Lets get this party started...

[NeTree]

Safety glasses. Can't give you any specific recommendations, mine are prescription.

Hard hat w/ straps, or Ecrin Roc. I'd go with the Ecrin, they're light and very comfy. Once you use one, you'll loathe the harthats for in-the-tree work!

Ear plugs or ear muffs. I prefer the soft foam plugs.

Steel toe boots (if the one's you're wearing aren't)

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Here you go Carl.

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by Lumberjack
Not really an option, as the roots were failing on the leaner.

Failing how? Lifting up on the back side of the lean? If no roots were broken, the heaved soil may have subsided after reduction. I've seen trees leaning to 60 degrees after a hurricane return to 90 degrees in one season after reduction pruning. The raised soil settled back down halfway too.

But hey I'm sure you're not short of pine trees up there. Good that you saw the split tree was still somewhat protected. And yes, Wear A Hat!! :blush: You may want your good looks to show for the camera, but they do not impress potential customers as much as responsibility and professionalism.

What if some rich tree owner passed by and saw you working bareheaded? He wouldn't ask for your number if he thought you weren't safe.:alien:

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by RockyJSquirrel
So many problems in just that one picture. Erik touched on about half of them and I agree with his statements. But moving on from the basic safety gear you should be wearing- You are standing on a limb on the downside lean of the tree, with your back to the trunk, one hand over your head holding on to a stub while you reach out with the saw in your other hand to whack off a limb. you have no control over yourself, your saw or the limb you are cutting. Time to quit posting so many braggart pics and start doing some reading on climbing, body positioning and chainsaw safety.

I'd say something positive about the picture but I cannot find anything. I guess it's good that you made it down in one piece. Believe me, it was in spite of your efforts, not because of them. And I'm being hard on you because I believe you to have lots of potential as well as the fortitude to take my post as it is meant. You will be a great climber if you live long enough.

In response to all so far:

Eric/Rich: I use the soft foam ear plugs, and the clear specs from sherrill (I didn't have the glasses in this truck for some reason) That is the helment I was considering, and I liked the straps. I got the steel toes on.

Guy: That is funny about the rich guy, I was in a trailer park, owned by a lady in a nursing home. Plus everyone (and I mean everyone) else around here uses spikes and a strap on everything. I tell them I don't use spikes, and they ask me "Then how do you do it?"

Rocky: My weight was always on my saddle, not on my feet. I think that you are talking about pic #233. My left foot is resting on a stub, arm is steadying my body, and my saw is being ran by my right. The limb being cut just needed to fall, nothing needing to be done, except fold it down. I always have control of myself before I crank the saw. Nothing there is unsafe (in regards to position) to me, but I do not know everything! And I have read quite a few books on the matters presented, mine and butch's, but there are a few more that I want to get, with my helment and polesaw.

If I do something wrong tell me, I got the hair on my balls to take it. I know I need to get a helment, and I am here real soon.

Carl

 

[NeTree]

Rocky, doesn't it go something like "3 is 2, 2 is 1, and 1 is as good as none"? Or somthing like that?

 

[NickfromWI]

Rocky, I object...but only 'cause you said it. Just kiddin'! Definately, 3 points. Sure, there will be those few times where there just isn't that third point, every now and then. But Carl, in that shot, there were branches all over the place. At the very least you could have been standing on a branch below you, flip-lined in, and your climbing line...that's 3. And it'd only have taken you just a few more seconds.

And from the looks of that picture, any kickback in the saw would have had disasterous results.

love
nick

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by RockyJSquirrel
Start by following the 3 point rule. You need 3 solid points of contact with the tree to be secure when running a saw. Weight-bearing points of contact. I see one weight bearing point of contact, your lifeline. You need one foot on a solid point and a lanyard before firing the saw. Just my opinion, but I think most well trained climbers will agree.

I guess I should lighten up on the one-handing of the saw since I do it as well, but I must object in this instance because you are not in a secure position to be running the saw one handed. Quit thinking along the lines of "I think/ hope it will go this way" to "What are all the possible outcomes of my next move, and am I prepared for all of them?" It's the difference between planning ahead and 'cut and hope'.

Can anyone here object to the '3 point rule'?

My three weight bearing parts are 1) life line 2) lanyard (leaner so that makes it part of the triangle) 3) arm and foot arm completed triangle with lanyard and that stabalized my upper body, and I my foot had my lower body.

I agree with you, you need 3 points to make you stable. Don't misconceive me as a flying trapeze, I am almost always steady as a rock when running the saw.

I (you might find it hard to believe) always have planned 3 steps ahead. The limb in the pic had a straight shot to the ground. I never cut and hope, that is too expensive. I try to picture how the limb will fall, how the tree reacts, ect.


Carl

 

[NickfromWI]

Oh, I forgot...FWIW, I also use the Ecrin Roc, the pic that Rich posted. Ventilation keeps you cool, straps keep it on yer noggin. it is pricier than the 7 dollar hat you'd buy at the hardware store, but like netree (I pronounce it Any Tree) said, once you use one like the Roc, you will not even consider the "hardware hats" as alternatives!

A hard head cannot make up for no hard hat.

love
nick

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by NickfromWI
Rocky, I object...but only 'cause you said it. Just kiddin'! Definately, 3 points. Sure, there will be those few times where there just isn't that third point, every now and then. But Carl, in that shot, there were branches all over the place. At the very least you could have been standing on a branch below you, flip-lined in, and your climbing line...that's 3. And it'd only have taken you just a few more seconds.

And from the looks of that picture, any kickback in the saw would have had disasterous results.

love
nick

This was a candid shot, but the limb has already been cut, so what I am doing is reattaching my saw to my belt. I keep looking at the pic, but there is no way I cut with the bar towards me, so I must be putting it back, and getting ready to go down to the next limb. That would explain the bent knee.


Carl

 

[NeTree]

Originally posted by NickfromWI
like netree (I pronounce it Any Tree)

 

[MasterBlaster]

Carl, when I look at the pic, you just don't look 'at one with the tree'. Ya know?

Remember, I'm a Zen climber.

 

[Lumberjack]

Ooooowwwwwwmmmmmm......oooooooooowwwwwwwmmmmm


Na, I am fine, I probably was thinking about the crap I forgot to take, or that I was hungry, or something like that. I was fine with the tree, after I threw the stick to miss the adjacent tree and the well house, and the other building. No biggy there, just lack of experiance throwing it partally against the lean, not fully against it (180 degrees) or side ways (90 degrees). Knew how, just was goin over what TreeSpyder had said about wedges and such, so I could use it, and "see" what he was talking about.


Carl

 

[Lumberjack]

Oh yea, I am ordering my crap tomorrow.

I am getting
3',4',6',8' poles with the 6 and 8 being filled
The saw head item #28718
fanno hooktip blade
wire raise (never know)
1 pair tinted superbs
Erin roc with muffs, visor, and shield
and On Rope


Total $394, or a little less than I made today.


Any other neccesities or changes?


Carl

 

[NeTree]

Originally posted by Lumberjack

Any other neccesities or changes?


Carl

Sure...

Why 4 different pole lenghts? I keep 2 6's and 2 8's (per truck), all foam-cored. You could start for now by just getting a pair of 6'es. It'd save ya a few bucks, while still getting some "essentials".

On rope?? or do you mean "one" rope?

Why get the muffs if you already use the foamies?

Why the wire-raising tool? You're not qualified or certified to be screwing around near lines, period.

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by netree
Sure...

Why 4 different pole lenghts? I keep 2 6's and 2 8's (per truck), all foam-cored. You could start for now by just getting a pair of 6'es. It'd save ya a few bucks, while still getting some "essentials".

On rope?? or do you mean "one" rope?

Why get the muffs if you already use the foamies?

I dunno, I like to have options. That way I could use the smallest ones to get that last little bit on the tips of branches. I dunno I might change my mind and get 2 6 and the one 8'. See I already changed my mind. I already got 2 4's from the BS so I could get 2 6's and 1 8' and save $2.


On Rope the book, I heard that it is good, and I figure I can learn something from it for latter use.

So I could get the face shield. I think that I would like it for some things.

Wire raiser would be good for setting ropes. I don't work near primarys and I don't get very close to house drops. I would rather have it than not. I have a respect for electricity, no worrys there.


Carl

 

[NeTree]

I kinda figured you wanted the muffs for the faceshield. You can get a facesheild for a regular hardhat that dowsn't require muffs, don't know about the Ecrin tho.

With pole saw poles, you'll find having "too many" is just more stuff to lug around.

Now, you HEARD me on the wire stuff, right?

 

[NeTree]

Originally posted by RockyJSquirrel
Service drops/ phone/ cable lines can be manipulated by anyone with a little training and some common sense.

True, but ANSI speaking, even a telephone line is considered an "energized conductor"... it carries about 48 volts DC... and therefore comes under the minimum approach rules for trained/untrained personnel.

Cable lines carry about 75 RF volts.


I've never had reason to manipulate a line other than for fitting the bucket or chip truck underneath in passing- never for the actual work of trimming/pruning/take-down.

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by netree
Now, you HEARD me on the wire stuff, right?

Yea I got ya, but that I can say I already knew. I got the City's Light and Water's head dude on my cell, as well as a friend for the county's utility. I call them any time I need to. Great to have friends (of my parents) in that respect.

I already have the 2 4's, but I change my mind an I am gonna order 2 6' and 1 8' filled poles. That will still get me to 28' if I ever need that much .


Carl

 

[NeTree]

Originally posted by Lumberjack

I already have the 2 4's, but I change my mind an I am gonna order 2 6' and 1 8' filled poles. That will still get me to 28' if I ever need that much .


Carl

I doubt you will. Over about 16' the poles get hard to handle.

QUICK... What's the minumum approach distance from a service drop for a non-approved trimmer?

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by netree
I doubt you will. Over about 16' the poles get hard to handle.

QUICK... What's the minumum approach distance from a service drop for a non-approved trimmer?

10'

Carl