Rhob the Log

Now with CS41.

Bump.

Hello, Looking to join an efficient, experienced team for arb and tree work 3-4 days per week Wednesday - Saturday, immediate start possible. Full time possible with notice. Currently hold NPTC CS30/31 (issued 2011),32, 38, 39, PA6AW, First Aid at Work (2012), B+E licence and BSc (Hons) in Plant Science from Aberdeen university. I am a self-employed groundsman, can climb but relatively inexperienced on job. 3 years experience in woodland tree work working on an 80 acre estate (tractors, processors, bandsaw mill, PTO chipper etc) as well as a few arb jobs plus other estate, farm and nature reserve customers. I like doing a quality job and enjoy the graft. Have my own saws (560xpg, ms260, t540xp and 088), full climbing kit (HC and RW < vis. orangutan rescue with sawpod), 54" chainsaw mill, 1T winch. Ideally looking for groundwork and second climber work near Salisbury/Southampton/Romsey/Fordingbridge/Ringwood/Andover. CV available on request Call: 07724 242683 eMail: [email protected] or PM Thanks Rhob

Big shot sounds good, but unnecessary I think. The Orangs aren't climbing the emergent trees so much, sticking to the lower canopy of 25-30m so throwlinable. Depends on the skill of the team out here. Sounds like I haven't missed anything though so thanks for the doublecheck. On another note, Luke Dunlevy of Treestuff has offered to sell the gear at cost so I'm super chuffed. The UK branch of the conservation organisation wants photos of the kit in action so will get them a mention on that site and get them some pics for their own use. Seems a little one-sided but it's the best I can do. Not to forget it's thanks to Sawpod for getting me the initial contact too.

Hi guys, created this post in general, could you help out with any ideas? On a bit of a timeframe to get it sorted before i get swallowed by a volcano next week http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/general-chat/76722-srt-orangutans-kit-help-ideas.html Marcus mentioned the use of 4 krabs, more is better I know, but can't see where they'd be used other than ready for DRT switch over or backup. Would probably chuck in a foot ascender for if they want to switch to DRT too but kitlist remains much the same. Also, big thanks to Luke at Treestuff, USA for a discount and Di & Tony of Sawpod for putting me in touch. Cheers, Rhob

Hey people, Away travelling in Sumatra, Indonesia and have agreed to help a local conservation chapter of Orangutan SOS set up their veterinary team with SRT. Currently they tranquilise them from the ground and catch them in a big net at ground level; risky, I know. They have a rope rescue trained vet who wants an SRT setup for when the Orangs don't fall from the branch. It would also allow them to climb, tranq them in the siesta nests they build, and just generally do away with poor quality nets. Sounds good, provided they can setup and ascend within 30-40 mins before the anaesthetic wears off. Been in touch with marcus arb and have a general idea for the setup. Not used it myself, but the RW seems the way to go. Simple, quick ascent and descent kit, definitely workable for these lithe little Indonesian fellas. Been looking at the UK prices, and seems I could get the setup for around £650 + postage, and have asked a US company for a deal on it. Anyone got any advice for keeping the costs down lower? A kit merchant in Australia or New Zealand may be cheaper postage, but not sure on prices. Internet's really bad out here so hard to do the research. Already feel bad for lumping them with a Petzl Avio harness so if you could take a peek at the kit, tell me what I'm missing/what to cut out would be helpful. Current kit list is: Petzl Avio fast harness Rope Wrench Stiff Tether Petzl right hand ascender Petzl foot tape 2 petzl OK crabs 45m samson velocity 11mm static rope random lanyard kit number 1 (£50) DMM pinto pulley Petzl airline 10oz Throwpod Obviously it's jungle; more trees that you can shake a stick at, no lower branches below 12m, but lots of crowding and upright growth habit. Also 80% of the insects from the entire world so possibility of encountering nasty ants, bees, unidentified aggressive beetles etc on ascents. Orangs seem to be able to bend trees less than wrist thick at tips with their 120kg weight without snapping though so there's a lot of strength to the species out here. And 15" dbh in 2 years...wow! Any advice appreciated; sorry for the lack of photos, will update when I get back to the UK in September. Cheers, Rhob

Awesome. Good job

Good topic and good summary article gnarly oak. Had a look at some of my notes from Uni. The lack of air in soil occurs within hours of flooding leading to anoxic conditions whereby the roots and bacteria cannot take up O2. This can then lead to hypoxic conditions, namely the production of ethylene by the anaerobic bacteria that remain. Plants, and I stress plants (I did plant science, not forestry), not necessarily trees, have 2 ways of coping. Anatomical adaptation or biochemical: Anatomically they have the adventitious rooting, hypertrophy (production of a swollen stem base with air spaces), aerenchyma or, as in Alder and legumes, nodule formation with mutualistic bacteria e.g. Rhizobium sp. which are capable of using Nitrogen instead of Oxygen for ATP formation. Biochemically they can alter their form of respiration to anaerobic (fermentation). This results in a short term energy source resulting in survival during a flood period but requires lots of carbohydrates to maintain and creates harmful substances like ethanol as a byproduct. Where shoots are concerned, flooding modifies almost every aspect of their behaviour. Regulated by chemical messengers, interruption in root product and accumulation of products usually transported to roots may aid the affected species to acclimate or be injurious to its recovery and set lower limits to post-flooding performance. The important thing to note is that stress accumulates over time so with highly freak weather like these last 6 rainy winters we have to be expecting some noticeable change in tree health. I don't think entire hedgerows will be dying but the resilience of trees may be more at risk due to the quantities of toxins they've created, cellular adaptations they've made that are only advantageous when flooded and root death from anoxia & hypoxia. Cheers.

What the OP describes is screefing where you make a weed-free, overturned bit of soil with the bucket. Plant in that! FC have excavators that do this in the Highlands. I found last year that manually screefing/clearing ground with a boot before using the wee spade for slit planting resulted in no weeds/grasses growing within the Tubex so the trees weren't crowded out. Takes a little longer but definitely worth it if you don't want to de-guard everything and hand weed.

518Kg

Aye, they're a good bunch. Gave me a discount on a small order of parts. Useful with the stihl policy in effect.

Ian Leech posted this a while back. Haven't had a chance to read it. HSE lists most wood dust as toxic, but they're not all poisonous. http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wis30.pdf No idea on treatment histories from timber merchants...I expect not.

Quick search and seems it may be a benign bacteria affecting the heartwood. Shadbolt International - Ash Haven't found any other sources to back this up. In this case i may look to avoid treatment, particularly with what Pete Bannister's said although it's reading >70% MC at the moment. Last week's mill is between 46 - >70% depending on location. Given how fast the ash firewood I've been cutting recently is drying, may be that it'd reach 30% in a month or so, with 1/2" stickers between.

Thanks Alec, will get that done asap. Would be a shame to waste such lovely timber and resin injection may be an option for the shake if it stays structurally sound. Simon, have gone for Wykabor 10 (Wykamol) as it's suited to wet rot. £30 a jar. There was some talk of cheaper alternatives in another thread. Will report back when applied. Have 11 planks to do in total so will let you know the coverage I get...with a paint roller.

Wykabor is a pesticide for fungicide treatment Simon. There's a few threads kicking around - some spalted Norway maple for example. That's what made me think it may be necessary. I've only ever seen small pockets of olive ash, never right through the whole trunk so would like some input from people who've milled it before. Did speak to a guy at a wood fair who said quantity varies. Seems hard but there's a thick, fungus smell coming off it, different to clean Ash. Rhob

Finished off the butt, bar 1 quarter today. Looks stunning but, unfortunately, full off shake. Took 2 through and through off the top with the crotch, then flipped to, what I thought, was the shakeless side of the tree. Turns out the quartersawn boards are horrendously shakey also. Shame really, but plenty of useable wood. Any ideas what shakes dry like? These are about 4mm wide at points - will they get larger as it shrinks? There's a quarter left but I don't think I'm going to mill it. It's quite nice as is - rustic bench by a stream...in a sea of sawdust.

Check out next august in the calendar. It's a month with 5 full weekends, happy summer

72m

This one got taken out by the wind. Stump as follows. Hence the shake - the V of the branches came down sideways. There's all sorts of colours in it. Purple, orange. Really quite pleased. Shame it's only 16" wide... Will definitely do the main butt now.

Milled the 1st major branch today. Looks lovely timber. 2" boards, good colour throughout. Should be nice on the main butt. Less shake. There's a few cracks down the pith already but should add character to whatever is made from it. Plan now is to re-mill the boards on the bandsaw to take out the pith and create as close to quartersawn as possible on the centre boards. Probably just leave the outside boards weighted and hope for the best. One other thing to note was the use of the 33" bar. Didn't need the winch, it chewed through the wood. So much nicer using a roller nose to hard nose, these things are great. Rob D still has them cheap, I think. Well worth it for logs this size as the power increase is phenomenal.

Be careful around the middle of the tree. The pith up the middle of the rings I've found quite prone to splits and boxed heart 6" posts would likely split. Best to take a board straight up the middle and cut in 2 down the line of he pith. This will also stop any cupping from boxed heart.

Jonathan, Do you have a price for the trailered package with deck loading arms, turning winch etc including import costs? 14HP should still be fine, my boss' Norwood runs that engine and cuts well. Cheers, Rhob

I use paracord Martin if that's any help. 350lb breaking strain, 6mm thick. A little bit dynamic so can vary the pressure - pretty good. Great oak mill by the way!

Did some shaping today. Ideally left till the harshest weather is over but some of the tip-bearers had broken limbs. As with any pruning, less is more. Get 'pruning and training' by the Royal Horticultural Society. Refs all species, tree and shrub.

880 is heavier by a pound