Tree climbing kit?

[Kram]

£££ spent Got the Simarghu harness. Felt way more comfortable than the others, tree motion included..
I note it says "Not for fall arrest" all over the instruction book. Is this normal for tree harnesses? I'll say theres not much meat on the QR buckles is the only point I dislike.

 

[Agrismith]

£££ spent Got the Simarghu harness. Felt way more comfortable than the others, tree motion included..
I note it says "Not for fall arrest" all over the instruction book. Is this normal for tree harnesses? I'll say theres not much meat on the QR buckles is the only point I dislike.

Yes completely normal. A work positioning harness risks leaving you hanging upside down and potentially even falling out the harness. Fall arrest harnesses teacher in the middle of your back and have straps over your shoulders. I think petzl do a top harness kit to fit some of there work position harnesses to do both jobs

 

[MattF]

I don't want to be that guy,

Never stop when you're on a roll.

 

[Kram]

Seen this and got to ask, what is the legality of using an air cannon in a public place?
I may have to build one

DTX Shoulder Shot Throw Weight Launcher - Honey Brothers

DTX Shoulder Shot Throw Weight Launcher from Honey Brothers. The largest equipment specialist in the tree care industry.

honeybros.com

 

[mike os]

£££ spent Got the Simarghu harness. Felt way more comfortable than the others, tree motion included..
I note it says "Not for fall arrest" all over the instruction book. Is this normal for tree harnesses? I'll say theres not much meat on the QR buckles is the only point I dislike.

It's a work position harness ... theoretically you should never have any slack to fall if you are positioning and rigging yourself properly

 

[Robotstar5]

Don't need harnesses or ropes to climb trees, just get some strap-on cat claws

 

[Kram]

Theoretically yes.... But in practise I am yet to see anyone climb with 2 anchor points or stay below them with no slack.

Planning to do a reduction on a birch soon, dont want to cut it too hard so will need to be going right near the tips.... Been delaying it until I have more experience.

Flipping upside down usually happens if a leg gets caught on rope or branch, common in rock climbing.. similar sit harnesses.. very much a temporary unpleasantness but not particually unsafe. Cant fall out if its done up correctly, atleast if your waist is smaller than your hip bones.

Anyway I think its more due to the forces involved and fall factor. If you anchor at 15 meters and then go a meter above, the fall would be quite different depending on the setup and stretchness of the rope.

DRT you would have 2 meters of rope on a bendy tree, but you'd also fall 2m. Fall factor is slightly under 1. Unpleasant.

SRT with top tied anchor, one meter rope for 2m fall. Factor is 2. Broken rope, harness or spine..

SRT with the rope tied at the base and redirected over a top limb, 16 meters of rope, 2m fall. Factor of 0.125, no problem.

I dont like the idea of base ties however, as anyone at ground level has access to mess about with it!

 

[Kram]

Anyway the Simarghu has space for two additional bridge ropes. The original is apparently Technora (kevlar?) And doesnt come with the rings...so £38 each set.

Simarghu Harness Bridge - Honey Brothers

Simarghu Harness Bridge from Honey Brothers. The largest equipment specialist in the tree care industry.

honeybros.com

Any reason not to buy a much cheaper treehog ring and use bog standard 10mm static rope with a triple fishermans on each end? Would it pass LOLER with different branded, but still PPE rated parts?

 

[Agrismith]

Theoretically yes.... But in practise I am yet to see anyone climb with 2 anchor points or stay below them with no slack.

Planning to do a reduction on a birch soon, dont want to cut it too hard so will need to be going right near the tips.... Been delaying it until I have more experience.

Flipping upside down usually happens if a leg gets caught on rope or branch, common in rock climbing.. similar sit harnesses.. very much a temporary unpleasantness but not particually unsafe. Cant fall out if its done up correctly, atleast if your waist is smaller than your hip bones.

Anyway I think its more due to the forces involved and fall factor. If you anchor at 15 meters and then go a meter above, the fall would be quite different depending on the setup and stretchness of the rope.

DRT you would have 2 meters of rope on a bendy tree, but you'd also fall 2m. Fall factor is slightly under 1. Unpleasant.

SRT with top tied anchor, one meter rope for 2m fall. Factor is 2. Broken rope, harness or spine..

SRT with the rope tied at the base and redirected over a top limb, 16 meters of rope, 2m fall. Factor of 0.125, no problem.

I dont like the idea of base ties however, as anyone at ground level has access to mess about with it!

It's not the forces as a work position harness still has to be able to take the force if an anchor point snaps out. It's due to the way you are caught and held.
They are completely different scenarios involving different circumstances and different rescue techniques.
The important factor is the anchor point.
Also think about falling in a work positioning harness you are gonna be bent in half backwards as you stop. Whilst it's a side effect of the design if you are designing the perfect system then centre of back is far better.

 

[Kram]

Havent used the new kit yet. Today was dry. Uncoiled the rope and this mess was only a couple meters from the spliced end


(Internal ID tape appears to have got tangled when they weaved the outer sheaf, but what else could be wrong inside....?)

It'll be going back on Monday...

I need to try the other kit before then, so I'll use an old rock climbing rope. Acending a stretchy dynamic rope will be a pain!

 

[8ob]

Havent used the new kit yet. Today was dry. Uncoiled the rope and this mess was only a couple meters from the spliced end


(Internal ID tape appears to have got tangled when they weaved the outer sheaf, but what else could be wrong inside....?)

View attachment 414517

It'll be going back on Monday...

I need to try the other kit before then, so I'll use an old rock climbing rope. Acending a stretchy dynamic rope will be a pain!

Looks typical of a rope that's come into contact with an unguarded chain. Not saying you, could of happened in the shop.

Bob

 

[Kram]

Nah no way the ID tape would get tangled in the outer like that with no cut damage or fluffing. Seen a few damaged ropes.. they dont last long with the climbers I worked with.

Would you take it back or just remove the ID tape and use it? Realistically theres no real visible damage. I imagine shop would put it straight back on the shelf.

 

[mtt.tr]

Havent used the new kit yet. Today was dry. Uncoiled the rope and this mess was only a couple meters from the spliced end


(Internal ID tape appears to have got tangled when they weaved the outer sheaf, but what else could be wrong inside....?)

View attachment 414517

It'll be going back on Monday...

I need to try the other kit before then, so I'll use an old rock climbing rope. Acending a stretchy dynamic rope will be a pain!

That is were the bury in the splice happens, pull the label out taught cut it then milk the outer sheath


It's not good and should have been picked up before hand

 

[Kram]

Its 7m from the end. I untangled it..

Guess I cut it off and use the rooe then, thanks!

 

[mtt.tr]

7m, that's not right.

Wondered if it got caught up during manufacturing

 

[Kram]

Yeah thats what I thought.. if it came to the end of the spool of ID tape it would tangle... but it continues on. Must have been slack for the inch it was tangled.

Anyway a neighbour wants his birch removed so I went up to have a look, quite a nice one to climb. Went up to the big union above.Its well above the houses.

Blocking down a trunk is something I've never done, so would be an interesting experience.

 

[mtt.tr]

Yeah thats what I thought.. if it came to the end of the spool of ID tape it would tangle... but it continues on. Must have been slack for the inch it was tangled.

Anyway a neighbour wants his birch removed so I went up to have a look, quite a nice one to climb. Went up to the big union above.Its well above the houses.
View attachment 414779

Blocking down a trunk is something I've never done, so would be an interesting experience.

Have you got spikes?

The key is to be leant far back in your strop, chainsaw always comes in from the side never between your chest and stem


And never cut above lower chest height.

 

[Kram]

Good advice thanks. No dont have spikes but I used some before. May be able to borrow from a friend or even get him to help me on this one.

 

[Kram]

It gets dark a lot earlier now! Dont remember hitting the rope or having the silky anywhere near it but it was becoming difficult to see. Sods law its the spliced end

3 strands of the outer are cut..still good to climb on I think.

I should get a wire core flip line, cant decide if a basic one for £40 to use with a prusik, or £100 for the swivel and rope grab type? Think I prefer a prusik anyway

 

[Kram]

Found its much easier using a knut or michoacan friction hitch!

I was happy anchoring on arm sized branches with DRT but going higher scares me with that. Pulleys make a huge difference.

Used a dynamic climbing rope, tied a triple fishermans loop quater way up the trunk ( so there is plenty of rope in system). Used a ring and sling to make a decent anchor to feed it through and then sling and carabiners to clip it higher up. Apart from the dynamic rope, this would count as SRT. I was attched by prusik, but next time might try my Grigri.
If a branch snaps, I should have a nice soft catch at the previous clip.

Starting to drop the tops