Mick Dempsey

That seems unfair. If someone wants to invest in their own future and fund a training course in order to get a skill why shouldn’t they? If they give up in a year who loses? Only them and their time/money. You cannot get any sort of work without tickets and now you’re saying you cannot get tickets without work! I was 31 when I did my 10 weeker, do you think I had the time or inclination to do an apprenticeship?

After having a photo competition where you perused hundreds of tree climbing photos?

Agreed, bigger than they looked.

I forget now @David Cropper ?

I got used to just using them till they went off, then putting new cheap Chinese ones on I got from the Rayco supplier in Dorset. Not as easy now with Brexit and parcels and all that.

Green wheels are OK, I just hate the toxic mess everywhere. I was Chez Cropper recently and he showed me a grinding wheel that’s a lot better and less messy.

Is that the secret? I find them useless, hardly affect the teeth at all, gave up on them.

No, some might, but if I saw someone doing it I’d consider them a bit ‘affected’

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdq11w6ISq7/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= My nephew is over for a week, so a bit of a rest from climbing for me and I get to run the ropes for a few days. Luxury! IMG_2146.MOV

Wow, he’s a real tough guy. Heal quick!

Owl, probably Tawny

300 sounds a good price, especially if it’s grind and leave.

Look like they’re trying to find a gap in the fence.

I dunno, have you got stats for the leaving the industry with three years claim? I mean what is a small percentage? Anyway, I’ll give you my experience to explain where I’m coming from in this argument. When I did my ten weeker I was as green as the grass, starting from zero. At the same time there were guys there who were already time served, just there to get their tickets. Now there was a bit of a tendancy for a couple of instructors to concentrate on them, fine tune their skills rather than get me up a tree and move me along. I very nearly got left behind, but I pulled it out the bag and got through it all. I was still a million miles behind those guys and a long way from being of any use. So I was the epitome of the 10 weeker with no practical ability, a Willians T22 and some rope.

When I was there 27 years ago there was an instructor who’s name escapes me, ex lollipop lady it was rumoured. He ushered me into the workshop on my own and said only a few were chosen He said I was to call him Big Daddy Bear and I was Desiree for the next 15 minutes. I came away feeling pissed off, still am if I’m honest.

All training in this game is just the first step in actually learning the job. I doubt there’s anyone who has started from scratch, done a course and gone straight on to become a commercial competent climber on the Monday morning after the course, so I’m not sure at what level you would put a pass. Once they’ve finished the course it’s up to the individual to develop the skills, through working with and learning from the more experienced.

I should hate Rylan, but he seems to be a decent enough bloke. There’s a bit too much of him everywhere, but there’s worse.

Simply not true.

A reminder to all those peeps complaining about unregulated tree workers stealing their work etc. (a constant moan across all platforms) If the regulatory body they yearn for had the sort of power the moaners seem to desire to weed out the ‘cowboys’, you’d be on the two rope and a lanyard system every day up every tree or you’d lose your accreditation and your business.

Pissed as a fart, good for him.

The Wheel with Michael Macintyre. I haven’t a clue what’s going on. I’ll admit I’m usually pissed.

Small but fast growing firm = Bring your own saw, in fact bring everything you got.

Now just STOP with that will you!

Isn’t that Andy Bell out of Erasure?

3. The powered rotator. The last and probably most desired of the grabs. Firstly, scandalously expensive, plus new electrics and switchgear to fit. On the good side however you stay in the cab/on the backplate most of the time. you need a lot less manœuvring to get hold of stuff as you have more reach than the Klou and once above the victim you just move the grab pick it up and drive away, so less ground damage especially when pick stuff up as the grab doesnt take divots like the Klou. You do get extra reach like the knockabout, this is very welcome. You need practice and skill as switching the circuit from rotate to grab all the time can be one operation too much! Drawbacks, not as good carrying big stuff, cannot push stuff back on the trailer as easily. In conclusion. The smaller the loader the more inclined I’d be to get a knockabout. Fixeds are great, here to stay on medium to larger loaders. Rotators are probably not necessary, you can buy both the two others and still have some change in your pocket, but they are really nice and if you’ve just sold something expensive and you really want it, why not? IMG_2132.MOV