Good point about the danger to groundies, Mike. I make it policy to have groundspeople look upwards if there is a polesaw in the tree constantly if they are underneath.
On the other hand, I do have a preference for non-destructible polesaws that you can chuck out of the tree (after clearing...
Polesaws are no joke. Happened to an employee of mine about 4 years ago. He tried grabbing the polesaw after he bumped it and as he saw it falling. (BTW don't try to do that). I've never been able to use the scabbard thing with polesaws--despite how much they might work. Too much of a pain to...
I was thinking that there may be no need for additional regulative language since what this statement suggests is somehow already there already hidden in the existing A300 text. Two safe attachments are required, no? That's it. If you are using a positioning lanyard as a secondary tie in point...
The original GRCS has a Harken 46. There was a rare batch of 48's which went through before the release of the new, specifically designed by Harken for arborist application winch, which is standard. My Harken 46 can lift over 1k....at the higher end of the scale I've had rope slipping problems...
I've had two positioners--one an early iteration (when they were plain aluminum) and one I got in like 2011--never needed to change the clutch on either one. You are not using it to descend on your whole line like the lockjack. Feathers out smooth when you are under tension better than anything...
I don't think we'll ever see this in the ANSI A300:
"Positioning lanyard attachments meant to fail under load must be backed by 2 separate rope systems (e.g., DRT, DSRT). Lanyard systems meant only as positioning lanyards on hazardous trees must break in at least two locations (at the Dee...
Peter--Are you sure the arbpro is the same winch as the GRCS? I'm pretty sure that this is not the case. I believe Harken will only license use of the bigger models to Good Rigging LLC (manufacturer of the GRCS). I know the Arbpro 1 had a Harken 32 (or something like that)--a small winch, does...
Actually, Guy, I think the term "graft" is not what has occurred in any of my pictures. Certainly no human hand has been at play to my knowledge (well, maybe with the second fir). Tom Dunlap put up a link to the term "inosculation" awhile back. I think this might be a better description of the...
Feel bad for all you guys on the east coast who require heated floors and the like to dry your ropes. Here's what I use. Though its wet, if there's a breeze it'll dry, not freeze!
I thought that was exactly Eric's suggestion with DSRT...or at least from similar tie in points. In any case, thats 2 points. The flipline could easily be a redundant third point of attachment, subject to a failure rating well short of the ANSI standard. This is why the new DRT system holds such...
Exactly, Mark. ANSI is in the business of securing all connections to a certain breaking strength , say #5,400. What this thread is bringing up is the conceptual limits of that system. I find it to be interesting that there could be a need for the idea of a failsafe, but that such a need could...
Tuttle, just a question about the quality of a shrink wrap union: is it (like stitching) capable of being made to predictable failing tolerances (say +/- 25lbs)? My concern is that not only is it hard to guarantee where that point will be, but that the material will swell or shrink with weather...
Suppose you run the salesman as an employee. You'll need to have a worker's compensation policy. For a salesman-estimator, the rate is around 1% or so. For a tree worker, the rate is...well, you know what it is for you. My understanding is that said employee will always be classified under the...
Richard, that looks sketchy to climb. On this recent leaner, I had my groundie looking at the tree and ready to scream if it starting moving. I think that once the stem begins to fail, the pressure is pretty immediate. I don't know that I could unclip that fast. Thus, the need for a failsafe. I...
Tom, I know that this topic has come up over the years but I think you just identifed DFT: Double Failsafe Technique. That I have not heard of and it does make a great deal of sense. :)
Can't say I've ever used one and I don't know how easily 150 lb monofilament will form a girth hitch on the D ring, actually. 150 lbs of molly....hilarious.