The working man, and chainsaw thread!!!!!!!!!

[NHlocal]

Great pictures! :msp_thumbup: I'm not familiar with the western pines, is that ponderosa pine? :dunno:

 

[Gologit]

This is a Ponderosa too...kind of a southern cousin to Haywire's. Notice the difference in size and bark color...must be all that California sunshine.

The guy in the plaid shirt is my neighbor from down the road. He's 86 years young and still likes to go to the woods. It gives him a chance to run saw a little, criticize my technique, and generally pick on me all day long. He's forgotten more about falling than I'll ever know. He reminds me of that fact frequently. :msp_biggrin: Always buys lunch, though.

The grubby looking guy in the tin hat is me.

I know, I know, there's actually one picture without a saw in it. We were on break. When the youngest guy on the crew is 65, there's lots of those. :msp_wink:

 

[Gologit]

Kind of an addition to my previous post....I walked down the road to show my neighbor these pictures. He was mixing cement...with a shovel and a wheel-barrow...and pouring an addition to his patio. It's 98 degrees outside with no wind and little shade.

Now there's a working man.

 

[Eccentric]

Kind of an addition to my previous post....I walked down the road to show my neighbor these pictures. He was mixing cement...with a shovel and a wheel-barrow...and pouring an addition to his patio. It's 98 degrees outside with no wind and little shade.

Now there's a working man.

My dad did several projects like that when I was a lad. We mixed all the concrete in the damn whellbarrow with a shovel. Only got him to rent a concrete mixer ONCE. That was when we filled a large cinderblock retaining wall. He actually paid someone to lay the rebar and pour the footing (thank God). We layed all the blocks (mixing the grout by hand), then filled the wall aftewards. Just the two of us with a wheelbarrow, two shovels, and a concrete mixer. My back hurts a litle every time I walk past that wall....

 

[pioneerguy600]

I had a couple of spruce trees come down along my property line at the camp on Lake Charlotte, I cleaned them up and moved them to the lakeshore. They narrowly missed the storage shed.

That looks like an awesome place there Jerry. That's my kinda place, right on the lake!!

Why did you move the logs to the lakeshore?[/QUOTE]

I plan on dumping them in the lake later this summer, I will tow them up the lake a ways to a bandsaw mill and have them saws into staging planks and the leftovers sawn into boards. I had to think of a way to move them by myself as it is very remote, water access only and would cost too much to barge a machine up there just to handle 3 trees.
The Lake,

 

[Brian13]

Jerry, that is some beautiful land up there!! I like the set up to move the logs, looks it worked pretty good. Bob, for someone who is supposed to be semi retired it looks like you are still working harder than most half your age are willing to. Hope I can still work like that when I get there! Had a good day today, took out a small dead pine this morning. The boss walked me through topping my first tree. It didnt need it, as it was out in the open and could have just dropped it right there. It was practice for a bigger one that will come down Friday and since I havnt topped one yet he thought it would be a good one to learn on. It was a blast, got a little bit of bouncing when the top went and everything went smooth. The whole time I was comfortable, and didnt feel like imminent death was near. Hoping I can get the boss to take some pics Friday. Have a co dominant pine that has to come out, with little room to work with. Cant wait!

 

[NHlocal]

This is a Ponderosa too...kind of a southern cousin to Haywire's. Notice the difference in size and bark color...must be all that California sunshine.

The guy in the plaid shirt is my neighbor from down the road. He's 86 years young and still likes to go to the woods. It gives him a chance to run saw a little, criticize my technique, and generally pick on me all day long. He's forgotten more about falling than I'll ever know. He reminds me of that fact frequently. :msp_biggrin: Always buys lunch, though.

The grubby looking guy in the tin hat is me.

I know, I know, there's actually one picture without a saw in it. We were on break. When the youngest guy on the crew is 65, there's lots of those. :msp_wink:

My hat is off to both of you, real "working men" for sure. :msp_thumbup: And thank you for posting those pictures, we just don't have trees like that up here in New Hampshire, would really enjoy the opportunity to work with trees that size. Took down a pine for a home owner last month that was "pretty good sized" for up here, just north of 100ft tall and almost 3ft DBH, up here that's kinda big, but nothin' like what you've got there. :msp_ohmy: Thanks again.....
Work safe. :msp_thumbsup:

 

[NHlocal]

Jerry,
You've got a little piece of heaven right there, awesome pics!!! Post card pretty for sure!

Hey Brian,
Now you're getting into the real exciting stuff! (read also: the real dangerous stuff!) :msp_scared: Pay very close attention 'cause when you're tied into a tree and getting ready to cut the top out there's no place to go. There may be all kinds of room to drop the top in, but if it comes back in your lap there's no where for you to go. Always at least double check everything before making your back cut. Please don't read this the wrong way, but never forget how dangerous it can be. I'm excited for ya', hope you're able to get some pics! Great to here you're comfortable up there doing that kind of work. There's nothin' like putting the back cut in and those few moments as the top starts to tip and you shut the saw off and listen to the whoosh as it falls.....and hang on as the tree rocks back and forth trying to throw you out.....:hmm3grin2orange:
Work safe. :msp_thumbsup:

 

[parrisw]

That looks like an awesome place there Jerry. That's my kinda place, right on the lake!!

Why did you move the logs to the lakeshore?

I plan on dumping them in the lake later this summer, I will tow them up the lake a ways to a bandsaw mill and have them saws into staging planks and the leftovers sawn into boards. I had to think of a way to move them by myself as it is very remote, water access only and would cost too much to barge a machine up there just to handle 3 trees.
The Lake,
[/QUOTE]


That's pretty awesome Jerry. I'd love to have a place on the Lake, but I can do with 5 mins from the lake for now.

 

[pioneerguy600]

Jerry,
You've got a little piece of heaven right there, awesome pics!!! Post card pretty for sure.
Thanks,..we are very lucky to have lots of undeveloped land up this way. Looking out from my camp yard I cam see a panoramic view of the top end of the lake and not see another building. This lake is only about 5 miles long and a mile or so wide, I have been on it since I was less than a year old.

 

[pioneerguy600]

I plan on dumping them in the lake later this summer, I will tow them up the lake a ways to a bandsaw mill and have them saws into staging planks and the leftovers sawn into boards. I had to think of a way to move them by myself as it is very remote, water access only and would cost too much to barge a machine up there just to handle 3 trees.
The Lake,

That's pretty awesome Jerry. I'd love to have a place on the Lake, but I can do with 5 mins from the lake for now.



My little camp was built in 1957 on a lot that has been in the family for many, many years, I was 5 years old that year.

 

[parrisw]

You've got a little piece of heaven right there, awesome pics!!! Post card pretty for sure.
Thanks,..we are very lucky to have lots of undeveloped land up this way. Looking out from my camp yard I cam see a panoramic view of the top end of the lake and not see another building. This lake is only about 5 miles long and a mile or so wide, I have been on it since I was less than a year old.

That sounds great. This lake isn't very big, and only allowed on half of it with a boat that has more then 10hp. But still enough room to have lots of fun. I spend my life growing up boating on the ocean, now that I have a boat I take my kids on the lake to swim and tubing behind the boat, I'm the dad that's all about fun with my kids, if they are smiling so am I!!

 

[parrisw]

That's pretty awesome Jerry. I'd love to have a place on the Lake, but I can do with 5 mins from the lake for now.



My little camp was built in 1957 on a lot that has been in the family for many, many years, I was 5 years old that year.

Very nice, I'm dreaming!! Property on a lake around here is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[NORMZILLA44]

Great to see all of my friends in here. Missed ya, great pictures nice trees, and falling pics. Brian good deal topping! Sorry I been sidetracked, but great to see you all here.

 

[NHlocal]

Great to see all of my friends in here. Missed ya, great pictures nice trees, and falling pics. Brian good deal topping! Sorry I been sidetracked, but great to see you all here.

Hey Norm,
.....good to hear from you again, good to see you didn't fall off the map.....:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Brian13]

Jerry,
You've got a little piece of heaven right there, awesome pics!!! Post card pretty for sure!

Hey Brian,
Now you're getting into the real exciting stuff! (read also: the real dangerous stuff!) :msp_scared: Pay very close attention 'cause when you're tied into a tree and getting ready to cut the top out there's no place to go. There may be all kinds of room to drop the top in, but if it comes back in your lap there's no where for you to go. Always at least double check everything before making your back cut. Please don't read this the wrong way, but never forget how dangerous it can be. I'm excited for ya', hope you're able to get some pics! Great to here you're comfortable up there doing that kind of work. There's nothin' like putting the back cut in and those few moments as the top starts to tip and you shut the saw off and listen to the whoosh as it falls.....and hang on as the tree rocks back and forth trying to throw you out.....:hmm3grin2orange:
Work safe. :msp_thumbsup:

Definitely not reading it the wrong way. You are 100% correct, if anything goes wrong there is nowhere to go. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the danger. Please dont read my saying that I was not scared as being unaware of the danger. I was just saying that I wasnt panicked. I am nervously excited for the next one, its taller and the top will be larger. BTW, do you use the conventional notch or the humbolt type notch when you cut a top out?

In other news got my saddle today. Got some reading to do, it had a lot of adjustments. In the kitchen its pretty comfortable. Wont be able to try it until Friday though, which will give me time to put the gear loops where I want them. I will let you know what I think when I get to use it. My kids were just as excited as me, and had to try it on. I think they might want to climb trees when they get older LOL.

 

[NHlocal]

Definitely not reading it the wrong way. You are 100% correct, if anything goes wrong there is nowhere to go. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the danger. Please dont read my saying that I was not scared as being unaware of the danger. I was just saying that I wasnt panicked. I am nervously excited for the next one, its taller and the top will be larger. BTW, do you use the conventional notch or the humbolt type notch when you cut a top out?

In other news got my saddle today. Got some reading to do, it had a lot of adjustments. In the kitchen its pretty comfortable. Wont be able to try it until Friday though, which will give me time to put the gear loops where I want them. I will let you know what I think when I get to use it. My kids were just as excited as me, and had to try it on. I think they might want to climb trees when they get older LOL.

Brian,
.....first of all, great pics! :msp_thumbup: I got a good chuckle out of 'em, that's great to hear they're excited about what you're doing. You never know.....you may be teaching them to climb someday soon..... I have no doubt you will be very happy with that saddle, should make your work a whole lot easier, I am curious to hear how it works for ya'. When I cut out a top that is standing pretty much straight, no "heavy" lean, I have been using a conventional notch. I'll cut about a 45[SUP]o[/SUP] angle on the face cut so the top is well on it's way before the hinge breaks loose. I've had no problems working with that so far.
As I said before I'm excited for ya', this is one of my favorite parts of tree work. Looking forward to hearing how it goes and hopefully seeing some "action pics"!
Work safe! :msp_thumbsup:

.....looking at one of your pics a question came to mind, do you play guitar?

 

[Brian13]

Brian,
.....first of all, great pics! :msp_thumbup: I got a good chuckle out of 'em, that's great to hear they're excited about what you're doing. You never know.....you may be teaching them to climb someday soon..... I have no doubt you will be very happy with that saddle, should make your work a whole lot easier, I am curious to hear how it works for ya'. When I cut out a top that is standing pretty much straight, no "heavy" lean, I have been using a conventional notch. I'll cut about a 45[SUP]o[/SUP] angle on the face cut so the top is well on it's way before the hinge breaks loose. I've had no problems working with that so far.
As I said before I'm excited for ya', this is one of my favorite parts of tree work. Looking forward to hearing how it goes and hopefully seeing some "action pics"!
Work safe! :msp_thumbsup:

.....looking at one of your pics a question came to mind, do you play guitar?

LOL, not as much as I used to, and not very well either. But I assume you noticed fingernails, and yes its from guitar. I am so used to it, it feels weird with trimmed nails. My boss likes the conventional notch as well. I like the conventional myself, its a little easier for me to match my cuts. Spent some time getting my harness set up today, put 4 gear loops on it and got it fit as best as I can with out climbing in it. Looking forward to putting it to use.

 

[NHlocal]

LOL, not as much as I used to, and not very well either. But I assume you noticed fingernails, and yes its from guitar. I am so used to it, it feels weird with trimmed nails. My boss likes the conventional notch as well. I like the conventional myself, its a little easier for me to match my cuts. Spent some time getting my harness set up today, put 4 gear loops on it and got it fit as best as I can with out climbing in it. Looking forward to putting it to use.

Ayuh, the fingernails gave it away for sure! I'm embarrassed to say I haven't picked up my guitar in months, :redface: never got really good, but I do enjoy playing.
A conventional face cut seems to work well in most cases, of course when you start throwing in heavy lean, heavy favor to either side, back lean, compromised wood, etc, etc, and so on and so on.....I'm still trying to learn all these different types of cuts and what is the safest in any given situation, experience is a good teacher, for the most part I try to keep it simple. I use what I am sure will work.
Good deal getting your harness setup before you climb, saves you time when you do go out and use it. You're not making all the obvious adjustments when hooked on the rope and ready to climb, I did the same thing. I actually have a setup in my basement that I can hook my saddle into and hang in it, can't really "climb" up the rope (only about 2 feet) but it definitely gives me a good idea of what the saddle will feel like hanging from a rope. I know I keep saying it, but I'm sure you'll love it.
The UPS man came to see me again today, last month I was able to get the Porta wrap, 3/4" light/medium duty block, and dead eye sling, I just opened up the box with a 5/8" stainless steel CMI light/medium duty block, 5/8" loopie sling, and 150' 1/2" double esterlon rigging rope.(WesSpur 4th of July sale made it "affordable" for me :hmm3grin2orange: ) Little by little I'm getting the stuff that makes the hard work a whole lot easier. Thanks for the update! Looking forward to some "action" pics.....?!

Work safe. :msp_thumbsup:

.....my equipment "staging" area.....

 

[Alex D]

The maple or should I say stump from hell

Pretty ####ing pissed about that giant silver maple. First of all I thought it was gonna be a tree that was supposed to be dropped nope just 2stumps and logs to be cut up. Ok I think pretty simple to do but kinda disappointed theres not the whole tree. Well did I say simple it sure as f$%k was a pain in the ass. These 2 stumps were full of ####in nails and there was even a metal pole stuck in the big one. Dulled a chitload of chains that all needed to be sharpened and on top of that two are destroyed because when they hit into the pole imbedded in the big one they got thrown and it destroyed the drive link-part of the chain that goes into the groove of the bar. Nightmare absolute nightmare ive never seen so much metal in a single tree or stump should I say.

Anyway here is a pic of that stump it was a 5 footer and would have been an awesome tree to drop-but a disappointing and extremely frustrating day oh well on to the next one.

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