R Mac

That's very true but that being the case there isn't much point asking advice or conducting a poll on a forum full of strangers who not only don't know the people involved but don't know the nature of the 'Emergency/emergency'

I found something recently by accident but I can't remember what it was, it was suggested as a better alternative to leylandii as it could be cut back while still staying green, it may have been Thuja but I honestly can't remember. It was on ebay. Might be worth searching for hedge conifers. This may have been it, THUJA PLICATA ATROVIRENS

Brilliant That looks great, you did a good job there. You mentioned that you used the basic ascender, what's the difference between a basic and a non basic?

A place I worked originally had a 'Personnel Department' that implied that they were dealing with 'Persons' They then changed the name of the Department to a 'Human Resources' department, one definition of 'Resource' is "something used for want of better" If you employ 'people' treat them as such. As the Boss you're meant to go above and beyond what you expect from your employees if you want to have any respect, you may well feel that you should call a cab (although I'd venture to suggest that if it was your emergency you'd take the 1st means of transport that was available and whatever staff you needed would be taken off site, I may very well be wrong) IMO it's a mistake to take the view that they should do the same, as an employer you have a certain degree of moral responsibility to those you employ. That said you do need a policy in place clearly stating the minimum an employee can expect in an emergency situation.

Not STR, SRT = Single Rope Technique SRT (Single Rope Technique) - Arbtalk.co.uk | Discussion Forum for Arborists

I hope not SRT

Oh it's my own fault, just bought some SRT kit

You definitely need a set policy to start, I'd suggest a set number of hours/days emergency leave and a fixed rate of pay, i.e. 5 emergencies per year, 1st 2 hours paid, that adds up to roughly 1 days pay per employee per year. Employee responsible for arranging their transport. That isn't to say you can't then decide to go above and beyond the above depending on the nature of the emergency (immediate family member rushed to hospital do to accident/sudden illness etc I'd personally take them and to hell with the work), you can always go the extra mile for a valued employee but there should be a minimum they can expect, that way everyone knows where they stand. Just my view.

Cheers Stewmo, sounds do-able Joe, a photo would be great, cheers

Well Said,

Have you taken the clutch and sprocket off and cleaned/re-greased/replaced the bearing yet as suggested?

I'm tempted to say sell the MS260, to me But I can't afford a saw (or much else right now)

So it's an 'Emergency' rather than bit of an inconvenience, No question get them home asap by whatever means is quickest. Assuming that's how you'd like it to be if it was your emergency

I've been watching some videos of the Hitch Hiker, kinda wondering if I wouldn't have been better going with it rather than the Rope Wrench Oh well, it's a bit like everything else, the simplest stage of any project/hobby/whatever that requires the use of 'Kit' is right at the beginning when you know nothing and everything seems to work just perfectly, the more you learn the more difficult the choices and the more expensive it all becomes, ask me how I know LOL

I tend to agree but well I'll see what happens. Is that a Hitch Hiker you have in your Avatar, how does that compare to a Rope Wrench? it looks a lot more streamlined.

The throwline kit was sorted a while back after yet another series of questions here on the forum, ended up using kevlar kite line, sewed up my own throwbags and bought a Weaver Cube (couldn't quite stretch to an 'Arborella'). All in all the throwline kit was one of my less expensive additions There are plenty of threads about SRT but the kit has evolved so quickly that a lot of the information is out of date to a certain extent. I'll keep an eye on what you're doing.

Well just ordered a Rope Wrench, Double end Tether and CT Foot Ascender, (hope my car doesn't need much for MOT ) Also sent an e-mail to Richard Mumford re. the SAKA Thanks again Matty and Joe, no doubt I'll have many more questions, hope you have plenty of patience

Thankfully it's nothing like I imagined, pretty slick in fact, probably with a price to match

I'm getting visions of something built around a bicycle chainwheel and cranks, fast as f*** but the wear on the rope is horrendous

Joe, I'm in N.I. not too far from HERE I have access to some smallish trees but I'll get more practice in when/if the weather improves. I'd thought about just throwing short lengths of rope into the canopy at random and seeing how efficiently I can 'rescue' them. I'm not employed in the tree business at present so no pressure for speed. Matty, I would be happy enough to try to make up a knee ascender, I suppose I could just get the ascender and see what odds and ends I have, probably be able to cobble something together using webbing slings (got plenty of those) and shockcord and I'm sure I've got spare carabiners but not autolockers. Worst case scenario if I couldn't make a knee lanyard that worked I could just make a footloop for the basic ascender and set it up as a hand ascender?

Very little experience as I've not long passed my CS38/39 and mainly been rec climbing since so no technique is set in stone. I moved straight from a basic prussik to the 'O' Rig pretty easily though. The biggest challenge was coming from regular climbing experience from way back, a major change needed when it came to tree climbing, especially dealing with all the regulations and not climbing above my anchor Re, the pantin, yeah I wondered if you were using the name generically, so the CT it is then.

Cheers Joe, when you say Pantin are you referring specifically to the Petzl foot ascender? I had kinda decided on the CT version as I read a few posts on here where people had problems with the rope coming out of the Petzl but if you're happy with the Petzl then I'll look at them as well. I did notice a post here last week about a modification you can buy for the Petzl. Will endeavour to not descend with the ascenders attached

Cheers, looked at the Treekit knee ascender and to be honest it's doubtful I could buy the individual parts any cheaper so I'll probably go for that option, the HAAS set-ups on the other hand, well a bit too pricey for me. I'll start by getting a CT foot ascender and Rope Wrench c/w Stiff Tether, I should be able to ascend 'Sit/Stand' on that alone shouldn't I? Thanks Again

Hi Matty, I appreciate your help, I think I'm getting my head round it and watched the TreeKit videos which helped too. The foot ascender then is simply attached to my foot and clipped to the main line, the neck tether attaches to the hitch climber, without adding anything else I could simply stand up on the foot ascender, the neck tether would advance the friction hitch and rope wrench, I could then sit back in my harness and repeat? By adding the HAAS/or hand ascender on the side opposite the foot ascender I can step up right/left alternatively without sitting back in my harness and again the neck tether will advance the friction hitch/rope wrench? If I've got that right then I'll need to buy the following, Rope Wrench Foot Ascender (CT?) Basic Ascender (CT?) In addition I'll need, Webbing to make a foot loop for the basic ascender Shock cord and small carabiner/dog clip to attach the basic ascender to my Hitch Climber pulley Webbing sling/shock cord/mini carabiner to make a neck lanyard to attach to the hitch climber. A DMM Revolver and short prussik loop to use when coming back from a limb walk.

You're spot on there Tommy, when I bring the friction hitch back I need to make sure all of the splice is clear of the revolver, it just makes it easier to advance the rope as I don't need to actually open the revolver.