How to Climb a Tall Chimney

[1990C4S]

This guy is nuts...have a look at some of his other videos...

[gordner]

It is so much work traversing a ladder that is 100% vertical. That guy is in shape!

[masraum]

that guy's a badass!

[GH85Carrera]

Here is part two.



That has to have been one tough dude. He swings that hammer like Thor, and never misses. And climbs that ladder like Spiderman. One tough dude.

[1990C4S]

He's also a steam engine builder. Lot's of interesting stuff about him on YouTube.

[gsxrken]

Thanks for posting that. Unique skill set and as fearless as any of today’s Free Climbers.

[cabmandone]

I use these things called "telescoping lifts" for such jobs.

[1990C4S]

They used a telescoping lift to make the video. I think he goes much higher than your average lift.

[Stephen 325TDS]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW3daihiY30

Kids' TV presenter, BBC '77!

[rusnak]

The steel pins are held in with just friction. If the grout were to chunk out or crack, then he'd be in a bad way.

[Major Dad]

Fred died of natural causes on 6 November 2004, at a fairly young age. He was some character and was awarded an MBE. He made a series of Television programs and mechanical things and in one of them he blows up one of them chimneys

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Dibnah

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Fred Dibnah was a UK legend, worth You Tubing him as he's very enjoyable to watch and listen to

He's like a James May but with big, brave sized balls or a slower, less mental Guy Martin

[flatbutt]

I'm wondering what kind of work could be performed on such a large chimney from that dinky ladder?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

I'm wondering what kind of work could be performed on such a large chimney from that dinky ladder?

Once you get to the top, you may want to build a scaffold. One of the videos he also mentioned repointing.

[masraum]

I'm not afraid of heights. I've jumped out of a perfectly good airplane. but watching that guy did make my spider sense tingle quite a bit.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

I'm wondering what kind of work could be performed on such a large chimney from that dinky ladder?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steeplejack

A steeplejack is a craftsman who scales buildings, chimneys, and church steeples to carry out repairs or maintenance.

Steeplejacks erect ladders on church spires, industrial chimneys, cooling towers, bell towers, clock towers, or any other high structure. In the UK, steeplejacks now use a belay rope fall-arrest system (similar to the method used by rock climbers) attached to the ladders as they are erected to eliminate solo climbing and greatly reduce the risk of falls from height.

Once ladders have been erected, the next stage is usually to suspend a bosun's chair (a strong wooden plank on which the steeplejack can sit, pull himself upwards or lower himself downwards, or sit in a stationary position), but abseiling (UK) or rappelling (US) equipment is replacing the bosun's chair on many operations because of its lighter weight.

Once this has been done it is possible to use this access to begin building scaffolding to carry out any repairs which may be required. This is done by fixing anchors into the wall (whether concrete, stone, or brick) and "kicking" the scaffolding off from there.

It is also possible to carry out repairs from "suspended access cradles". These are the same type of rig window cleaners use on skyscrapers. The cradle is suspended from four wires. Two of these run through an electric motor which can "climb" or "descend" the wire, and the other two run freely through a box which allows the cradle to travel upwards with no obstruction, but will stop it instantly if it starts to fall. These "suspended access cradles" are popularly called "swing stages" by their crews.

Steeplejacks are called upon to repair or replace masonry (brick, stone or concrete), carry out general carpentry or painting or roof repair, remove and clean and repair windows, as well as sandblasting and other masonry cleaning tasks.

In Ontario, Canada, many steeplejacks are represented by Local 598 of the OPCMIA union (Operative Plasterers, Cement masons and Restoration Steeplejacks International Association of the United States and Canada), and are required to complete a five-year apprenticeship.

In the UK steeplejack companies may be members of the industry association ATLAS (Association of Technical Lightning and Access Specialists). Britain's most famous steeplejack was Fred Dibnah, who became a television presenter and celebrity as a result of his craft and personality.[1][2]

[masraum]

It's a little sad, in one of the videos he is talking about a cemetery being nice, presumably he'd just been working on the church steeple associated with the cemetery). And he talks about how it's "peaceful" and they "cut the grass pretty regular" and he'd rather be buried there than turned into a "plastic bag full of fag-ash" and how he'd like to have a gravestone that looks like a chimney with a fancy top. That would be pretty neat, but apparently, his marker is more conventional.

[Bill Douglas]

Love the North West accent. Cool guy.

[daepp]

Oh my gosh I watched all of those - thought I was the only one who did.

[Highway-Star]

I got sweat on my hand palms by watching these. Amazing personality, fun to watch. Thanks for sharing.