Tree felling vids

[MasterBlaster]

I thought all they did was spare the tree and make your rope last bit longer.

[woodworkingboy]

Referring to the false crotch application.

[flushcut]

Another vote for false crotches.

[pantheraba]

Saves doing that notch in the top of the spar trick that has dumped some folks. I use a false crotch, too...and I don't hardly know squat compared to lots of these guys.

[CurSedVoyce]

This works nicely as well in a pinch. A tree houser (can't remember who) posted it once.
36069

[FJR]

I like it.

[CurSedVoyce]

Plenty of friction to function more like Ddrt as well.. :)
Just make sure you run the tail through the biner the right way so you don't have to go back up for it.. :lol:
And of course the gate has to be in the right position so as not to get side loaded.

[pete mctree]

Perhaps It's all about composure? Cut the notch in the top of the stem & descend? This is an accepted method? yes or no? but why role the die?

Why not just mitigate the risks, tie in twice

[pantheraba]

Pete, are we talking about the same thing? I was talking about cutting a vertical slot horizontally across the top of the spar where you have topped the tree. You place the DDRT climb line in the slot and descend as the rope slides thru the notch. I suppose you could use your lanyard on the spar as you descend in case the climb line somehow came out of the notch on top of the spar.

[Porkbrick]

i made another video (i think im addicted). crane job, monterey cypress, over power lines. lots of fun.
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[CurSedVoyce]

Cool :thumbup:

[CurSedVoyce]

I was just enjoying this one off Reg's You Tube :)

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[woodworkingboy]

Most excellent. Long way down for those tops.

[inbredJed]

Yeah... That Gorm's got it made up there eh?

[CurSedVoyce]

I have to admit, I was giggling at the wedge hammering.. I was thinking... we should all just send him some hard head wedges :D

[sotc]

Heres a compilation my seratary put together a week or so ago, some of you have seen it but she just put it on you tube today

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1nRwahZmmZY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[gf beranek]

Great Willie. The folding tree really stands out. Bravo!

[CurSedVoyce]

I want her speed you up whacking wedges :lol:

And Willie.....

Obviously

:thumbup:

[sotc]

Jerry, I put that trick in the bag after seeing Graham's video years ago, it's sweet

[sotc]

I did speed myself up once on that big, dead piss fir:D

[gf beranek]

Yes it is.

[CurSedVoyce]

Probably a little unsettling as you rap out though :/:

[gf beranek]

When though out wisely the method holds no more risk than the rest of this work.

[CurSedVoyce]

Oh I believe it... Still can't change how it would feel though, eyes staring up and the cut top above your head as you ever so smoothly rap out .. How I would feel anyway :D
In fact I had a hung top once. Too dangerous to handle while in the tree. But... descend and dealt with it from the ground with the big shot by tagging it and winching it down off the spar. and out of the other tree. Eyes were locked on it the whole way down though.

[inbredJed]

Man Willie...!!! All I can say!... Jeez, dude, slow down a bit, or at least smash a house now and then so that Clarence will have a fighting chance!:lol:

[sotc]

Well, truth be told, that was 2 days worth of work :/: :D

[woodworkingboy]

I think it's good, Willie, it gives the general idea that the work is within your command.

Another plug for Jerry's latest video series, I believe that he describes the folding cut. Please correct me if I am wrong. I've only been through the six discs once, and much information to as yet assimilate

[inbredJed]

Wait! Ugghhh.... I'm waaay out of the Loop!!! Big surprise.:lol: Jerry's got a NEW vid series? Newer that "Working Climber"?

[woodworkingboy]

New series 3, Jed.....just out and hot!

[inbredJed]

O.k. O.k. .... I know what to do....

I'll take the next six weeks off work to fully assimilate the new info.

[CurSedVoyce]

Geico commercial came to mind :D

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rCFMDLakxaY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[woodworkingboy]

Jed, six weeks off. :lol:

[pantheraba]

Hahahha..you guys are nutz!!

Cool compilation, Willie...she did good.

[Porkbrick]

very cool vid. i guess ive been under a rock as well. cant wait to see the new dvds!

[sotc]

Man Jed, I thought you called yourself a fan!

[bstewert]

I liked the folding cut, too.

[Porkbrick]

i just finished putting this together. we did this job a few months back. lots of fun, hope you like it.
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[Rborist1]

Great job!

[inbredJed]

Wow, Brick: Nice Fir. We used to grow em' up here like that, but we cut em' all down.:( :P

[sotc]

Beautimous

[woodworkingboy]

Great vid. Bet the air was clean up at the top.

[CurSedVoyce]

Awesome :thumbup: Great views :D

[flushcut]

Very nice work!

[pantheraba]

Very good video, Porkbrick -- good camera control, didn't make me dizzy. Looks like you had lots of fun...lotsa bombin' goin' on.

[stig]

Made me wish we had big conifers here.
That was fun to watch.
Looks like it was fun to do, too.

[gf beranek]

That was a darn good helmet cam vid, alright. Nice job. Tough though, trying to drop limbs through others below.

[gf beranek]

I was just poking my head around the Buzz video forum to see if I missed anything of interest. Boy I'll tell ya, all those guys do over there is pick each other apart. Some of the vids were actually ok, but be prepared for all the flak coming from the peanut gallery.

[woodworkingboy]

They must be all young guys. :lol:

[pantheraba]

hahaha...very astute, Jay...piss, vinegar, ego...a cantankerous combination.:lol:

[Rborist1]

but be prepared for all the flak coming from the peanut gallery.

That's why it is nice to hang ones hat here.

[flushcut]

That's why it is nice to hang ones hat here.

I'll second that.

[Porkbrick]

ill third that.
that was a really fun job. because we were to leave the stem standing i left the first set of live limbs to maybe keep the tree alive. mimic a storm broken tree perhaps. from the ground i thought i would have to rig the limbs over the oak trees (on my right hand side in the vid), but it worked out that doing just a top cut (i think Gerry calls it a hinge cut in working climber?) swung them into the trunk just enough to clear. thanks for watching guys. glad you liked it. oh yeah, just heard from one of our salesmen yesterday that we may be doing three more firs like that one down the road. i love my job! jaime

[woodworkingboy]

I wondered why you were putting a face in the limbs, then later on weren't.

[flushcut]

I was wondering that as well.

[sierratree]

were you rappelling down with your lifeline, then working, then rappelling? or just rappelling from the last stem?

[Porkbrick]

i rappelled from the top for the first and second pieces. the first piece had branches on, and the second piece i left a few good stubs at the top.

[sierratree]

got a new helmet cam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx52D54Npms

[CurSedVoyce]

Kerplop BAM! Nicely done! :)

[MasterBlaster]

THUMP!

[sierratree]

think i'm going to try to mount the camera more flush on the hard hat, and in front. the camera shadow kind of shows too much. i'll get a new vid up in a day or so...........

[MasterBlaster]

Mod the sukka!!! :rockon:

[canadiantreeman]

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Nice work, guys.

Crazy trees over there. Maybe one day I'll fight a couple.

[woodworkingboy]

Those trees will keep you out of trouble. Pretty cozy looking home too.

[Rborist1]

Really cool vid, thx for posting.

[High Scale]

Likes it!

[canadiantreeman]

BTW, thats not me!!! Didn't want anyone to get the wrong impression. Just caught it over at the buzz and thought you all would like to see it.

[Burnham]

This one isn't new, but I'd not seen it before. Brilliant...absolutely brilliant.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iXbb9EF1ELg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[pantheraba]

hahaha..."just a little damage"..idjits

[woodworkingboy]

Sad

[Reddog]

Some old school Topping.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MKUJrEe2Br8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[woodworkingboy]

Cool vid. Heck of a fat lanyard.

[pantheraba]

good work but no lifeline...I hate climbing down. Different strokes for different folks.

[MasterBlaster]

I hate climbing down, TOO!!!

[Reddog]

good work but no lifeline...I hate climbing down. Different strokes for different folks.

That tape/vid must be from the 80's by my guess. No one in the logging industry was known for using a life line in topping at that time. That's why I posted it as old school.

That's why squisher always jokes about bailing out when working logging gigs, bailout meant spur down Faster! :lol:

[Burnham]

Neither of these are noted for quality videography :).

Here's a lovely example of the finer art of sawyering.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xbiHwAGHtmw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

And this one is just plain scary.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Tz2B48YZJSk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[woodworkingboy]

Horrific!

[Burnham]

Just to round things out, here's the other side of the coin.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/V-SwpDKkHko" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[woodworkingboy]

Lovely!

[FJR]

Do guys know what type of axe is being used in that last vid? What a great place to go to work everyday!

[Burnham]

Stihl, I believe Fred. Not positive.

[Burnham]

This one, perhaps?

http://www.stihlusa.com/handtools/PA50-Splitting-Axe.html

[FJR]

Thanks Burnham. It looks like it is yellow on the bottom of the handle and red on the rest of it. I couldn't even venture a guess, so I defer to you and the rest of the guys on the west coast with the knowledge. :)

[Burnham]

Might be something completely different...the color pattern is not the same, as you say. I was throwing a WAG...well, maybe not quite, but to a degree:).

[gf beranek]

A fine example of confidence and expertise. oh yeah

[CurSedVoyce]

I was busting a gut over the peevy whacking the axe head to try and wedge that tree over :lol:
Scary stuff.....
Top notch felling on that third vid :thumbup: Now THATS working on a slope!

[pantheraba]

That was a masterful felling, Burnham...and incredible scenery...thanks for posting.

[stig]

Nice to watch.
And he was even using a relatively short bar:D

[vl2007]

I'm not to proud to say, I don't have what it takes, (bravado or experience) to fell a tree like in that video. Very nice to watch indeed.

[SouthSoundTree]

Nice to watch.
And he was even using a relatively short bar:D

Funny. I was thinking you'd like that double cut, Stig.



About the springboards, how are those limbs cut into the tree?

I've only springboarded one double leader cottonwood, and my experienced work partner was having a bad knee day and didn't want to go down into the little ravine, so he just told me to make a mini conventional facecut for installing the cleated springboard. Worked really well. I'll take any and all tips.

Ours have a semicircular metal cleat http://www.arboristsite.com/attachments/forestry-logging-forum/181599d1303860970-pict0018-jpg like this, which allows it to rotate really nicely in the notch to help with positioning. Is this common for working (I saw a picture of one for competition which didn't look like it would rotate)?

[pete mctree]

I don't have an AS login anymore. can you post the pic anotherway please

[Burnham]

Don't forget this thread of yours, Pete. Angus posted some pictures of the shoe they use in Oz.

http://masterblasterhome.com/showthread.php?14291-Springboards

[SouthSoundTree]

I'm having trouble with the Snipping Tool. Dang. Thought I had a good new tool in the tool box. Can someone help.

This is the semicircular cleat that allows the sawyer to stand on the board up close to the tree with the 'inside' foot, and kick with the heel or tow to rotate the end of the board forward (helps with the facecut, and back for the backcut).

Would be nice if someone can post it to the Springboard thread that B referenced above, too, please.

[Porkbrick]

from a few weeks ago. lightning struck fir, 044, not so pretty hinge on the stump.
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[MasterBlaster]

Splat!!!

[FJR]

Cool vid, love the music!

[CurSedVoyce]

Well.. down she went....
I think I would have cut the back cut in opposite fashion one side to the other. Better escape in case that back trunk blew out from splitting at the codom.

[Porkbrick]

Well.. down she went....
I think I would have cut the back cut in opposite fashion one side to the other. Better escape in case that back trunk blew out from splitting at the codom.

that was the plan, but i got nervous standing on the downslope to start the back cut and i didnt cut enough hinge. then i moved to the upslope... and then had to go back to the downslope when it didnt go over. i was hoping that the bar on my 044 was long enough to reach from the top and nip at the hinge, it wasn't. the plan was there, the problem was in the execution:|:.

[CurSedVoyce]

Just worried when I saw you cross back behind that tree. Seen a fair share of codoms like that split out. Successful fall though :) Regardless of how you feel about the cut ;) Just want you to be careful brother :)

[Burnham]

I've seen plenty that were worse, Jaime. Seem to recall a few by my own hand, now that I think about it :D.

[CurSedVoyce]

:lol: I can vouch I have my share of ugly as well :lol:

[chris_girard]

Big and ugly tree for sure, but she's down and gone, so all's well that ends well.

[Porkbrick]

thanks guys, good to know im not the only one. by the way, we went back to the state park and took down the last big fir. it went perfect! i feel much more confidant with a good one at the end. i took vid, ive got to edit and upload it.

[Porkbrick]

this one went so much better!

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[stig]

I can't see the last part, for some reason it cuts out at 2.28 min.

On the first tree, it looks like you have a clear lay to put it in, why bounce it off the trees to the left?

Is there something that is not evident from the viewpoint of the camera?

[Porkbrick]

all the material was to stay on the ground, anything in the road had to be cleaned up. we were just trying to keep the wood off the road so we didnt have to move it, plus there is an old split-rail fence on the other side. it may be cutting out cause ive got you-tube running the stabilizing edit on it, give it a few and it should be finished.

[stig]

I figured it was something like that. I'll sometimes jump through hoops in order to keep trees off of roads and trails, too!
In fact some of the fanciest felling I've pulled off, has been because I wanted to avoid clen-up:lol:

[Porkbrick]

:D

[Bodean]

Great work. Love the videos.

Here's one my friend sent me, hope it's not a repost.

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[sotc]

Nice stuff Jamie. On that big tree, more wedges makes for easier driving. But my guess is thats all you had:)

[CurSedVoyce]

Nice hinge BTW on the last tree.. Good job Jaime. It's fun getting to fell some trees outside the urban setting. :)

[Porkbrick]

i was the camera man on this one, my man Rusty did the cutting. you can hear him cackling at the end. the wedge was just back-up, we had the winch on it (grcs) and it was leaning in our favor, i was just really enthusiastic with driving that wedge.

[Bodean]

I liked the trail of redirects.

[CurSedVoyce]

+1 That was cool.

[pantheraba]

Pork...is that Big Shot pole made of bamboo?

[MasterBlaster]

It sure looks like it! Great video!

[woodworkingboy]

Was that a Pine, Jamie, and did you happen to count how old it was?

[Porkbrick]

it was a douglas fir, and i counted 120 +- years on it. right aout the time it was last logged. the bigshot is bamboo, and so is my pole pruner, works great and its cheap (free!).

[MasterBlaster]

Makes cents!

[pantheraba]

Excellent on the bamboo...I use it a bit, too...good stuff.

[Burnham]

Professional cutter with 30 years experience, so says the caption...looks like it, doesn't it?

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RzIV-miA03o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[MasterBlaster]

Whoa - never actually seen it as it happened!!!

[woodworkingboy]

Scary. It sounded professional until someone screamed."No"!

[Burnham]

I don't think that ever helps much at changing the outcome, does it :).

[sotc]

Rut ro

[vl2007]

Weight in motion...powerful stuff!

[bonner1040]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GVkt_Ve70Ic" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[woodworkingboy]

Seen that one before, and too painful to see again.

[Frax]

This is a month old. No badass drama here but its my first time on one of your Eastern pines, so it was a real thrill for this Prairie arb working with Chip on this.

It was a full 100 feet tall to the top and all dead. My usual trees in calgary are quite a bit shorter. Highest I've ever been on gaffs by far. First time playing with a bit of speedline too. And the biggest top I've ever knocked off. Just a cool thing to try out all around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZzCImV49Mc&feature=g-upl&context=G2a3de5bAUAAAAAAABAA

You Easterners have awesome trees. I need to be here more.

[Burnham]

Good sized top to toss, Nora. Real nice video.

[woodworkingboy]

Good job, and very enjoyable to watch. Say hi to Chip.

[Porkbrick]

very cool!

[CurSedVoyce]

Good job you two..... :thumbup:

[murphy4trees]

Good cut on that top... that takes nerve in a dead pine with who knows how much decay in the stem or roots.. Making a narrow face helps reduce the push and pull.. NICE..

[CurSedVoyce]

Knowing Chip was on site, I bet he probed some roots :/:

[woodworkingboy]

I thought that tree didn't look too good for climbing, based on appearances. Chip knows his stuff.

[murphy4trees]

Professional cutter with 30 years experience, so says the caption...looks like it, doesn't it?

That's a screamer! HOLY S%$#@*&^#$@!................ That rope was set low and seems like it was close to 45 degrees, putting the two ground men well within the DZ from the look of it on the vid.. Who knows maybe that one little cottage took a bullet for two men! I'd have set a high pull line with the big shot and pulled it over with a skid steer, leaving a WHOLE LOT more hinge to fight the side lean.. Looks like he was depending more on the wedges than the pull line.. two men on a low line aren't gonna do much with a tree that big!

[CurSedVoyce]

A pondo like that would be treacherous as would a grey up here. Sugar pine you could probably pull it off.
Bugs have there way with them pretty good on these foot hills..

[CurSedVoyce]

That's a screamer! HOLY S%$#@*&^#$@!................ That rope was set low and seems like it was close to 45 degrees, putting the two ground men well within the DZ from the look of it on the vid.. Who knows maybe that one little cottage took a bullet for two men! I'd have set a high pull line with the big shot and pulled it over with a skid steer, leaving a WHOLE LOT more hinge to fight the side lean.. Looks like he was depending more on the wedges than the pull line.. two men on a low line aren't gonna do much with a tree that big!

Probably nipped the hinge as well....

[woodworkingboy]

Even with a puller, it's a sinking feeling when you realize that you can't pull it up, after you have cut it up pretty good. Mommy!!!

[CurSedVoyce]

Set wedges, lock off and add more mechanical advantage.
Or are you sayin too late for even that ?

[woodworkingboy]

One of those do or die things. Still living apparently, but it can shake you up. Tightlining with a two ton puller. You do get lucky sometimes, lose it but it doesn't hit anything.

[CurSedVoyce]

Hear ya...... I remember one I waited for the wind to let off to pull it some more... :lol:
Kept saying.. I know we can, just a little more.. damn wind... give it a sec.. yup... NOW!

[CurSedVoyce]

This dude got off pretty lucky.... Well.... with exception of never hearing the end of it from the wife :lol:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hI-GthCBeUU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[inbredJed]

Yeah!!! That was hilarious!! She's sitting there lecturing him about gravity, and the fact that the tree is a lot taller than the height of the bucket.

Poor chap.

[woodworkingboy]

Lucky he didn't get clobbered.

[Tree Reb]

It's amazing, they just keep coming. I wonder if electricans and plumbers have these sort of videos as well.::?

This guy should have listened to his little brother.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7jrHAMVYWxM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[MasterBlaster]

I saw THAT coming. It was as if he wanted to be under it...

[Frax]

I thought that tree didn't look too good for climbing, based on appearances. Chip knows his stuff.

Yeah, he does.

I don't know these eastern pines, how they should feel dead or alive so he went up first to make sure. It was solid. In fact damn solid. The main thing was staying gaffed in. It was dead of pine beetle and there was no significant rot we could detect. I got up to about 85 feet to tie on the rope and it was full of holes but pretty solid even up there.

[stig]

That was a scary looking tree, Nora.
Nice job.
I hate climbing dead ones.
Unfortunately, with the way ash trees are going here, I will have to get used to it.

[Koala]

Great job , Nora.
You're lucky you can work with that buddy.
Here sometimes is not so easy to find an old wise dog who wishes to share his tricks.

[forestryworks]

Yeah, he does.

I don't know these eastern pines, how they should feel dead or alive so he went up first to make sure. It was solid. In fact damn solid. The main thing was staying gaffed in. It was dead of pine beetle and there was no significant rot we could detect. I got up to about 85 feet to tie on the rope and it was full of holes but pretty solid even up there.

Good job.

When I lived and worked in SE OK, most of the pines (Shortleaf) there were either stone solid or had heart rot.

[murphy4trees]

Great job , Nora.
You're lucky you can work with that buddy.
Here sometimes is not so easy to find an old wise dog who wishes to share his tricks.

Not so much for her... who wouldn't want to climb with Frax on the crew for a day?

[bonner1040]

"Its a good one"

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9XDHJxq8JqI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Burnham]

:roll:

[woodworkingboy]

This Cypress was added to the end of the Pine removal at the temple. I've had good luck with this cut when using a crane. A plunge cut generally towards the crane or in it's general direction, with the far side opened up more. The cut angled like that makes it easier to release when pulling the tree over, and less pressure on the bar. Cut down from the sides to release. A little more time to do than the conventional cut straight across the bottom, but I like it for ease in freeing up a stuck saw, and depending how the boom is positioned, you can tailor how the tree exits the cut. On the left here was a small delicate structure. With that much cut away, you can pull the tree around and the remaining attached fibers will stretch....even tear away sometimes. By leaving three ears requiring three slanting cuts to trip instead of two, you can hold the butt in place for a controlled vertical lift, helpful for trees up against buildings and such. I like the control it gives. Not such a good job here getting everything even, but I think you can get the idea. With an observant operator that knows what is being done, the coordination and shifting of the lean goes smooth and effortlessly, and the saw seldom gets stuck, as it did here, or a minor delay. Most guys think it is unnecessary effort, but I like the advantages it gives, and trying to get precision. A little novelty almost setting the tree on fire at our tea spot that the priest's wife had set up for us. The Hinoki leaves catch quickly. It could have been wild! :D

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[CurSedVoyce]

I am lovin the fire right near the brush... :lol: Kindred spirit my friend... :lol:

[woodworkingboy]

Yeah, not really sure what the operator was thinking there. Pyromaniac? He did look cold in the cab, I saw him rubbing his hands. :lol:

[CurSedVoyce]

Sure is a warmer and short drag that way :D I am surprised you did not have the tea on yet :lol:

[woodworkingboy]

but of course shortly there after, planning is everything! I was wondering what she had to chew on, why I looked in the basket. Some sweet bean thing they like. Not complaining....much. :)

[CurSedVoyce]

Tea and cookies would have been sweet :D

[woodworkingboy]

Dried squid too! Tea is big, the world stops at 10 and 3. Lots of variations. Nice lady to stand out there in the cold and help where she could. Even untied some ropes, raked up, etc. I think a priest's wife is used to offering assistance of one kind or another They have a pretty good life thanks to the good graces of others.

[CurSedVoyce]

Thats cool.. There are times I really get a kick out of owner assistance on the site. I have some fun with that :)

[woodworkingboy]

Some jobs stick out in my memory where folks were especially kind and generous. One place in particular, a farmhouse, where great tasting food was abundant including ice cream, then when we left they had given us big bottles of apple juice made from their orchard. A hot day, during lunch break they brought out a large electric fan to blow cool air over us under a pavilion they had arranged, including some mats for a snooze. Kind of spoiling though, wasn't so keen to go back to work. Genuinely appreciative in a largely demonstrated way. The nicest people, visiting and becoming friends would be an easy thing to do. Being from another place, it is still interesting to snoop around a bit and see how people live.

[MasterBlaster]

Why did the operator let the load drop to the ground like that? Why did it swing so far?

It should have magically lifted up and floated away. I see a crushed body part in that swung and drop scenario.

I'd have been pissed.

[woodworkingboy]

A little pull to one side with where the boom is, and an accommodating cut, gets the tree away from anything that could be damaged, in this case, something quite valuable behind. Yes, it was a bit over emphasized, and I get your concern with it, Butch. I respect your take, know you have done mucho crane aided removals. I knew which way the thing was going to swing, the reason why the cut gets opened more in that direction, and away from me, set up between the operator and myself before hand, or I can generally just look at the boom and see if there is some directional thing going on that he has in mind and can orient the cut, or ask him to move the boom a bit myself. If there is some confusion, will always clear the plan to eliminate concern. We've done many hundreds of trees together, and pretty clear communication with a hand signal or whatever, as to what is planned. Sop here. As you point out, a gentler lift is generally preferred. Will use a rope sometimes too, to hold a pick until the lift is deemed safe. No way that I would be cutting on the other side in a situation like that. I've had trees swing by me close with crane picks, too quick and little room to respond, definitely not a good thing. He didn't need so much lift in that case, but not a worry. He did bounce it, I dunno, cold or tired at the end of the day...? All in all, things generally go a bit smoother with a straight up lift. No biggee imo.

[MasterBlaster]

I'm not used to seeing lifts go down... only UP. Agreed, the 'lil swing wasn't the end of the world...

[sotc]

Not a video but I came across this book in a store the other day and flipped through it. Made me think of Bob Villa, it had clear photos of dutch cuts, both angled and horizontal had bypassed, an offered it up as proper. Makes me wonder if they are open to liability if someone gets hurt or damages something

http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/product/lumberjacks-the-backyard-lumberjack-96188.aspx?src=T12WFSHP1&gclid=CMjb77fHqq4CFWgZQgodAzMLSg

[forestryworks]

Flipped through that book as well. Terrible.

[pantheraba]

Good video, Jay...easy to see how those cuts worked for you. Thanks for the show/lurnin'.

[woodworkingboy]

Thanks, Gary. By the way, your sticks are heading out when the oil dries. Not sure the finish was required since they will get skuffed up, but it might help protect to some extent. Sorry about the delay.

[pantheraba]

No worry on the delay...I'll be glad to work with them. I have your video on standby to work on your associate's technique. There have been a few times lately when I thought about using the sticks; I used my bamboo sticks a week or so ago when Hayden and I were about 15 feet up playing on a limb...it gave him a place for his feet on the trunk of the tree.

[woodworkingboy]

They do seem to have a logical place in tree work. The fellow in that vid, he has them attached to his saddle almost full time.

[pantheraba]

I have been pruning a tree before and really wished I had spurs when at certain places on the trunk or a sweeping upthrust limb..they would be useful there.

I suspect that as they are worked with they will become more useful as ideas on ways to use them develop.

[woodworkingboy]

A person can get quick with them too, Gary. He is very fluid with them, attached to a tree or back on his saddle in two winks.

[pantheraba]

If you ever get a chance to get more video of him in action, not just in a teaching mode, that would be good to see.

I have not heard of or seen anything like it before.

[CurSedVoyce]

I have been pruning a tree before and really wished I had spurs when at certain places on the trunk or a sweeping upthrust limb..they would be useful there.

I suspect that as they are worked with they will become more useful as ideas on ways to use them develop.


That reminds me of a trick I often forget. Use of a loop runner for a foot stirrup on a spar.

[woodworkingboy]

Ok, some more vid of the fellow when I get a chance. I can only assume that he must be the best climber pertaining to tree work in the country. Totally self taught too.

[Marc-Antoine]

Bad technique but lucky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JRZc2CfLSDw

[MasterBlaster]

Lucky bastid.

[pantheraba]

Start watching at 1:25...pretty close call.

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[flushcut]

I wonder what happened? Did he cut through the hinge or ??

[stig]

What hinge?:lol:

[inbredJed]

Hate when that happens.

[Burnham]

This is pretty funny, if it wasn't so scary. You need to stick it out to the very end, but it's not all that long...couple of minutes.

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[Tucker943]

Laugh all you want. We got the job done and made a few bucks. I couldn't find a sharp file, that's what had my saw draggin so bad.

[Burnham]

:lol:

Now this one...what could possibly have been the thought process?

It's sideways too, but short enough to not be too bothersome.

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[stig]

Thought process?

[Tucker943]

That's just scary. I mean, it doesn't take a professional to see what was going to happen there. Some people cant grasp simple physics without a trip to the hospitol.

[Burnham]

Good point, Stig. Same applies here. To loosely quote the genius behind the camera, "It makes no sense that it fell the wrong way, except that it probably was leaning that way to begin with."

:lol:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kYB9K45VVkg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[pantheraba]

In the ghetto that is called one lucky mofo.

[pantheraba]

This is hard to believe...you won't believe the charlie foxtrot (clusterfook) at the end where they found a good use for a ladder. Just think, you could be driving down the road and someone like this could be felling a tree towards you.

In the credits they thank their neighbors for "helping hold the tree up" so it didn't destroy the 13,400 V power lines.

This is some crazy stuff. The middle is tedious with all the goofy cutting but the end is memorable.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kYB9K45VVkg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Burnham]

Go back a couple of posts Gary, to my last. :)

[pantheraba]

Yeah, I saw that after I posted it... found it by drilling down from your original post...you got your video posts out LOTS quicker than those guys cut down those trees.

I'm just following your lead, Mr. B. :D

[Burnham]

:D

[MasterBlaster]

It's amazing how many fools are out there.

[bstewert]

Burnham, (or anyone), let's say you got the call to take over, now that the tree is leaning into the high voltage lines. How would you proceed from there?

[Burnham]

Call the power company.

[MasterBlaster]

It wasn't making contact, right? I'd finish it with a bucket truck.

[bstewert]

I knew you were going to say that!

How would they do it? And how do they deal with the potential of somebody's generator backfeeding in to the lines, even tho the power is supposedly cut?

[Burnham]

It was laying on the lines, Butch.

I don't know, and don't intend to find out, Bob. I do trees, not electricity :).

[Tucker943]

The loser that couldn't understand why the tree went backwards other then the fact that it was leaning that way, needs a punch in the throat.

[MasterBlaster]

They use hot gloves, which suck to wear. It's hard to operate a saw.

[Jack]

Yeah, B ... looks like it was "laying on the lines" to me, too (below). What do you suppose PSEG charged for that call? I'd guess $2-3000. We had a neighbor hit and underground line and that's what he had to pay ... shoulda been more.

[Skwerl]

Burnham's earlier video showing the idiot on the ladder cutting the notch below the top of the ladder, I liked how he tried to blame his son after the fact for not warning him in time. Stupid is as stupid does.

[woodworkingboy]

Those mistakes would just have to go on your record for the rest of your life, there can be statute of limitations.

[CurSedVoyce]

WOW.. Just wow.. They all lived.

[MasterBlaster]

Fools abound, everywhere... that SUCKS.

We should be better than that.

[CurSedVoyce]

All probably to save some almighty buck. Stoopid.

[MasterBlaster]

Nah. They're just morons... ha!

[Jack]

Well, there's an old expression: "God looks after fools, little children and drunken men." ... 'tis TRUE, been all of those -- I know :D

[rskybiz]

Mr B. The ladder vid. What gets me on that is (I am not at all saying he has any smarts) he makes a notch so as he has done this would not one know that above the notch goes.? Dumbest one I've seen yet!
Comming back from Dr. Yesterday I noticed scaffolding near a sweet gum, head to town and they must have used it to dismantle the half away from the house. May stop back and snap a shot or two.

[Burnham]

I assumed he expected to leave a hinge sufficiently thick enough that he'd be able to then climb down, remove the ladder, and pull it over with the rope (which you can see momentarily at the very beginning of the vid). But then in the end the numb nut admits he didn't think about that the ladder was above the notch :O.

[Tarzan]

I fell timber for 13 years before I became a climber. I was lucky enough in my travels to end up in Northern California where I scored this glorious Redwood. If I could have stayed in wood this big, I would still be trampin around falling timber.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDhLp1BtiGw

[Tucker943]

You're the real deal, eh?

[pete mctree]

Nice job :)

[woodworkingboy]

That tree was the real deal.

[Tucker943]

Be sure to tell us more about yourself brother. There's a welcome new members thread if I remember correctly. Tell us about your career a little. Looks to me like you got some stripes on your sleeves.

[bonner1040]

you see it right from the beginning... all 6 seconds of it.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VEpXASQ7seY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[woodworkingboy]

Vid reminds of a trap block in football. Your offensive guard lets the opposing defensive player penetrate through the line untouched, and when he sees the ball carrier right in front of him and starts salivating and giving all his attention for an easy tackle, a blocking back coming down behind the line unseen, can hit him low and really clean him out. It creates a nice hole for the guy with the ball to plow through the line. Usually the guy being blocked will get up totally dazed, or mumble...."never saw...". Pretty brutal play when it works well, it isn't so uncommon for the defender to have to leave the game.

[MasterBlaster]

Hahahaha, lordy...

[MasterBlaster]

And I truly hope we are ALL the Real Deal, here at the 'House.

[clearcut6205]

I fell timber for 13 years before I became a climber. I was lucky enough in my travels to end up in Northern California where I scored this glorious Redwood. If I could have stayed in wood this big, I would still be trampin around falling timber.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDhLp1BtiGw

Columbia Helicopter job? Nice drop.

[Tarzan]

Yessir it was. Spent 4 years in that country. You work for CHI?

[forestryworks]

I fell timber for 13 years before I became a climber. I was lucky enough in my travels to end up in Northern California where I scored this glorious Redwood. If I could have stayed in wood this big, I would still be trampin around falling timber.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDhLp1BtiGw

What's up, tree killer? :rockon:

[Tarzan]

Had my nose roto rootered today and gettin stir crazy pard! Can't believe how well I am typing as woozy as I feel.

[sotc]

Yessir it was. Spent 4 years in that country. You work for CHI?

I nearly went falling with them in Humbolt around 98, slow start that year so I went residential instead

[Tarzan]

I nearly went falling with them in Humbolt around 98, slow start that year so I went residential instead

So you have a Professional Timber Falling background? Not to sound snobby, but both occupations have their extreme differences imho. I feel proud and lucky to have worked with some of the best Timber Fallers in the country, in some of the most glorious environments. I have known a lot of good Timber Fallers from your neck of the woods.

[sotc]

Not full time. I did alot of falling on the logging job, helping cutters catch up on weekends etc. I was going to go into columbia as an apprentice due to the nature of redwood. Most of my cutting was in Siskiyou and Shasta counties. Did you know the Leeper boys in Humboldt? They were my hook into Columbia

[Tarzan]

Don't recall any Leeper boys. But Columbia is a big outfit, and usually had several different sides going at once in Humboldt. I was on Reavis' crew, while a lot of other crews would come and go, we were pretty much based there the whole time. It was four years of feast or famine when I was there. 2 or 3 Million foot unit would be opened up and they would shove as many fallers, hookers and helicopters as they could in there, then we would be layed off til the next thp was approved.

[Tarzan]

Here is my Brother from another Mother...Pat. Damn good Timber Faller...and a helluva character as you will see...

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[CurSedVoyce]

Nicely done :thumbup:

[sotc]

I see his dog runs in a pack :/:

[pantheraba]

Looked like some beautiful cutting to me...that was a pleasure to watch.

[Tarzan]

That dog is as big of a character as he is. That dog and a dog that my Dad had are the only two I have ever seen that will look at the faller and then look up at the top of the tree...just like a faller would. My Dad's dog always knew where to be, unlike some dogs I have been around whilst falling timber.

[sotc]

Ha, that is pretty cool. I guess I used to be the dog. I packed gas and oil around for my buddies dad in my teens

[Tarzan]

I was packing my Dad's jugs just outta diapers...well not quite :) I do remember being six years old and hangin on to Dad's 2100 with him while he fell a nice Spruce...ruined me for life.

[sotc]

8)

[MasterBlaster]

A most excellent post, indeed.

[GASoline71]

That is one wicked ported 066.

Gary

[murphy4trees]

That dog is as big of a character as he is. That dog and a dog that my Dad had are the only two I have ever seen that will look at the faller and then look up at the top of the tree...just like a faller would. My Dad's dog always knew where to be, unlike some dogs I have been around whilst falling timber.
That's what was most remarkable about that vid.. dog looked like he was totally ready, watching for falling debris, in tune with the process, Perfect! ... obviously the cutting was first rate too!

[gf beranek]

Very good. Your bro dispatched that spruce with skill and expediency. Obvious traits of a bushel faller.

[Tarzan]

Yessir he is good at what he does. Bushelin is how we rolled most of our careers...well at least me...he is still falling timber.

[inbredJed]

Gotta love anyone whose saw sounds like that!

[gf beranek]

You in private work now?

[woodworkingboy]

What I liked about that vid was that you could see all the key points being attended to in smooth quick motion.....the face, checks the gun with a glance, the back cut lined up to the face the way he wanted, all done without any hesitation as the work progresses, even had time to smile at the camera. That would be professional efficiency.

[Tarzan]

You in private work now?

Yessir, I moved back here to MT in 06 and started doing residential tree work. I love climbing as much as I did Falling Timber :)

[gf beranek]

I'm retired now, but before that I jumped back and forth between the two occupations. Hard not to when it's in your blood.

[Tarzan]

Yessir, I know about you. I own Fundamentals, and high climbers and timber fallers...I also own your working climber dvds. I think it is awesome that you are on this forum. I really enojoy the stories in High Climbers and Timber Fallers. I spent most of my 4 year tenure living in Rio Dell and Fortuna, but spent about a month down in Fort Bragg. We were working on a job for CDF where I busted my leg really bad and had to spend 5 days in the Willits hospital. Your right about how it gets in your blood. If I did not have a family I am sure that I would still be trampin around on the coast looking for that ever elusive, bigger pickle patch :)

[flushcut]

Damn you guys and your stories about big timber! It makes me want to ditch the girl and everything else to go flop some timber on the coast. Alas a daydream of a cheesehead.

[Tarzan]

With every passing day it turns into more of a "dream". I feel lucky to have experienced what I did for as young as I still am, but it was nothing compared to some of the guys of Jerry's era in a coastal environment. I would love to go back a hundred or so years in time with my big saws, tree jacks and chisel chain grinder! Hopefully they will soon find another planet that is covered with Old growth so dense that it is uninhabitable...til they send me there to open it up for habitation :) There I go day dreaming again...