Tip for a tearing limb

[topnotchtree]

The simple way to stop a limb from tearing when you cut it is to put an undercut on it, or a notch. We all know this. But I often want the limb to hinge into my workline, not drop suddenly into it from a notch or back-cut. Sometimes the limb will tear down the tree, catching my buckstrap, and possibly pulling me into the section I am bucked into. I use the old style side dee ring saddle. If the limb pulls hard enough on my buckstrap, it may pull me into the tree, squeezing my guts. If it is a small limb, I can kinda expect it and handle to slight pull it may give me. If it is a large limb, I will hook both ends of my buckstrap, or flipline, to the front dee rings on my saddle that I am tied in with. This way, If the limb does pull on the buckstrap, it will only pull the snaps in front of me to the limb, saving me from being squished. I should add that I do not put myself in this situation very often, but I have been squished before I was taught this little tip.

 

[Lumberjack]

Handy trick aint it?

However I aint sure why anyone would let the limb tear pulling them into the tree. It wouldnt be hard to over load your lanyard (it is your life line after all), and this trick is handy for questionable trees, but it shouldnt be standard practice. Think about he angles the lanyard makes with your d's, it is subject to the same sling angles where the angle of the sling greatly reduces the load cap. of the sling as the angle gets flater.

why not a notch with a thicker hinge? Or if you really want it to tear then why not go a little farther out on the limb and make a under cut a foot or so back on the underside?

 

[OutOnaLimb]

Where is Rocky? If I had to speak for him, I would have to say this is the stupidst thing I have ever heard

Kenn

 

[Lumberjack]

Where is Rocky? If I had to speak for him, I would have to say this is the stupidst thing I have ever heard

Kenn

Exactly what I thought.

 

[NeTree]

Huh????

 

[lawmart]

I do the same, but don't put my buck strat on .
some time you want the limb to fall back into the tree. for instance there might be a fence undr the branch you want to cut , if you let it rip/ hindge it will swing back under itself/into the trunk thereby missing the fence.
when the branches get to big they will just rip and fall there by nagating the affect. so you gust have to go out there and lighten it up.

lawmart

 

[Lumberjack]

I do the same, but don't put my buck strat on .
some time you want the limb to fall back into the tree. for instance there might be a fence undr the branch you want to cut , if you let it rip/ hindge it will swing back under itself/into the trunk thereby missing the fence.
when the branches get to big they will just rip and fall there by nagating the affect. so you gust have to go out there and lighten it up.

lawmart

I can do the same thing, without pinning my body. I even use a peel cut sometimes! On big limbs i always hinge them.

Of course you could always rope it out....

 

[lawmart]

miss under standing,
I dont pin my body when making a cut, I rareley put my buck strap on when when making a cut due to that fact, and yes i now I should have 2 points of attachment when making a cut, I could cut my rope and fall to my death. But i gage the situation/risk associated with the cut. I even now abudy who died when he cut his rope. But hey. I would say i use it about 30% of the time.

lawmart

 

[Lumberjack]

I rarely TITS (tie in twice stupid) when cutting a limb, unless I need the added support. I always TITS when i am taking out the top, blocking down, ect. My main reason is to be able to swing out of the way if i need to to keep the limb from hitting me. (In a perfect world it wouldnt, but it aint perfect).

The only time I can think of that you would need the center tie in with your lanyard is when there is a risk of barber chair, and the only reason i could think that this would happen is on a cracked tree, or a tree with a huge amount of lean that is hollow. Even then, your saw should be able to cut fast enough to keep it from happening, or if the tree is big enough use a plunge cut with a release strap.

Using the method to take of limbs seems to be a very unprofessional way of doing it. Peel cuts dont look as pretty, but they have their place. However, making them so they peel back into the trunk is ridiculous, and a huge saftey problem.

 

[lawmart]

only use during removals, otherwise its not worth the risk of leaving a rip on your pruned tree.

lawmart

 

[topnotchtree]

Ok well maybe I am not clear on my explanation of this tip, but, anybody that has ever been pulled by a tearing, or peeling limb will appreciate it. Hopefully. I will say I am almost always secured to the tree using 2 seperate points whenever using a chainsaw. Also, the limbs I am speaking of are limbs cut with an Echo, or small saw. I would not try this with a limb large enough to merit Husky.

 

[MasterBlaster]

You need to rethink your whole concept of how you do this particular tree move.

 

[Gopher]

Safety first - right?

Are any of us perfect? No! And remember, we are involved with tree care, but first comes PEOPLE care. If anyone is even talking about minimizing the degree of a possible injury versus avoiding it, then we haven't gone anywhere in the last twenty years.

Get out of the tree and into Wal Mart as a greeter.

Really.

As I said, no one is perect, but my aim is to head in that direction. We all should. Do not do something on purpose that may give the tree the chance to win. It will.