But hitch demo -Ask This Old House

[John Paul Sanborn]

They took down a red maple (A. Rubrum) with a bucket. Nice talk on decay, bad stem union and flush cuts.

For those of you how have not seen it, they took out the top with a half hitch but tie vs. a block.

I've not done it on tops for ages, but use it on smaller wood from time to time when I just need it for a quick one cut.

 

[clearance]

I saw it, the guy gave a pretty good talk on proper cuts and it was nice to see everyone wearing thier p.p.e.. The took more time than I would cutting it down, never seen a top hung with a boom truck when the boom was higher than the tree, never seen a log being tied off like that witha boom truck. The guy could have flipped or thrown the branches butt first towards the chipper, could have chunked it down with no ropes using a big saw. Oh well, maybe he was just showing people different things. He cut it down safely, that all that really matters in the big picture. By far the best Old House tree episode, does anyone here remember that old west coast faller Bob Vila showing people how to fall trees? Or the one where the landcapers were sawing down a little tree with no p.p.e, whatsoever and the top landed on the roof?

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I might have bombed a lot of that tree too, but maybe they did not want big divots if the landscape was not going to be redone in the near future.

With a big chipper, you can rig out bigger sections then you can hold (then you would be onehanding the saw on TV too, and us pantywaist ANSI freaks would be whining ) which is why I like pullies. It is easy for the ground crew to maneuver the load to get it going into the chipper.

 

[Lawnmowerboy48]

I was on that crew that day, kind of funny that I actually have the shirt from the show on now too. It took us the better part of the day to remove the tree. We had to pull branches back up into the tree until the director was happy with shot. The director was pretty nutty he was running all over the yard looking into his little monitor and yelling into his headset. The tree did take a lot longer than it should have but it was mostly to show different methods and techniques. I haven't seen the show yet, does anyone know of any info I could find out about it?

Tyler

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

The tree did take a lot longer than it should have but it was mostly to show different methods and techniques. I haven't seen the show yet, does anyone know of any info I could find out about it?

Tyler

Good show, I emailed Foti thanking him for a good demo.

It aired Saturday morning here, and usually reruns several times through the week.

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/tv/ask-toh/products-and-services/season/0,,20100667,00.html?x=33&y=6

 

[Lawnmowerboy48]

Our cruddy cable package doesn't have it airing yet. But I must thank you for mentioning this, now I at least know it is being broadcast. Hopefully I'll be able to watch it at home over Thanksgiving break. Another crew did a crane job with TreeTech, I believe, on the "Newton Project" so maybe that will be airing soon as well. I am sure Matt will enjoy the e-mail. About the PPE, the last time there was a show Foti caught some hell from some people about not using it. Fun time none the less...loved the homeowner.

 

[emr]

I saw that show, and I have seen other tree companies use the butt hitch but I have never used it myself. Does anyone have a pict they can post that shows how to tie it?

p.s. DONT GOOGLE "Butt Hitch"!!!!! That was not pretty.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I saw that show, and I have seen other tree companies use the butt hitch but I have never used it myself. Does anyone have a pict they can post that shows how to tie it?

p.s. DONT GOOGLE "Butt Hitch"!!!!! That was not pretty.

All it is is a half hitch under your face cut. I've seen marls used (think of the first part of tieing your shoes) but I feel that is too much friction, rope on rope wear.

 

[underwor]

I agree with JPS on the wear issue, particularly with the new ropes. We used it occasionally back when I started in the 60's, but the 1" hemp, three strand bull ropes were more forgiving from a wear standpoint than the new synthetics. Haven't seen the show yet, but will look out for it.

 

[limbwalker54]

The Butt Hitch

Hey Guys,

I actually use the butt hitch quite frequently here in southeastern PA. By the way, I would describe it as :

Two half hitches and a running-bowline. The first and second half hitch are made and a mental mark is made in between them where you are to put your notch. The notch is put in that side (where you want the limb to eventually swing). The running bowline is made equidistant from the second half hitch, and the "laces" are tightened up, Running bowline on top, second half hitch, then first. The first is ideally nested in a crotch. The laces point in the direction of the notch. The groundman will hold the rope taught,( usually facing the notch so that the rope tail is on the same side as the notch and the groundman can see the climber cutting) until the back cut is made all the way through. The knot holds the "butt" of the limb with this system of hitches so that the limb or top or wood can be held and handled properly right out of the tight spot. Combined with a tag line for tip control, and a top line for mid control, you can take VERY large pieces out of tight areas in a "crane like" manner.

Hope this helps rather than confuses anyone who doesn't know the system....

 

[emr]

Forgive me for making a mountian out of a mole hill but if you have just a plain half hitch below your face cut, wont the half hitch come undone once the piece of wood drops down. Last night I got out some rope and started playing around with it and I couldnt figure out a way to make it work.
I guess I will stick with slings, biners, and blocks.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Forgive me for making a mountian out of a mole hill but if you have just a plain half hitch below your face cut, wont the half hitch come undone once the piece of wood drops down. Last night I got out some rope and started playing around with it and I couldnt figure out a way to make it work.
I guess I will stick with slings, biners, and blocks.

That is why others like a marl in that place, the way I see it the ropes will still cross, and there was allways a trunk wrap down below.

I too will stick with slings and blocks. it is so much easier, and you do not have the rope running past your body.

 

[limbwalker54]

Clarification

I'd like to clarify

In the case of WOOD (not a limb where you can use a crotch to keep the rope from sliding, you would place a block on a sling in place of the first half hitch and run the rope through it and up past the notch to finish with the second half hitch and the running bowline.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I'd like to clarify

In the case of WOOD (not a limb where you can use a crotch to keep the rope from sliding, you would place a block on a sling in place of the first half hitch and run the rope through it and up past the notch to finish with the second half hitch and the running bowline.

You are mistaken, the reason I posted this is because it is becoming a lost technique. For better or for worse.

In the good old days, before we were gear freaks, most tree workers did not have blocks and carrabiners. You used a half hitch or a marl, sometimes cutting your false crotch into the spar you are chunking down.

I could never get comfortable with that rope zipping by my waist. In this case you definatly want to be flipped in over the line!

 

[teamtree]

I use this method quite often with a 3 strand rope, especially if I am just making a few cuts. It took me a long time to figure the concept but I watched a partner with much more experience do it so many times I figured I should learn how to use it. And yes you do need a crotch or limb to catch it from sliding down the trunk but it has never failed me.

 

[limbwalker54]

More Clarity!!

John Paul,

I am mistaken on which part? I do use the block in the manner which I described. I understand the 'good ol' day' version of the method as well. I have used the false crotch as well, and I too hate the feeling of the rope sliding past myself.... which is why I use the block on wood. And always buckstrap in above that half hitch........I'm sure we all understand what could happen if you dont....

If I'm inaccurate on anything please correct me, I have read many of your posts and trust your experience and judgement, and many others here on the site.

 

[limbwalker54]

Now i get it...

Sorry John, after reading your post a second time, i realize you were posting in regard to the technique becoming "lost" and not being critical of the methodology in my post....


Man, Christmas presents have gone to my brain and taken my mind out of 5th gear and put it back into 1st......

 

[Nailsbeats]

We use the half hitch/butt hitch all to time. Thats how we rope down all of our tops. It would be new to me to use a block and sling. Though, I could see the advantage on rope wear. It is a very fast method, I will say that. I am willing to bet I use it once every job on average.

 

[rb_in_va]

I like TOH. I've got the last 4-5 years worth of magazines. I think I've seen that episode of Ask TOH too. Good to hear they got it right.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I like TOH. I've got the last 4-5 years worth of magazines. I think I've seen that episode of Ask TOH too. Good to hear they got it right.

Me too!, So often you see companies doing it fast and dirty on this genre of TV.