Learned something new....

[Mikecutstrees]

I'm sure other people do this but it was new to me. I guess I kinda thought it up. Was blocking down a big (30") red maple today with 3 leaders. One leader was big and the others small. I put a block in the top of the largest and tied to the top of one of the smaller ones. Groundie took wraps on the porta wrap. Tied off a pull line to the top and through a small pulley on a nearby pine. Made a snap cut 20' down the smaller leader. The leader was probably 16" at he bottom and 10" at the top. Moved the bucket away yanked the pull line and the piece snapped and fell right into the rope. No shock loading and I was safely away in the bucket. Pretty cool. Iv'e never done or seen it quite that way but it worked perfect...... Mike

 

[MonkeyMan_812]

Sounds kinda like somthing you would do with a grcs?

 

[teamtree]

Monkey...Do you have a GRCS?

I think I understand the concept except we sometimes put another block below our rigging block run a rope through it and lift the piece being cut with a seperate line. If you can pull your slack through the porty the shock is reduced. Not sure how you are accomplishing no shock with your method.

However, a GRCS would make it much easier....and that is why I am saving my pennies trying to get one. Although if I bought one it would pay for itself in a matter of no time.

 

[asthesun]

Sounds kinda like somthing you would do with a grcs?

or just get the bull rope

 

[Mikecutstrees]

Well I guess it wasn't no shock. Just very little since it was tip tied. It just leaned over and the rope was tight...... Mike

 

[tree md]

That is how I take down just about all of the multi-leader maples I do. Very little shock on the rope. Like doing it with a crane but lowering instead of lifting. A GRCS would be very handy though. Can't wait til things pick up so I can buy one!

 

[pdqdl]

I have yet to see anyone post a video of a GRCS being used. Lots of videos showing limbs coming down, but the cameraman never watches the GRCS itself, so there is no real video information on it's use.

 

[tomtrees58]

yep we do that from time to time we have 2 hodds lowering devics tom trees

 

[tree md]

I have yet to see anyone post a video of a GRCS being used. Lots of videos showing limbs coming down, but the cameraman never watches the GRCS itself, so there is no real video information on it's use.

I think TreeBot posted some video of a takedown with a GRCS some months back in the tree care videos forum. I've got some video of him taking one down with a GRCS but it's on another computer and it's so big I don't know where to upload it to. Plus I have limited bandwidth on this satellite connection. If I ever get it uploaded I'll send it to him where he can edit and post it.

 

[pdqdl]

I got ambitious and found some excellent video. It turns out one of our sponsors has decided better video is needed too. Recently added at Bailey's:

http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=21420&CAT=

 

[Slvrmple72]

That is how I take down just about all of the multi-leader maples I do. Very little shock on the rope. Like doing it with a crane but lowering instead of lifting. A GRCS would be very handy though. Can't wait til things pick up so I can buy one!

Tree MD if you have a portawrap and some extra rope you can buy a set of fiddle blocks with some prussics and biners and do almost the same thing as you would with the GRCS. Granted it will not be as quick as cranking a handle but it will allow you to lift stuff and then lower it. It is a good midprice option till you save the pennies up for a GRCS!-Kevin

 

[Taxmantoo]

http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=21420&CAT=

That's a Harken sailboat winch modified for tree work. I never knew what a GRCS was. Good thinking, Mr Good.

 

[tree md]

Tree MD if you have a portawrap and some extra rope you can buy a set of fiddle blocks with some prussics and biners and do almost the same thing as you would with the GRCS. Granted it will not be as quick as cranking a handle but it will allow you to lift stuff and then lower it. It is a good midprice option till you save the pennies up for a GRCS!-Kevin

Thanks for the tip!

I have read about using the fiddle blocks in that manor but have never tried it. I've got a book around here somewhere that shows you diagrams of doing what your talking about. Gonna have to give it a try when I get a good tree to use it on. I've got prussics and biners. Just need a couple of fiddle blocks. Still can't wait to get a GRCS though. I should have bought one last year while I was rolling in doe. Just kept putting it off as I was doing a lot of crane work last year. Plus I had TreeBot working with me with his GRCS.

 

[tree md]

Here's a pretty cool vid that Ekka posted awhile back. Some seat of your pants treework with a homemade GRCS (virtually same as sold retail). It's a cool one to watch.

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=36156

 

[Dadatwins]

I'm sure other people do this but it was new to me. I guess I kinda thought it up. Was blocking down a big (30") red maple today with 3 leaders. One leader was big and the others small. I put a block in the top of the largest and tied to the top of one of the smaller ones. Groundie took wraps on the porta wrap. Tied off a pull line to the top and through a small pulley on a nearby pine. Made a snap cut 20' down the smaller leader. The leader was probably 16" at he bottom and 10" at the top. Moved the bucket away yanked the pull line and the piece snapped and fell right into the rope. No shock loading and I was safely away in the bucket. Pretty cool. Iv'e never done or seen it quite that way but it worked perfect...... Mike

Maple does make the cleanest snap cuts along with poplar,linden and a few others, now elm, hickory, mulberry, white oak are a different story and the quick snap cut not the easiest to get.