Small thinning job long overdue. Orders: take every other one while minimizing damage to future stand of hardwood. I said, "I don't know that I'll be able to take every other. Maybe every two, but I'll give er."
Heres the layout, some damn fool planted these Mac-Pines a little tight. my axe handle is about 20". Also most are southbound leaning and limb weighted, but are headed north. Grape vines and limb-lock galore. My wedges were "re-conditioned" daily.
I edited the crap out of these so as not to bore you guys too much.
I could not get this tree to lift. I pounded a double stack for a while and would make progess on one wedge while the other spit out. Very sappy. I thought about throwin some chips on them, but jackin seemed an easier option. All of the limb weight and lean was opposite the lay. The one on the right had its hinge cut up to roll off the stump. The two I have cut and the next one over to the right had vines all over them. I cut up what I could, but man what a pita! BTW I cut highways for my escape routes on this job!
[video=youtube;zhv3O0HDzUU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhv3O0HDzUU[/video]
The best laid plans.... What a little limb-lock and a slight breeze can do. I knew it was going to be tight between the crowns of nearby trees, but I thought I could swing er through. It was going, but a little brushing of limbs killed it. I brought this one around about 150 degrees. I was shootin for more like 180. The last bit of cutting was wishful thinking on my part I think, hoping I had more wood to cut when I saw the way it was going. Looking at it now I could have used a deeper face and more holding wood on my side. Learning, learning, always learning. And testing. The lay actually worked out for skidding, but I toasted some little maples I wanted to save. If I was making money out of this wood I would have played it safe and jacked it. It would help if I was out there everyday grinding it out.
[video=youtube;miOutvAw38g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miOutvAw38g[/video]
If any of you regulars see anything I could improve on please let me know! Seriously! I take criticism well. I've never cut with anyone who really knows what the hell they are doing. It's all experience and what I've picked up from the regulars on here. Thanks. BTW I know I need corks! These are the slipperiest stems I have ever walked. Yeah I know this is good ground and its only part of one tree, but if you guys see anything let me know! Thanks!
[video=youtube;_tNMgcK6Vng]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tNMgcK6Vng[/video]
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