How big is big?

[flushcut]

So I have a job coming up that is at a property next to a long time retired tree man and my mentor. Long story short is that it's a live red oak 48"DBH and 95-110' tall forest tree first crotch is about 60' and a small hollow in the base, maybe 20% hollow. He and I were discussing a plan and he was like just cut it there and take the top in four cuts. So I start running numbers in my head and each cut comes in around 2200-3600lbs from my crane experience give or take. I was kind of in shock hearing him saying we used to take them that big all the time natty crotch and trunk wraps. The question becomes how big is too big for negative rigging?

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Again. I cut what my kit and crew can manage. Clear the ground. Next cut. If the climber dont mind hanging out waiting...... then bigger.
I am in the getting the next piece ready about the time the ground is clear forthe next one. Unless you can lay limbs out like a wagon wheel and cut where they aint.
I often climb higher and cut smaller.
And I dont like shook up

 

[flushcut]

I’m in the smaller is better camp as well but those stories from back in the day, holy buckets, huge pieces. I’ve rigged out big logs pushing 3000lbs but that was static and smooth.

 

[SeanKroll]

Let It Run!

I don't have the ground workers to go huge. I generally find it's easy to create work by going big unless the climber is slow.


Old school with a belt and Becket ( or whatever) hitch, bigger could be easier.

 

[friedrich]

mmmh fried rope

 

[lumberjack]

The length of the piece can matter more than it’s static weight.

 

[flushcut]

There’s room length wise to let it burn in.

 

[cory]

Nice page Freidrich👍

 

[friedrich]

Nice page Freidrich👍

thank you, i kind of lost interest in insta but used to enjoy it.

 

[friedrich]

this was only (retired) 1/2 climbing rope and after 5 load cycles or so it was done.

in retrospect this was more a stupid stunt than (semi)professional treework but with a proper rope, room to let it run and a sound enough tree …

 

[SeanKroll]

Is that more steam or smoke?

 

[davidwyby]

Blue n white I wanna say 50/50 😁

 

[cory]

I'd say it's virtually all smoke. I had one that bad, possibly worse, smoke cloud obscured everything for a few moments. One of those where the piece kept going till it hit the ground

Ah the natty crotch days!

 

[treesmith]

I still natural crotch almost daily, though not on big stuff.

 

[SeanKroll]

I've only smoked one three-strand a bit on an oak leader, definitely a puff of smoke. Nothing like yours, nor the video's.

 

[flushcut]

I'd say it's virtually all smoke. I had one that bad, possibly worse, smoke cloud obscured everything for a few moments. One of those where the piece kept going till it hit the ground

Ah the natty crotch days!

Tho I’m ashamed to admit it’s been awhile since I had me some natty crotch.

 

[Burnham]

Bad boy, you!

 

[flushcut]

I’m talking about tree work.

 

[davidwyby]

I might have to break down and get some 1/2” smokerope

 

[Mick!]

Yes, probably pushing the boundaries a bit there!

 

[cory]

lol smoke rope

 

[Kaveman]

I might have to break down and get some 1/2” smokerope

Learn to climb David, then you can cut even more useless hinges in every eucalyptus. 😆

 

[davidwyby]

Learn to climb David, then you can cut even more useless hinges in every eucalyptus. 😆

IIRC limbs hinge better than trunks 🙃