Whats safe

[Treecutr]

How do you guys KNOW a limb is strong enough for you?? I know the 4" guide. Just wondered if there were other ways. Some of the limbs I have to get out on for this particular job, are really springy, and long. Not so much concerned about the weight of them for lowering, but they are RIGHT over a roof, some I was able to stand on the roof to remove, the rest are just out of reach, and no real way to set up a zip line ( only tried it once, low and slow, now's not the time for testing it bigger ). Just want to know if I can head out farther on them to make the cuts smaller and easier to handle where they're at. I'm also confident that IF I have to, I can cut bigger sections, and leave more holding wood to allow the limb to lower itself so to speak.

 

[tree md]

I personally go by the size of my calf rule. Generally I will get out there on one to the point where it is as big around as my calf... my calf has grown over the years too... As well as my belly...

 

[Tree Pig]

The old school guy that taught me said his guide was a limb the size of his wrist. I have big wrists but I weigh 275 so I usually go a little bigger.

 

[Treecutr]

I don't think I have to get down to wrist size. These things are just pretty springy, so I guess I wanted to confirm that me telling myself they were fine was right.

 

[rarefish383]

I pushed my luck a little too far in a big Willow. I know Willow is very brittle. I was tied into a central lead way above and behind me. I had my foot wedged into the crotch as tight as I could get it. I unsnapped my safety to move it around a limb and just as I was ready to resnap it, the limb popped and I swung back into the central lead. That limb was a good 4 inch and I weigh about 200 lbs. If you have any dought make sure you're crotched in high and/or double crotched, Joe.

 

[clearance]

Kinda puzzled here, are you tied in high above the limb in question? I have climbed way out on some skinny limbs, cut and thrown pieces I could handle. But I was always tied in high above, that way, if it lets go I just swing back to the stem.

 

[tree md]

Whenever I have to get out on something that is questionable I will try to be tied in to another leader or sometimes even another tree if I have to and one is available.

 

[Tree Pig]

Damn I miss read what you were referring too. I was talking about minimum limb size for tie in. I have walked out on some pretty small limbs even used them to support my weight in them odd cutting potions with out any problems. But again as mentioned already I always have a strong tie in above me when doing so.

 

[beastmaster]

Just yesterday I was pretty far out on a limb that was maybe two inch. where I was at. The Key is to have a good high tie in point above you. If your tied in right your almost weight less out there. Some times getting back in is tricky.

 

[climber338]

the higher the tie in point is the more you can walk out on a limb. Just did a pin oak about 2 weeks ago where i had to walk way out to get a few limbs above the house. I got lazy and decided that i was not going to set my line really high. I couldn't keep weight off the limbs very well so i had to walk back in and climb up another 15-20 feet to get the angle right. Try to keep your weight on your climbing line so you not putting hardly any of your weight on the limb.

 

[rarefish383]

I was thinking about how big of a limb to stand on. In my situation it was a Swamp Willow, not a Wheeping, with about 10 trunks, 65 to 70 foot. I was tied in to the center trunk and walking out on one of the outside trunks.

If your talking about how big of a limb to tie in on, never, never throw your rope over the limb with both ends of the rope hanging down. Always throw your rope over the limb and take the end around the trunk. If you go around the trunk and walk out on a limb way lower in the tree your rope will stay pulled into the trunk. If you throw over the limb with both ends hanging straight down, as you walk out on a lower limb, the rope can creep out on the crotched limb, to to a point you are putting incredable leverage on it. I hope that makes sense. I wish I knew how to draw pictures on here, Joe.

 

[Treecutr]

Definetly should have said this yesterday, my mistake, but some of these have NOTHING abouve them. I suppoes I will have to look and see if there's anything nearby to crotch into, but I can almost guarantee without looking, it's gonna be a long swing if anything does go wrong. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[tree md]

You certainly do not want to tie into another tree if it is going to take you for a long swing. If you have a neighboring tree that will not swing you too far that would be fine but be mindful of where you would swing in the event of a failure. As always, never set up where there is a possibility you could swing into lines or into stubs that could spear you. If you could get above your target area and rap down that would be ideal.

5" is about my limit on healthy, live limbs. I used to go a little smaller but I am 225 pounds now.

Just be careful and use common sense.

 

[Treecutr]

Yeah, nothing above to tie to as I suspected when I went out yesterday. I was able to use a re-direct in a few spots and rappel down. I got all the peices out I was concerned about with no issues. Unfortunately I had a rookie ground guy due to a last minute inavailability of my normal guy. IT SUCKED BAD. More in new thread.