that just silly? I lived in Germany until pretty recently and its certainly not common practice...

Yeah a friend of mine figured a snappy gate would be ok, until it unclipped itself and his saw feel out a tree. So long as it locks yer good.

Haha, thought given climbing out of the mewp and into the tree is a strict h&s no no I'd leave that out of this thread. However the only reason I've been in mewps is when the operator couldn't reach the backside/internals and have given me a lift to the upper crown to give them a hand.

Well now that is a sticky wicket. I guess all you can do is try and reason with them that mewps aren't the be all and end all, or start getting very imaginative with reasons as to why they are unsuitable for the job in hand. For every job. They might be great for wee trees, hedges and reductions but reaching the internals of a tree from a mewp is another matter. And the quality of work suffers I'd say. And mewps are girly.

Every tool has its advantages, drawbacks and place. Mewps are no different I'd say. Comparing them as being faster/slower safe/dangerous is totally subjective to the climber or mewp operator on the job, and pretty pointless. I've subbed for a few firms who use primarily mewps and while they certainly have strengths they also have disadvantages. Far from being a 'macho climber', I simply see a climber as a far more versatile way of completing a job.

I'd do exactly what the surgeon says, and nothing more. If they're vague see a physiotherapist, delivery but stages on the internet. I had keyhole shoulder surgery and was told not to even think about climbing for 6 months. Seriously mentally challenging actually taking that time out but it beats damaging the work done and having to go under the knife again. That might not even be practical...

Great posts and thread, the stigma some people associate with mental health issues is probably one of the greatest barriers to healing. Personally I think the complete opposite, some of the people I respect most in this world are people who've been pretty brutally honest with what they're dealing with. And those are generally also the ones who seem ultimately seem to cope the best. I've had at taste of 'mental illness', through certain events initially I developed anxiety problems. I was fine so long as I was climbing, but otherwise I sucked at life. That anxiety merged into depression until I hit what I'm going to call rock bottom. Certainly for me. I was referred to a mental health outpatient hospital by my gp and after seeing (and rejecting) a few psychologists found a woman who seemed to get me. It took time but I'm better off now than ever before, I'd say. Massive respect to mental health workers, and everyone who has the courage to accept their help. Meditation, or mindfulness, sounds a bit 'hairy fairy' but it certainly helped me cope when I was at my lowest. I'm not sure where I'd be today without that. Regular meditation actually physically changes your brain over time, which Ihad no idea of. It's a small act but it can have enormous benefits. Some doctors will throw a whole manner of pills about all willy nilly, and they certainly have a place but I wasn't going to go down that route. Meditation was my medication, is not a quick fix but it's a step in a positive direction, I feel. I'd recommend 'mindfulness, a practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world by Mark Williams and Danny penman' even if you don't follow the whole books programme (I didn't) the CD and some of the advice is invaluable. Just my 2 cent. All the best fellas.

I dunno, they're definitely easier on the body, but then they're faster too. So instead of spending half, even a whole day on a tree you can probably do 5, 10, more even. I reckon it'll balance out in the end.

Looks like a satisfying job!

I was climbing a larch when I was a kid and all four branches I was on snapped simultaneously. Took out a few below me as I fell but stopped myself with one very desperate hug. Stem is strong enough though. Similar thing with Douglas fir.