simple trick for junior climbers, re: accurate back-cuts

[Plasmech]

Since I've asked about a million questions on this forum, thought I'd try to give back a little.

I came up with a simple trick for junior guys like me in regards to either felling or blocking down. (Chances are someone else probably figured this out a long time ago but whatever). After making the face cut and dropping out the "wedge", wrap a piece of high-vis string around the trunk right through the "crotch" of the face cut. When making the back cut, you will know *exactly* where the face cut it. On the ground this is not AS big an issue as when up in the tree. Works great!

 

[treemandan]

Since I've asked about a million questions on this forum, thought I'd try to give back a little.

I came up with a simple trick for junior guys like me in regards to either felling or blocking down. (Chances are someone else probably figured this out a long time ago but whatever). After making the face cut and dropping out the "wedge", wrap a piece of high-vis string around the trunk right through the "crotch" of the face cut. When making the back cut, you will know *exactly* where the face cut it. On the ground this is not AS big an issue as when up in the tree. Works great!

I bet they teach that in dem fancy skools dey got. That would be a great way to demonstrate but I wouldn't want the string there while I cut AND beleive me IT WOULD MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD TO THE BONEHEADS ON THE GROUND !
But alas, there will be no time for that horse@#$!, you look. you see, then you look and see again then you know. God know we don't need any loose bits of string wafting around the job, that would make me nuts.
I do expect a groundie to verify the alignment ( more to make sure my bar has made it through the other side) on big wood I can't always see around. I expect it out of common sense even though I know where the bar is. It shows they are on the ball and we are working together. If I have been working with guys awhile and I keep having to stop in the middle of a cut and don't see thumbs up I get pretty pissed. I am telling you this cause you will need to rely on the groundforce unless you are The Force and can do everything by yourself. With experiance you can do more by yourself ( even things you shouldn't )
You can screw yourslf real good all the sudden. Sometimes what you mean to do don't happen. I have been fixing up my house: how many boards do you think I miscut? Now it don't fit right. But in the tree? Now YOU don't fit right. Just as in being able to read and cut 1/32 in carpentry you need to be able to read the tree you are working.
But with that you will find a good carpenter will keep in a margin of error. He knows what error might occur he can account for, he is aware of his cut. Its the same with tree work, you need to be in a error margin and you have to know how to get there to be able to account for any error. you also have to watch real close for what the groundies are gonna do to ya- oof!
In carpentry there is a lot to know before you should call yourself a carpenter? ( Allright, I am just gonna stop now before I blow my own mind... again)


You will see, you just need to see where its all at once to learn to get there. You should be well along being comfortable hanging from your rope, moving around and keeping balance. What have you been climbing?

 

[Plasmech]

I look at it like this:

 

[clearance]

I look at it like this:

Doesn't look strong enough to hang yourself with.

 

[tomtrees58]

maybe off a dear stand:jawdrop:

 

[treemandan]

I look at it like this:

Well I am looking at it with eyes bloodshot and half closed from 16 and half gravity bong hits and it still don't make sense. Man, once you get up there you are gonna forget all about that little red string buddy.
yer still with me right? Am I gonna shoot for 17, you let me know.

 

[treemandan]

MAybe its good for demonstration purpose, maybe its good for pulling the tampon outta yer... Naw I just couldn't help it.

 

[treemandan]

Ingenious!

Sometimes us guys in the trade are so busy doing the day to day work that we don't give much time to think of how we could make our work safer and more efficient!

Here's to the brain power that lurks on the fringe of our industry!

I kinda thought they might teach that in something like ArborMaster. I was also kinda impressed but didn't like the thought of that string in my sprocket. What about spray paint?
personally, when I think of tying the string like that I think of doing the opposite but to something that is holding a set of c cups. I had to get that off her chest, I mean my chest.

 

[Stihl Alive]

if the stem is too big to see around I just hold the saw where I think it is until I get a nod fromthe groundie, then blip the throttle and make a line. Same for other side. Then I completely ignore the lines and make the wrong cut and f*&^ everything up.

 

[outofmytree]

Good thinking Plasmech. Ignore Dan he is just jealous he didnt think of it first! I expect you will discard this technique soon enough just like trainer wheels on bikes. (Mine come off next week). In the meantime if it helps you develop an eye for level then go for it.

 

[371groundie]

have fun cleaning the bits of string from your sprocket, it sucks. sting, tarp strands, plastic bags, they all like to wrap up in there.

 

[Dadatwins]

If there is not a throwball attached to that stuff it stays in the truck. To those are reading this thread thinking it is a good idea, the answer is NOT.

 

[Ghillie]

If there is not a throwball attached to that stuff it stays in the truck. To those are reading this thread thinking it is a good idea, the answer is NOT.

+1

If you need those kind of aids at height..... You need to spend more time practicing on the ground, before you make a mistake and wake up in the hospital. If you wake up at all.

Be safe! Know your limits.

 

[Plasmech]

I know why some pros would be totally against it, but one thing to keep in mind, I think, is that you could *truly* master something on the ground, be it pulling a ripcord, welding I-beams together, changing a light bulb, making a face and back cut, whatever, but once you are up at "death height", throw all that crap out the window man, it's a whole new ballgame, a whole new lesson. Like the difference between boot camp and Iraq.

 

[RedlineIt]

Plasmech,

This is why you need to be comfortable at "death height" before you start firing up chainsaws aloft.

Some have that comfort level first time out, some just need time and practice, some never find the zone and should look for another line of work.


What Ghillie said is absolutely true. You need complete confidence in both disciplines of chainsaw skills and climbing skills brfore you throw the two together.

People are just trying to keep you safe, Plasmech.


RedlineIt

 

[JeffL]

Nothing should be any different. If you arent comfortable being up there PERIOD, you sure arent going to be comfortable up there running a chainsaw, dangling off a rope trying to tie off a limb, swinging off the trunk making a grab for another leader in the tree, etc. Its all about comfort.

I've got maybe a few 2-3 dozen removals under my belt at work, lots of evergreen stuff, pines and hemlocks. Initially starting out, you are VERY aware of what heights you're at, and it kills your comfort level. After doing a few big pines last week, after I was done and hit the ground, it occurred to me that for not one minute did I even consider the heights I was working at.

Be it free climbing a tree to go knock out a hanger and a stub, or prune the whole tree, or work it as a removal on spurs, you have to be comfortable. If not, you'll be less efficient, and more likely to wear yourself out and do something stupid. Take baby steps! One at a time, before you find yourself in a really bad situation.

 

[treemandan]

Good thinking Plasmech. Ignore Dan he is just jealous he didnt think of it first! I expect you will discard this technique soon enough just like trainer wheels on bikes. (Mine come off next week). In the meantime if it helps you develop an eye for level then go for it.

We have to clear something up, something you should know cause you might be confusing other as well as me.
I, am THE Dan.
There are others who responded named Dan
I am not one of those people named Dan

I am here to help, whelp.

At any rate, The Dan , yes,was jealous. I hope Plas brings the tampon rope if he can make it out thursday, by the end of the day I hope to rid him of it. Great for Demonstration though.

 

[treemandan]

I know why some pros would be totally against it, but one thing to keep in mind, I think, is that you could *truly* master something on the ground, be it pulling a ripcord, welding I-beams together, changing a light bulb, making a face and back cut, whatever, but once you are up at "death height", throw all that crap out the window man, it's a whole new ballgame, a whole new lesson. Like the difference between boot camp and Iraq.

Yeah we cover that. I got some logs I can stand on end and you can stand there on the ground and practise that way. You can toss your lanyard around to make it even more real. I got thick logs , skiny logs, long logs , short logs. Then you will be able to pay attention to what happens and be told about it before your knees start knocking cause you are just about to fold over one mistake. They should knock a little at first, they just everyonce in awhile when something fun happens.
You can see how the rigging stuff goes and in action before you are tied into the chit for real.

 

[TackleTree]

Plas, at least your thinkin of a way to get better. Keep working for it.

 

[(WLL)]

Plas, at least your thinkin of a way to get better. Keep working for it.

hope you make it over to the dan's house just dont smoke the weed till after the lesson cause you may forget everything he showed ya