Best rigging for crane

[Kottonwood]

So I have started using a crane more frequently and I am really enjoying it...... Damn it makes things much easier.

The crane I have been using provides two steel cables for rigging and so far that is what I have been using. I was thinking about getting some nylon straps in different lengths so you have more options when rigging.

Also with the cables we leave them on the crane, so when the crane is dropping the piece at the chipper the climber is basically waiting for the crane to come back to rig the next piece. I figure if I had five or six straps the climber can be setting rigging while the crane is setting a piece at the chipper.

Any suggestions for improving efficiency while using a crane?

 

[superjunior]

So I have started using a crane more frequently and I am really enjoying it...... Damn it makes things much easier.

The crane I have been using provides two steel cables for rigging and so far that is what I have been using. I was thinking about getting some nylon straps in different lengths so you have more options when rigging.

Also with the cables we leave them on the crane, so when the crane is dropping the piece at the chipper the climber is basically waiting for the crane to come back to rig the next piece. I figure if I had five or six straps the climber can be setting rigging while the crane is setting a piece at the chipper.

Any suggestions for improving efficiency while using a crane?

I'm pretty new with a crane also, we picked one up a few months ago. And oh yeah does it ever make things much easier and faster. only been using straps so far and they seem to be the way to go. I guess you could be setting up the next strap while waiting for the ball to come back and save some time. Maybe I'm just gettin lazy, I have the crane put me where we want it hooked up then rappel down to where I'll be making the cut. It's real nice with 2 climbers tho, one just stays tied into the tree to make the cuts and the other hooks up the straps and rappels down from the ball. Wish I had more to add but I'm still learning myself

 

[Blakesmaster]

Get some endless loop slings and 2 of these. Gunnebo Johnson Corporation » Round Sling Hook (RH)

The hooks are key as you don't have to take the slings on and off the ball every time, just hook and go. Just make sure you have the hooks oriented the right way so no pressure is applied to the gate. I normally run 2 14 foot slings with Gunnebo RH-5-10 hooks. The slings are cheap, the hooks were pricey but they make up for it in saved crane rental time.

 

[thepheniox]

Every crane I've worked with provided the rigging. As I understand it once the crane has the piece rigged it becomes their responsibility. So they always want to use their own rigging. Like if I showed up next week on your job site pulled out an old rope and said here use this. Probably you would say no Thanx. So I would ask the operator before I went out and bought rigging to use with a crane. Also not really sure how more chokers would speed things up it takes nothing to unclip the choker set it and attach it. You would still have to wait for the ball to come back to attach it anyway so you might as well wait for the choker. Just my two cents worth.

 

[Blakesmaster]

Every crane I've worked with provided the rigging. As I understand it once the crane has the piece rigged it becomes their responsibility. So they always want to use their own rigging. Like if I showed up next week on your job site pulled out an old rope and said here use this. Probably you would say no Thanx. So I would ask the operator before I went out and bought rigging to use with a crane. Also not really sure how more chokers would speed things up it takes nothing to unclip the choker set it and attach it. You would still have to wait for the ball to come back to attach it anyway so you might as well wait for the choker. Just my two cents worth.

Depends on the CO. If they know and trust you and your rigging gear is in order they're down, from my experience anyway. As far as carrying extra slings around the canopy while I move to the next choke point, no thanks. The process and time allotted to setting a sling is minimal. Focus on making that aspect more efficient and you'll be the better for it. Carrying around the extra weight of more slings to be "one step ahead" of the crane will only slow you down in the long haul.

 

[thepheniox]

Yes I agree depends on the company. Just every crane I've worked with would use nothing but their own gear. I'm sure if I took a choker out of a brand new unopened bag they all would say no Thanx use my stuff. That's just my experience anyway and I like it that way. They know their rigging and trust it. Just like I trust my own rigging and trust it.

 

[rymancm]

Every crane I've worked with provided the rigging. As I understand it once the crane has the piece rigged it becomes their responsibility. So they always want to use their own rigging. Like if I showed up next week on your job site pulled out an old rope and said here use this. Probably you would say no Thanx. So I would ask the operator before I went out and bought rigging to use with a crane. Also not really sure how more chokers would speed things up it takes nothing to unclip the choker set it and attach it. You would still have to wait for the ball to come back to attach it anyway so you might as well wait for the choker. Just my two cents worth.

Ditto. I agree completely. I am interested in the sling hook idea but am also leery. I often have to unclip the sling from the ball anyway to thread it over and under branches and around large trunk sections (particularly on nasty pines) and it takes no time to reattach to the hook. Also,I wouldn't want to worry about accidentally loading the gate.....just because you orient it the right way doesn't mean it can't shift once the cable is tensioned. I'd still like to try them and see how it goes. I know people who use shackles instead of sling hooks but it sure seems like it would be easy to drop a shackle while unscrewing it. I agree with everyone about cranes being a huge time and energy saver. The more I use one the more I see no reason to do it any other way (depends on the job, of course).

 

[superjunior]

As far as carrying extra slings around the canopy while I move to the next choke point, no thanks. The process and time allotted to setting a sling is minimal. Focus on making that aspect more efficient and you'll be the better for it. Carrying around the extra weight of more slings to be "one step ahead" of the crane will only slow you down in the long haul.

+ 1. It does make sense if your working with a bucket truck tho. I'll have a bunch of slings with me and have the next piece hooked up and ready to go if that's an option

 

[no tree to big]

we dont use slings of any kind we use steel chokers... we dont have to take anything off the ball just loop around and stick the end of the choker in the "clasp" or whatever you want to call it and cable up, nice and easy to undo. cables are clearly labled not for overhead lifting but O well osha aint around or havn't been yet lol. never had one break or come undone except one time the crane op was trying to jig for walleye or something and the boom was flopping around a bit tentioning and slacking down once the piece was on the ground(whoops wrong lever...)

clearly this is not an acceptible way to go about crane work but it works and who cares what "the man" thinks about it

 

[treemandan]

we dont use slings of any kind we use steel chokers... we dont have to take anything off the ball just loop around and stick the end of the choker in the "clasp" or whatever you want to call it and cable up, nice and easy to undo. cables are clearly labled not for overhead lifting but O well osha aint around or havn't been yet lol. never had one break or come undone except one time the crane op was trying to jig for walleye or something and the boom was flopping around a bit tentioning and slacking down once the piece was on the ground(whoops wrong lever...)

clearly this is not an acceptible way to go about crane work but it works and who cares what "the man" thinks about it

Ok.

 

[no tree to big]

Ok.

Yup.

osha would have a field day with us...

we may make millions every year but there are to many owners so they wont spend any money. steel last longer then the straps so thats what we get. Bare bones... hell they only want to give use one saw file a week for 5 saws and we do 2 or 3 big ass takedowns a day god forbid you have to sharpen the 880 more then once to do the flushcuts good thing I know where they keep um :msp_sneaky:

sounds hokey but you know what we put a lot of well equipped guys to shame! I guess you work the kinks out when you do 250-300 crane removals over the course of 5 months during summer.

 

[treemandan]

I have always used wide eye to eye choker straps or endless loops designed for overhead lifts. I was also always impressed with the ratty crap that came out of the crane's tool box so i started bringing my own. I don't know what they did to theirs to make them so ratty, after many uses mine are fine.

metal is to heavy. Cables sound to crazy.


I think having a tip guy and a cutter is the best.

 

[treemandan]

Yup.

osha would have a field day with us...

we may make millions every year but there are to many owners so they wont spend any money. steel last longer then the straps so thats what we get. Bare bones... hell they only want to give use one saw file a week for 5 saws and we do 2 or 3 big ass takedowns a day god forbid you have to sharpen the 880 more then once to do the flushcuts good thing I know where they keep um :msp_sneaky:

sounds hokey but you know what we put a lot of well equipped guys to shame! I guess you work the kinks out when you do 250-300 crane removals over the course of 5 months during summer.

Put yer foot down, become a sub-contactor, better yet, start yer own biz. Suddenly I am hungry

 

[no tree to big]

metal is to heavy. Cables sound to crazy.

Put yer foot down, become a sub-contactor, better yet, start yer own biz. Suddenly I am hungry

the chokers are light 10lbs maybe for the log ones we have 5lbs for the short one plus it doesn't matter it never comes off the ball so its not like your climbing aound with it

put my foot down? lol that aint gonna work not in this co. I'll either be collecting unemployment or someones ##### either way not good.

start my own biz, yup thats the plan the "first" chipper is sitting in the driveway just picked it up yesterday still plan on keeping to side work for a bit till I can get some cash saved up for a better/bigger chipper and maybe a forestry unit but thats down the road a bit now I just need to get the hydros hooked up on my truck and I be rollin!

 

[Iustinian]

I agree with the previous posters.....it doesnt matter how fast you can hook those chokers up ahead of the crane because you still have to wait for the hook/ball to get back to you. None of the crane companies I've worked with in the past would let us use our own rigging, and its not because they dont trust us or our gear, its always been a liability issue.

I dislike steel cable because it is heavy, stiff, and clumsy. Have used endless loops and I prefer those.

Also, We have used amsteel blue as a winch line in the past for skidding, but not for rigging. Its a better choice for winching imo because its lighter and faster/easier to handle, very strong, but also one kink will ruin a long cable, not so with amsteel blue.

 

[mattfr12]

Get some endless loop slings and 2 of these. Gunnebo Johnson Corporation » Round Sling Hook (RH)

The hooks are key as you don't have to take the slings on and off the ball every time, just hook and go. Just make sure you have the hooks oriented the right way so no pressure is applied to the gate. I normally run 2 14 foot slings with Gunnebo RH-5-10 hooks. The slings are cheap, the hooks were pricey but they make up for it in saved crane rental time.

polyester endless slings with the hooks blakes posted a link to above are the most efficient and easiest way i have seen with the hooks not only do you not have to unhook it from the ball you if your using a 12+ foot sling you don't have to pull it all back through itself. i get my slings from US cargo they make them on ordering I'm really happy with them. the polyester seem to get a tighter more form fitting grip to the log over the nylon from my observation. shackles can be a pain in the ass when wearing gloves i can't tell you how many times i lost the pin i usually carry and extra one in my little first aid kit on my saddle.

 

[dbl612]

cables

we dont use slings of any kind we use steel chokers... we dont have to take anything off the ball just loop around and stick the end of the choker in the "clasp" or whatever you want to call it and cable up, nice and easy to undo. cables are clearly labled not for overhead lifting but O well osha aint around or havn't been yet lol. never had one break or come undone except one time the crane op was trying to jig for walleye or something and the boom was flopping around a bit tentioning and slacking down once the piece was on the ground(whoops wrong lever...)

clearly this is not an acceptible way to go about crane work but it works and who cares what "the man" thinks about it

since when are "cables clearly marked not for overhead lifting" WTF!

 

[dbl612]

round sling hooks

polyester endless slings with the hooks blakes posted a link to above are the most efficient and easiest way i have seen with the hooks not only do you not have to unhook it from the ball you if your using a 12+ foot sling you don't have to pull it all back through itself. i get my slings from US cargo they make them on ordering I'm really happy with them. the polyester seem to get a tighter more form fitting grip to the log over the nylon from my observation. shackles can be a pain in the ass when wearing gloves i can't tell you how many times i lost the pin i usually carry and extra one in my little first aid kit on my saddle.

note: although they are very handy, round sling hooks are NOT designed or intended for choker applications. the load is designed to be carried in the bowl of the hook, and the latch is not designed to take any side loading (which can occur in choker applications), it is designed as an anti-fouling function, not load bearing. to date, no manufacturer lists hooks that have a side-load rating. if any climber is in such a hurry that he can't thread a strap or endless sling and place it in the hook, because it takes too long, (making a positive connection that insures HIS and everyone elses safety) he needs to calm down. sorry gentlemen if i sound like a SOB but i am only interested in your safety, not saving a few minutes over the course of the job. regards, tom.

 

[2treeornot2tree]

My crane guy supplys his own slings. I like the metal cables. They seem to really bite into the bark when lifting. I have seen straps slide a little before biting in good. I have used both, sometimes in combination with each other.

 

[Kottonwood]

Thanks for all the great info on this thread.

I am definitely going to invest in some endless loops and some of those hooks. My crane op is all about us having our own rigging. I am very fortunate to have a really good crane op in my ao.... though god willing I will have my own crane soon enough, so I definitely don't mind investing in some rigging.

Thanks Matt for the US Cargo suggestion and blakes for those hooks. Anyone else got any good sources for quality rigging?


Do you guys really think you are improving efficiency by having a bucket and a crane? I haven't used them simultaneously and I don't really see a reason to, I would much rather have the bucket out on a job where it will produce more.

I really like the idea of having one cutter and one rigger, I am definitely going to try that approach.

I can't wait for my next crane job now!