Tricks of the trade: Procedures

[CoreyTMorine]

We all have our own versions, but their roots are the same. Procedures and techniques that make our days easier. A hundred years ago men did more work than was humanely possible, it was not strength that allowed them to accomplish this, rather a turn of workday aikido. “Tarnaytion, this wood sure splits easier when the top is faced down.” Or “I’m sure a lot less tired if I flip these pulpwood bolts end over end rather than try to drag them.”

I think I’m going to do three of these threads, one each for procedures, technique, and tools; that should be about right. I don’t so much enjoy reading through threads that get over 3 or 4 pages, they get hard to follow and unwieldy. Also difficult to search through.

The previous two examples of work day aikido would fall under the heading of “technique” as defined by how you handle something, the exact placement of an object to be worked on in relation to your body.

“Procedures” are defined by the order in which we do things. Such as, it being a lot easier to drag brush if we first move the 3 tons of wood that landed on top of the brush pile.

“Tools” are just that, the odds and ends that we keep in the truck because they’re so darned handy when you need em. I’ve got lots of these J Toms DEDA lanyard, or a pulpwood hook would both be good examples.

 

[CoreyTMorine]

coiling pull lines

Tricks of the trade: Procedures

I sometimes have half a dozen pull lines in spars waiting to be pulled over, all this rope on the ground can be quite an obstacle to the efficient smooth operation of the ground work. So I usually grab the rope as it comes out of the tree and coil it, spin the coil a couple of times and pull the standing part through the loops, same as if I'm coiling a line that is not tied off. Then I use a stick to keep the standing bight from slipping back through the coils. I used to pass the standing loop over the coils, making a kind of cow hitch, to secure things. But one day I came back and a groundey had turned my neat coil into a horrible rat nest trying to get it undone, sometimes I just don’t know what the kids are thinking J This is kind of difficult to put into words, here’s some pics.

 

[Stumper]

So you substtuted a Marlinespike hitch for a Gasket hitch. -I still do the gasket-it s just me so I know how to untie it.

 

[Stumper]

Rake toward the truck-even if it is an isolated tree and you will pick it up and pack out the stuff out in a bag or wheelbarrow the pile should form closer to the destination-not further away.

If you are still stuck hauling brush in a truck or trailer cut the stuff so it will lay flat and stack it in with the butt ends facing forward, Try to start with a couple of broad, hefty branches first then stack on top of them and periodically lay in a nice pair of spreaders. When you get ready to unload you can grap a set of your spreaders and lift and walk them rearward on the truck -lifting and tipping the load off in layers. Many people stack the brush all one direction but place the buts facing rearward/outward, this make them easy to grasp but trying to pull the mess off the truck is a herky jerky operation and thestuff catches the wind terribly in transit. Butts forward and flipping off is more efficient.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

When I loaded brush in my pickup (never again), we loaded the butt towards the back. Exactly opposite of what Stumper suggested. Before a stick was put in the truck we'd lay a rope down in the bed. After piling brush, stopping it down, and mulching it with the saw, we'd throw some wood on top and tie it all together with the running bowline. Just take a couple or three wraps a round a tree and pull away to dump it. "Gorilla" dumping.

 

[darkstar]

corey do you know a standerd lines man coil ... that looks like and oval coil ...

 

[CoreyTMorine]

corey do you know a standerd lines man coil ... that looks like and oval coil ...

havent a clue, but i'm interested, thanks.

is a linemans coil where you dont sqish the coil together with the lock wraps, rather take the lock wraps around the top of the coil???

kentuky sawyer: "Gorilla" dumping. har hee haa, i like that

 

[lync]

A piece of plywood is a versitile tool. Use it as a sled to pull logs to the chipper when you can't skid across the neighbors lawn. Punch 2 holes through the wood about a foot from the edge, a piece of line tied through the holes in a continueous loop, snap the winch cable on under the plywood to keep the leading edge up. No damage to the lawn, save your back.

Corey

 

[Koa Man]

I use a ABS plastic tray to skid stuff. Slides much better than plywood and lighter and easier to carry. Can also load up rakings without it falling off.
http://www.arboristsite.com/attachment_18367.php

 

[Tom Dunlap]

There are larger skid tubs available from farm stores. The ones I used were about three by five with a tapered front end like a boat. To keep the tub from flexing I added a rim of square steel tubing under the lip. To keep the bottoms from wearing out I added three strips of 3/8" Delrin as skids. The tubs lasted years of all year use, across snow, turf, rocks and parking lots with little wear. Using the ATV to pull the tub to the raking piles made cleanup a breeze. We could load monster log loads on it too.

 

[Koa Man]

The one I have was taken off a DR power wheel barrow. It doesn't flex and the bottom is far from being worn out, but I don't use it to skid across pavement. At that point I can load it into a truck. I basically use it with my capstan winch in areas that I cannot get my mini loaders to.

 

[Ekka]

Oh how about some pics here for us foreigners who have no idea what you're on about.

 

[Koa Man]

I have a picture of my skid tray. Click on the link in my post just above Tom's. I also use it to skid brush. I use a strap to hold the brush down. You can load up a big pile that way. I also made my own wheel barrow, dual wheels with a 60X26" flatbed and stake sides. You can carry a lot more brush and logs than with a conventional wheelbarrow. I can also carry 3 full 32 gal. trash cans on it. Doubles as a bench for eating lunch and a bed to lie down on after you finish eating.

 

[Tree Machine]

Friction is the force that works against us. Gravity, too, but since there's no way to alter gravity (we can't levitate) things need to be dragged, carried, rolled, pushed, pulled or schlepped from one place to another. This is the nature of our cleanup, which can be 90% of the job, if ya know what I mean. And I do think you know what I mean.

 

[Ekka]

I use old trampoline mats.

They are tough, big enough, wont cut into your hands like shade cloth and .... free! Just gotta go to the tramp shop and pick up the old ones, usually they're torn on the side where the springs clip in which makes no difference to us.

 

[CoreyTMorine]

I like the plywood skid idea.

I carry an 8' x 10' tarp in the toolbox on the chipper. It works great for picking up and dragging rakings to the chipper.

ARRGGGHHH GRRT youck. no raking through the chipper. Along with septic, wires, UG utilities etc. i always find the clients compost heap and ask about using it. I've never had anyone say no, and its much nicer than muscleing all that crap up into the truck therby polluting my nice clean chips.

 

[CoreyTMorine]

Friction is the force that works against us. Gravity, too, but since there's no way to alter gravity...[/u].

I have a gravity altering machine, but you must be pretty buzzed for it to work. So i only use it at the beach now.

Actually i'm a slide line junky. and i really do have a slide line and a bunch of slings. i find i can slide 3 or 4 branches to every one that i would have lowered, and the material is closer to the chipper and butt foward.

I keep 6 or 7 slings on a big ring with a plastic quick clip, the female end of wich is perminately attatched to my saddle. once my slings are all gone i toss the ring down, use the slide line to lower a branch or 2, and then haul the ring +slings back up for another cycle.

another interesting faccet of this procedure; the noobs pick it up way faster than they do a lowering line. With the slide all they have to do is hold it, maybe take a wrap. where as a lowering line has all kind of nuances and little variations, mastery of which only come after much use.

 

[Tree Machine]

Tarpage video

I use old trampoline mats.

There's an idea. I could see getting a sew shop to stitch and cut out a tramp for around the base of every takedown. I've never had a round one like the annoyingly bright yellow one I tried to depict below.

I'm a big fan of tarps, they save me hours of raking, really gives the owners something to rave about to their friends.

Tarps are a stronger marketing effort than business cards. Passersby see tarps used and they think, "Wow, I want them to do MY trees." I've had people tell me that, they stopped because of the tarps. It's like a giant lawn flag that says "We do quality work!" Combined with the proper use of PPE by you and crew, all that's left is to do the quality work.

I've attached a Quicktime of me 'raking' the sawdust out of a yard in 25 seconds.