The Crushing Of The Blaster

[Bodean]

I shoulda added one of the Rye emoticons.


Butch, Heal up soon. For Reals.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Man, get well Butch. Good of you to share this with us as a reminder and so maybe one of us can avoid it in the future.

Thanks Boss. Keep yourself on the mend!!!

Jeff

 

[sawinredneck]

Damn glad it wasn't worse Butch!! I can't even imagine how bad that would hurt! I thought cutting my thumb off was bad, then I needed a root canal, that thumb was a walk in the park
Heal up soon, and STAY OFF OF IT!!
Andy

 

[No_Bivy]

Hey MB, what type of chokers were you using?(flat nylon, tuflex, steel) Did the bark fail causing them to slip? Just curious, not judging or nothin'. Foot feeling any better yet.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Just curious, not judging or nothin'.

No problemo, anybody ask anything.

It was a round continuous sling. The tree was smooth barked, and I knew there was a probability of slippage. Cutting it where I originally wanted to cut it would have been no problem. It was the additional 5 or 6 hundred pounds that was added when I made the cut lower that greatly increased the slippage.

 

[Frans]

You already said that, mb.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Excellent post, Frans. Thanks.

 

[darkstar]

Ha,
its good to see you back here MB along with your great sense of humor , you must be feeling a tad bit better.
Man werent you in shock when you saw your foot blown out?
Me and the crew were talking about it today.Yooooweeee
You must have strong bones bro to only get 3 breaks.
Thank the Lord for that one to.
Jerr

 

[Bearclaw]

Wow,

Hope you heal fast! The best knowledge is gained through the misfortune of others, (unfortunately) because after hearing or seeing what happened to them, your sure as hell not gonna do it!

It's hard to expect the unexpected (I know you knew it would prolly happen) but there are alot of times, you wouldn't even think of it happening until it actually did.

Any pics?

 

[Ryan]

Best wishes.

 

[rbtree]

Slipping chokers can hurt! If I don't have a fork or nub to prevent slippage, I'll take two wraps with it. Although those tuflex slings don't slip much. Steel chokers can be a PITA.

Heal well, Buddy.

Actually, logging chokers are quick to set. I always use two. Guaranteed to bite better than fabric slings.

Butch, sorry to hear of your mishap. Hope it heals well.

I've been so busy that I never reported on my injury, from about a month ago. Chipper valve for feed rollers fw/reverse was acting up, and I tried something stupid to get the feed rollers to work. Caught my middle finger between two pieces of metal as chipper winch cable forced them together. Instant destroyed nail....resulted in trip to hand specialist who had to repair the nail bed, after removing all of the nail. I'm mistreating it, what with taking too brief of a break....just hope the nail regrows.....

 

[MasterBlaster]

Yikes! I bet THAT hurt!

 

[pantheraba]

Sorry to hear it RB...sensitive area, has to be aggravating to work with.

 

[No_Bivy]

I tried logging chockers, but the quick release ball thingy sketched me out a bit. A lot of the steel ones the crane guys here have are so trashed it's a blood letting to use em'. What type of logging chokers are you using RB?

 

[sotc]

here its a bell, not sure of a ball type. as long as theres weight on it and its layed right theres no way the nubbin can come out of the bell

 

[GASoline71]

here its a bell, not sure of a ball type. as long as theres weight on it and its layed right theres no way the nubbin can come out of the bell

Bell here too... I ain't riggin' with a crane, but you are correct Willie.

Gary

 

[squisher]

If you don't lay or set your chokers proper though they can come open when ya go to yank on them, again this is from highleading not from craning.

 

[GASoline71]

Good call Justin.

Gary

 

[squisher]

Just doing some re-reading though and yah once there's weight on the choker and the knob is seated in the bell properly I've never seen or heard of one opening. Was just saying under no load if ya don't set them proper they can open when ya yank. Just to clarify.

 

[GASoline71]

Yup... I always put a load on the choker to ensure that it is set right. Never had one come undone or fail... However, never say never (knock on wood!)

Gary

 

[squisher]

Ah you hook on a highlead you'll lose a bead sooner or later nature of the beast, I can't say that I never have but I know how to lay a choker properly or jam a little stick or something in the bell if in doubt, never lost many.

 

[No_Bivy]

I'm gonna try one.

 

[GASoline71]

These are the one's I use...

Pre-made FSE "cat" chokers

Bailey's sell them in 3/8" and 1/2" wire rope. I only use them for pullin' big trees and for skidding. No overhead lifting.

Gary

 

[Bodean]

Those are the chokers We use at the Presidio.

In fact the only chokers I've ever used in 3 different tree outfits.

I've never seen a bell pop out, but I've seen the line spline out splinter
and pop in half a few times.

Damn, RB sorry to hear about your finger.


Butch, Still thinking about ya,
Will you be able to "walk" about when you get your cast?
Could you still Fall trees with a cast on? Or Run ropes?

 

[MasterBlaster]

I dunno, check out Beranek. He has a cast on his right foot in the topping pics. I'm guessing a broke foot? Frans? Any details?