free climbing how often do you do it?

TrevMcRev · 10th January 2008, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Therrin

, but besides Silky, who else makes good ones?

Silky

arbdog · 10th January 2008, 02:59 PM

I use silky because in my opinion there good pruning saws and always will will use them! A bit narrow minded as ive never tried any other (scars on my hands dont like um tho) .And RC1 next time your removing a conifer hedge or painting your kitchen ceiling make sure you got your rope with you!

jim1nz · 16th January 2008, 05:01 AM

NEVER, but i will free climb shrubs...

TREEMONKEY · 26th February 2008, 05:09 AM

I am guilty of some free climbing i shouldn't but once and a while i do.
I never used to use 2 tie in points when hand sawing but the only time a have cut a line or lanyard was a hand saw. i did not get cut or cut through a line but my heart felt like it stopped.

Not the best sport to learn from your mistakes.

Streyken · 26th February 2008, 06:38 PM

For the first 3 years, at least a few times a week. 100cm+ dia. fir and only one lanyard! Looking back on it now, I just shake my head. I always have two lanyards attached to my belt now, regardless of what I'm doing.

treeseer · 26th February 2008, 07:46 PM

I still rely on the 3 points of contact or the leg lock when changing TIP's, then I catch myself and say, you silly boy...

Better to be safe; I've used up my 9 lives twice each by now.

O and Amen to the handsaw for pruning--what pole do you like the best, quercus?

juniorgilman · 27th February 2008, 12:59 PM

I'll climb up in a Bradford Pear or Holly (they aren't prickly on when your in the middle of them) or something that you couldn't fall to the ground out of even if you tried. I will usually have a lanyard on also b/c I can have both hands free to lean as far as I want to reach stuff. Only with a hand saw of course.

JohN Dee · 2nd March 2008, 02:02 AM

I barely ever free climb nowa days.

Although, the other week, after trying several times to get the tag line(monkey's fist) over a branch on an 8-10m liquidambar, I got it - but out mid way on the bloody branch...! So I tied the line at the base, free climbed the tree to move the rope closer to the collar. Once I had done that I scaled back down the rope with my hands.

One of my mates in class was telling me about his crew's climber, free climbing conifers (the bushy green/birdsnest/tennis, soccer, baseball ball catch & keep kind) to set the tag line... I was like how the **** did he do that? The reply I got was that he wasn't looking at the time...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quercus

Did you know that 80 to 100 climbers die (per year) , by cutting their lanyard while removing their handsaw from the holster?

Hmm, that is an alarming statistic Q. I've clipped the plastic coating on the snap hook on my wire core before, but that was actually on the last stroke of cutting a branch...

I like to finish the majority of my smaller collar cuts with the silky as it leaves the surface SUPER smooth.

Therrin · 2nd March 2008, 04:19 AM

I've got two cabling jobs coming up.

Big codom conifers, but the branches are all so crammed together I can't see how I'd climb it with my rig on...

Was thinkin about wearing my skinny little rock harness, tying of at my end, having someone belay me from the ground, and just clip into some pro every so many feet. Kinda like lead climbing?

I'll have to get pics, but it's really dense. Only about 50' tall. Can't see myself climbing it conventionally.

JohN Dee · 2nd March 2008, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Therrin

I've got two cabling jobs coming up.

Big codom conifers, but the branches are all so crammed together I can't see how I'd climb it with my rig on...

Was thinkin about wearing my skinny little rock harness, tying of at my end, having someone belay me from the ground, and just clip into some pro every so many feet. Kinda like lead climbing?

I'll have to get pics, but it's really dense. Only about 50' tall. Can't see myself climbing it conventionally.

That's where a bucket truck or any EWP would come in handy.

Therrin · 2nd March 2008, 04:38 AM

Middle of a 5 acre plot, and inaccessible by either. A nifty lift could probably squeeze in there, but I don't know if it can navigate the slope.

I'm not worried about it, it's just "different". =)

Always like having something different to try.

JohN Dee · 2nd March 2008, 04:48 AM

Indeed.

After seeing the tahune video whenever we quote an unstructural tree I instantly want that job because of what it would take to successfully get it down.

quercus · 2nd March 2008, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treeseer

O and Amen to the handsaw for pruning--what pole do you like the best, quercus?

I like all silky's mate... In fact we've got quite a lot of them.
-1 back up folding type in the rear pocket of my harness. + 1 extra for occasional extra climber
-1 sugoi for pruning (MY FAVOURITE)
-1 Ibuki for cutting branches when feeding chipper and for groundie.
-1 root cutter with diamond dust teeth tips for cutting of roots and dirty and sandy wood)
-1 fixed blad with double type edge for pruning fruit trees (rough and small teeth combined in one saw)
-1 small foldable pole saw for climbing (2 extension parts, for those buggers you just CAN'T reach, saw is very light and there are straps for hauling it) MY FAVOURITE POLE SAW
-1 hayate for delimbing the first 8 meters for takedown jobs (rigid, thick and strong but heavy pole saw with three extension parts)
-1 hayauchi for smaller pruning from ground or deadwooding with three extension parts(lighter then hayauchi but loses a lot of force in the bending of the aluminum tubing)

I like the fact that they cut really fast, and leave a silky smooth surface of the wound. 60 % of pruning I do is with the handsaw.And the fact that all parts of them can be ordered seperatly when something breaks. Gotta be carefull with the polesaws though. the aluminum profile can bend when it comes down along with the branch or when they get stuck in the cut. We've encountered these problems before. If you respect a silky, it'll last for decades.

newguy18 · 2nd March 2008, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Therrin

I've got two cabling jobs coming up.

Big codom conifers, but the branches are all so crammed together I can't see how I'd climb it with my rig on...

Was thinkin about wearing my skinny little rock harness, tying of at my end, having someone belay me from the ground, and just clip into some pro every so many feet. Kinda like lead climbing?

I'll have to get pics, but it's really dense. Only about 50' tall. Can't see myself climbing it conventionally.

Can you acess it drt?

George Hayduke · 2nd March 2008, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quercus

Did you know that 80 to 100 climbers die (per year) , by cutting their lanyard while removing their handsaw from the holster?

Site the source of that data. Sounds like hyberbole to me...

hartley · 2nd March 2008, 09:37 AM

Health and safety says that its a no no, but health and safety laws are often written by people who have never climbed a tree and are based on statistics.

For a suit who sees an accident happening ie a fall from a tree, he decides that there should be a law to protect people from falling again. Fair enough, but it takes the choice out of the hands of every competant person to decide on the necessary course of action for any situation.

Quite often H and S law is designed to replace common sense for those idiots who have none!

My 7 year old is more than capable of climbing an apple tree without 2 anchor points and im quite sure I could manage it too!

View Poll Results: how often do you free climb.
never i'm afraid to unclip while in a tree.	9	21.95%
only when the trees are small.	21	51.22%
all the time when I have adequte hand and foot holds.	11	26.83%
Voters: 41. You may not vote on this poll

10th January 2008, 02:59 PM	#27 (permalink)
arbdog Cruisin' Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: england Posts: 97	Re: free climbing how often do you do it? I use silky because in my opinion there good pruning saws and always will will use them! A bit narrow minded as ive never tried any other (scars on my hands dont like um tho) .And RC1 next time your removing a conifer hedge or painting your kitchen ceiling make sure you got your rope with you!

16th January 2008, 05:01 AM	#28 (permalink)
jim1nz Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tauranga, New Zealand Posts: 296	Re: free climbing how often do you do it? NEVER, but i will free climb shrubs... __________________ SPEED ALWAYS FOLLOWS TECHNIQUE

26th February 2008, 05:09 AM	#29 (permalink)
TREEMONKEY Cruisin' Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ONTARIO, CANADA Posts: 84	Re: free climbing how often do you do it? I am guilty of some free climbing i shouldn't but once and a while i do. I never used to use 2 tie in points when hand sawing but the only time a have cut a line or lanyard was a hand saw. i did not get cut or cut through a line but my heart felt like it stopped. Not the best sport to learn from your mistakes. __________________

26th February 2008, 06:38 PM	#30 (permalink)
Streyken Fly'n Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 206	Re: free climbing how often do you do it? For the first 3 years, at least a few times a week. 100cm+ dia. fir and only one lanyard! Looking back on it now, I just shake my head. I always have two lanyards attached to my belt now, regardless of what I'm doing. __________________ Trimmin' bush and caring for flowers is good 'n' all... but sometimes ya gotta let the big wood fly and pound the garden.

26th February 2008, 07:46 PM	#31 (permalink)
treeseer Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SE USA Posts: 408	Re: free climbing how often do you do it? I still rely on the 3 points of contact or the leg lock when changing TIP's, then I catch myself and say, you silly boy... Better to be safe; I've used up my 9 lives twice each by now. O and Amen to the handsaw for pruning--what pole do you like the best, quercus? __________________ Guy Meilleur \| Forensic Arborist \| Better Tree Care

27th February 2008, 12:59 PM	#32 (permalink)
juniorgilman Gettin' motoring Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maidens, VA Posts: 35	Re: free climbing how often do you do it? I'll climb up in a Bradford Pear or Holly (they aren't prickly on when your in the middle of them) or something that you couldn't fall to the ground out of even if you tried. I will usually have a lanyard on also b/c I can have both hands free to lean as far as I want to reach stuff. Only with a hand saw of course. __________________ Husky 385xp Husky 334t

2nd March 2008, 04:19 AM	#34 (permalink)
Therrin The Tree World Bandit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lancaster, Ca Posts: 1,112	Re: free climbing how often do you do it? I've got two cabling jobs coming up. Big codom conifers, but the branches are all so crammed together I can't see how I'd climb it with my rig on... Was thinkin about wearing my skinny little rock harness, tying of at my end, having someone belay me from the ground, and just clip into some pro every so many feet. Kinda like lead climbing? I'll have to get pics, but it's really dense. Only about 50' tall. Can't see myself climbing it conventionally.

2nd March 2008, 04:38 AM	#36 (permalink)
Therrin The Tree World Bandit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lancaster, Ca Posts: 1,112	Re: free climbing how often do you do it? Middle of a 5 acre plot, and inaccessible by either. A nifty lift could probably squeeze in there, but I don't know if it can navigate the slope. I'm not worried about it, it's just "different". =) Always like having something different to try.

2nd March 2008, 04:48 AM	#37 (permalink)
JohN Dee Astronaut Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 679	Re: free climbing how often do you do it? Indeed. After seeing the tahune video whenever we quote an unstructural tree I instantly want that job because of what it would take to successfully get it down. __________________ Climber with slow climbing speed, must make up with mighty chainsaw roar. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Red : Green : Blue

2nd March 2008, 09:37 AM	#41 (permalink)
hartley Gettin' motoring Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: uk Posts: 17	Re: free climbing how often do you do it? Health and safety says that its a no no, but health and safety laws are often written by people who have never climbed a tree and are based on statistics. For a suit who sees an accident happening ie a fall from a tree, he decides that there should be a law to protect people from falling again. Fair enough, but it takes the choice out of the hands of every competant person to decide on the necessary course of action for any situation. Quite often H and S law is designed to replace common sense for those idiots who have none! My 7 year old is more than capable of climbing an apple tree without 2 anchor points and im quite sure I could manage it too!