It’s not the fall that kills ya, it’s the sudden stop. The commentary on dibnah and lack of safety gear is what makes the vids, but let’s be reasonable, the people that do this have some pretty big ones.
To go up those chimneys, you need to be physically strong and fit. Fred didn't work out in the gym, he lived off pie, chips and ale, and was naturally strong/fit, and I don't remember him getting out of breath. Sometimes, he would have a few pints before going up. They don't make men like that anymore. RIP Fred.
I have been following fred for years now,....and regardless of safety harnesses..this takes balls of steel...fred would be very proud of you.respect to you all.
People that can do this are like mythical creatures to me. I'm in awe really. I'm so far from being able to handle heights, but also fascinated by watching.
I used to do this a long time ago. It’s very scary the first few times but after a while you forget about the height and just get on with the job. I’m very glad I don’t have to go up a ladder again now though.
There are so many people in the world that do jobs on heights. Sometimes I watch videos of RU-vidrs climbing, skyscrapers and stuff climbing cranes on top of buildings and it blows my mind because there are literally tons of people that go up that high every day for work.
I couldn’t agree more, Fred was a bloody legend and look were he got after all those years climbing chimneys with out elf and safety, he was his own elf and safety officer and that stood him in good stead for all his years climbing chimney’ and church towers.
I’m with you on that!! all I had to do was drill a hole through top of drain pipe to attach it to gutter, I flew up the ladder thinking this is fuck all , until I looked down and my fucking arse went🤣🤣 called my mate🙄
Tip: You can use 7 meters of 50mm PVC pipe with a 180 degree bend (4x 45 degrees) on the end, and a shopvac at the other end, to vacuum out your gutters while standing safely on the ground 🙂 Optionally attach some camera at the 180 degree bend which you can watch from below so you can see what you're doing.
I wish people would stop bringing Fred Dibna into these video's, sure I was a big follower of Fred and the man was an absolute legend with balls of steel, but he worked in a different era, the world has changed a lot since Fred was at his peak for better and worse in many regards. But these young men here are doing a fine job, so what if they have harnesses and fall arrest, at least they have a fighting chance at the end of the day of getting home to loved ones, many a steeplejack has met as Fred would have called it " A morning with the undertaker" which could have been avoided with proper safety systems in place. Interesting that the techniques that Fred applied are still used today with regards to laddering a chimney, the materials my be different Aluminium vs wood, wire bonds vs rope but the principles are still the same.
regfenster Thank you 🙏🏻 You have summed it up in one! Appreciate your comment. Yes, the technique is pretty much the same as before. Some Steeplejacks still use rope & wooden ladders but for us it’s wire ropes & ali ladders. Thanks again for your kind comment!
Your welcome, I recall when I was doing my scaffolders tickets at Bircham Newton at the CITB training centre the steeplejacks were in the same hanger doing their courses inside or outside on the custom built chimney, nice bunch of lads
@@dawsonsteeplejacksltd9946 I came here after seeing the "how to ladder a chimney". What a bunch of maniacs, how TF. I enjoyed this video. It made me very sweaty with anxiety lol.
How do they get the ladders up? I find all of this fascinating as I used to be a carpenter and often did the high and heavy work...mind you 100 feet was high for me
When I started roofing 33 years ago I loved being up high even getting a thrill from working on church roofs. I had a project three years ago where I was working out of a 150’ lift with my work being 130’ above ground. Needless to say it took about a week to get acclimated, these guys are a special bunch.
I've always wanted to do this sort of stuff. I thought I'd make a great arborist until I climbed my 4 meter ladder to cut down a branch, looked down and damn near pissed myself. Quite disappointing to be honest.
As you speak of your experiences with climbing ladders and not being comfortable it brings me to the time when I began my long Cline to the top of 40 and 60 ft ladders but I realize it just doesn't happen at once your courage is slowly built over years and years I can remember the first time that I got on the center of a 40 foot ladder that's only 20 feet up and the way that thing rocked rolled and just collapsed in itself was enough to shake you
I'm glad somebody does this, and I'm glad that somebody isn't me. A 34' extension ladder is all I can do, or all I want to do. Much respect for those brave enough to do these necessary tasks.
This film reminds me of why I never wanted to be a steeplejack, an arborist, steel erector or crane operator. Terra firma is good for me. Brave men 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Safety has come a long way in the past 35 years here in the States. Mostly because of Insurance companies. All & All it's a good thing. It used to just be accepted that every once in awhile someone was going to get killed, or severely injured on the job. Although tradesmen were resistant to the reforms and resented white collar, office chair jockeys sticking their noses into their work place culture. The risk and danger was a point of pride.
Great video guys ! As a painter I work off tall ladders all the time , with a 32' as my tallest . Their is no way on earth I could do what they are doing ! I don't care how much safety gear you give Me , Im not going up that high ! A 3 story house is my limit to safely work ! These guys have nerves of steel ! Steeplejacks are thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies !
As a roofer for thirty years I agree been up some hights but u wouldn't get me.up there was anybody else holding their breath when they got to the top respect
Dibnah's safety protocol was 5 pints of beer and smoking tabs on a shaky ladder. It was jaw dropping......still brilliant bloke. With all the ropes etc it still takes bottle.
1:17 I can feel the blind panic raging through my body when I only see that piece of video. I would have to stop myself from jumping off. People with the same fear of heights will understand what I mean :-)
That's why God/evolution /nature/nurture or whatever your into?! seeded that fear into your brain..without it you'd be dead already lol. Seriously though isn't it weird how seeing others high up triggers the exact same response as if it was you.. often worse because it isn't! It truly is all in the head like Robert said above. What ever you believe the human brain is immensely complex! I have a fear of heights from climbing to the VERY top of a tree at about six years old..I didn't look down until I got to the top when I did look down I froze stiff with panic. Maybe you had a similar experience.. not with a tree necessarily or maybe it's just an inbuilt fear?
Jump off? Suicidal much? Lol! More like have muscles lock up from death gripping the equipment due to being gripped. Gripped, for those who may not know, is a climbers term for when fear paralyses one.
Just popped on here to see how things have changed since Fred. You can still see same similar techniques for the ladders but far safer thank goodness. They should make a new series following someone like yourselves and comparing it to Fred
@@dawsonsteeplejacksltd9946 No, thanks to you for filming it, it's great to watch.. I always wondered if I could have done something like that when i was younger but not sure if I'd have been brave enough. Highest I've ever been was 33m lighting towers at the port of felixstowe when we refurbed the lighting on them several years ago... The older towers were a straight climb on a vertical ladder with no intermediate landing platforms and no harness (probably mid 90's) but they did have hoops.. I seemed to be ok with those until one tower I did by myself at the end of the job... The wind and rain picked up while i was up there and I struggled to get the courage to lift the hatch on the working platform and get back onto the ladder... eventually I realised that I couldn't stay up there all night and would have to make a break for it :-).. How tall was that if you don't mind me asking?
@@stoufer2000 I’m glad you and others enjoy watching them. I think one of the most important things is to trust your equipment and the person(s) that you are with. I couldn’t imagine how you must have felt, that couldn’t have been a nice feeling. I would think around 50m but the overhang at the top pushed us off about 1.8m! The biggest overhang that I’ve done!
I remember when we were at the top, we climbed up the back of the ladder and looked away from the chimney…. I haven’t ever done anything that gave the buzz that did that day. You just looked down and could see the ladders unless you looked far enough under 😅
@@dawsonsteeplejacksltd9946 lol, overhangs.... i really cant imagine that! Not sure why, but youtube seems to have been pushing the John Noakes/Nelsons column video recently, haha, that really made me smile watching him climb that in what looed to be cuban heel slip on shoes and bell bottom jeans... Mad... anyway, keep doing what you do and take care... new subscriber here...
Nothing from experience ever looks as high until you are at that height. Then it hits you.The old steelworkers on skyscrapers apparently adjusted to new heights as they slowly built upwards.I do however find a vertical ladder quite threatening. A lot of strength needed in the arms.If your arms start going to jelly its going to be a bad day.
Times have changed . No insurance company would insure his firm without getting certified and putting it to use. How does not wearing harness make you real man. Dumbest comment I have ever heard
I just called over my nurse to check my diapers... I already had an accident yesterday watching Fred do this. Just watch... now she's going to shut off the internet!
Fantastic Stuff !. As a layman, I was curious to see the Chap climbing and holding onto the rungs. In Eric Newbys book “The Last Grain Race”, about one of the last large Square Rigged Ships, The Mate Told Him “ If you want to live hold on to the shrouds and leave the B--dy Ratlines alone !. Fred always seemed to hold the Ladder sides. Is this just a matter of preference ?. Kind Regards From Scotland.
The way you ran up that ladder reminded of the old joke about two bulls up on a hill where the young bull told the old bull “Let’s run down there and have our way with those pretty cows down there.” And the old bull said “Let’s WALK down there and have our way with those pretty cows down there.” Ah to be young again. :)
Just curious... when the guys work on the chimney and have to remove loose bricks.. where do they put them... until they are placed back in the chimney?
I know nothing about steeplejacking but the first thing that struck me was the Fred Dibnah used to climb ladders by holding onto the sides whereas you use the rungs to hold on too. Is there a difference in technique in modern times?
My Dad was a builder and always said hold the rungs, the reason being if you hold the sides and the ladder slips and hits the ground you lose your fingers. I like your handle!
So with the harness etc. what's the likely consequence if you slip? Do you dangle in mid air 'til someone comes to help, or can you get yourself back on the ladder? I've climbed a ladder of about 15 feet propped against a wall once, and that was enough!
On my course the trainer showed us what happens when you don't put the harness on correctly. One bloke had his testicle come out of his ball bag when he slipped and fell but the force done the damage. He lived but very painful. These were videos he showed us of accidents.
Hi David, yes it’s very similar to how Fred would have done it. We mostly use stainless drop in anchors rather than the “dogs” as these can be left in the building and reused multiple times.
I spent a few years working in structural steel, never used any type of harnesses. I'm guessing just 15 years or so later I'd never get away with that.........It was kinda fun for a few years in my 20s and 30s but I'll let others do it today. Nothing against the trade, it's just life is only so long and I didn't want to do the same thing for a lifetime.
That’s a balls’y job when you know that one mistake will be your last. What I think takes the most amount of guts is when their actually setting up the main runs for the others to run up with a harness, knowing my luck I’d find the only loose bed joint!!
Beautiful stack! Hope you are fixing it and NOT taking it down. I see H&S caught up steeplejacks with the fall protection. Never liked aluminum ladders. Their creeky sound always bothered me. But to each his own I guess.
I realy enjoyed watching your film. I used to climb up Fred's chimnies years ago, it was great fun. This chimney is quite a baby one, a lucky survivor with it's original top. I have never seen aluminium ladders used for this job before, are they ok? A discipline of Freds was never to hold onto the rungs. Rungs in wooden ladders have been know to sort of snap off when one grabs them I was told. That would be rather bad news ! Freds old ladders were in good nick but this was one of his ways. You lot grabbing onto the ladder rungs made me cringe. Good luck to you & be safe..Cheers ! M.
@@Goldenrod01 Basically they have to hang backwards and somehow lock their feet into the rungs as they climp outwards over the overhang? I get a nasty little shiver down my arms these days when watching videos of people climbing over great drops.
@@rosewhite--- pretty much, watch this video at the 2:50 mark to see Fred climbing an overhang with no ropes. In fact, the whole video is worth watching. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-KeL8TwdiL5Y.html I don’t know how people can do stuff like that, I even feel shaky looking up at high things.
@@rosewhite--- Thats the only bit I would have a problem with is the overhang. I have seen some of Fred Dibnahs jobs with these. Not for me. No problem me climbing the height if straight up
sorry mate, but my bowels feel like they are about to drop just watching the video. Its making me dizzy. What do you do if one of the pitons that the ladder is wired to suddenly pops? I know what I would do and it aint a pretty prospect LOL I could never do this job!
