Wind and Crane....recommendations??

[teamtree]

At what wind speed do you call off crane work?

I was working some brush off a tree yesterday in 20-30mph wind and we worked all the lower limbs off until we got to a good stopping point. I have about two hours of work left before we need the crane but I am not sure if I should schedule it if the wind is going to be 20mph.

Any suggestions, experience, thoughts....

I have never really dealt with a crane on a windy day.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

It depends on the load and the crane. If you are working big wood then you should not have too much of a problem.

It is when you have whole tops that will catch the wind that you run into problems.

 

[tomtrees58]

i think 20 to 30 mph is to munch tom trees

 

[Thillmaine]

Windy

Maybe two weeks ago i was working in 40 plus mile an hour (sustained) with 60 mph gusts winds off the crane. Ours is only 100' so it wasnt too bad. AS long as you have climbed before in winds like that, you know what your getting yourself into. I had minor problems. I had a difficult time getting into position without branches smashing against the ball and throwing me all around. Anyhting brush can move a pretty goiod ways so make sure not to take any shortcuts and position yourself int he right spot. Wood was not a problem, minimal wind resistance and lots of tension on the line keeps it pretty much where the operator wants it.

 

[teamtree]

Thanks!

We are set to go tomorrow morning. Once we get the two tallest leads (tops) off we can use the bucket truck for the rest so minimal climbing on this one. I will take pics tomorrow and post them of the job.

I try to use the wind to my advantage when rigging and yesterday we could drop limbs and they would drift 25' into the drop zone.

The winds are going to be 5-10mph tomorrow so not too bad....but it is going to be cold. High of 14.

 

[jomoco]

JPS is pretty much right on the mark, wood is not a big deal in the wind because it has minimal sail area, but brush is an entirely different matter, it has enough sail area to tweak a crane's weakest link, rotation. It's the very reason a crane must be level to function safely.

Any CO that tries any rotational power moves is a dangerous rookie to be shunned and avoided by veteran pros in this biz, and all others involving cranes.

Something all bucket boys should know also.

jomoco

 

[treeslayer]

please elaborate.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

please elaborate.

I think he means using the boom rotation to separate the cut.

Remember when Bobby (?) got p/o'd at the climber for putting 6000# of lift onto a pick?
"HE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE F HE IS DOING!"