Topping Fail

[Paul Jenks]

OK GAME ON!!!!

 

This subject just came up recently at 2 of the American sites..

 

First of all I TOTALLY disagree that the gob was too big... The tree simply had too much side lean for the hinge, he didn't have enough pull to get it moving to the face.. the back cut was a bit high, and there was no taper to the hinge. So he kept cutting til he took too much out of the hinge to hold.

 

If he had a good bit more pull on the top and had cut a proper hinge, he might have been able to overcome the side lean.. None of this has anything to do with the notch being too big.... IF ANYTHING, a bigger notch would have left more wood across the hinge to fight the side lean..

 

That is beside the point here.. We have a man criticizing a gob for being too big.. IMO most American arborists.. like 99+%, cannot explain why we cut the gob's 1/3 the diameter or so deep as to make the hinge width 80% of the diameter of the tree.. People follow this rule religiously and make high judgments about anything done outside the "rules", without having the faintest idea of why the rules are there..

 

If you understand the why of the rule, then it becomes clear as to when it is best, or at least better, to break the rule.. I AM just wondering how many brits understand the why's of this rule, which governs what is probably the most basic task in our industry... Brits clearly have much better training than americans, did anyone ever explain the why's of this rule during all of that training?

 

What a load of piffle. If the gob had been smaller he would still have had a hinge.

 

Seriously though, why shouldn't I criticize the arborist. He royally screwed up. If he'd have understood the 'rules' as you so patronizingly put it he may not have ended up with the result he did. If you want to have a go at Brit bashing pick another site. If you want to have a go at me bashing come to Blighty and we'll talk the subject through over a cup of tea. Perhaps you can demonstrate felling principles on a scone. If we have a selection of fruited, plain and cheese you'll be able to show how felling cuts behave with inherent structural defects.

[Daniël Bos]

classic.......

 

forgot you were from Holland mate.....

 

is friesian something to do with horse's???

 

I beg your pardon sir?

I'm from The Netherlands! Holland is but a small part thereof, as is Friesland. It's one of 12 provinces that make up the Netherlands. Friesian horses and dairy cows being their most famous achievements.

[mistahbenn]

No thats cows, Maj.

[mistahbenn]

Dont rise to it Paul.

[Adam Bourne]

I beg your pardon sir?

I'm from The Netherlands! Holland is but a small part thereof, as is Friesland. It's one of 12 provinces that make up the Netherlands. Friesian horses and dairy cows being their most famous achievements.

 

:lol:forgive me oh great one .........my bad mate....

[Daniël Bos]

:lol:forgive me oh great one .........my bad mate....

 

It's ok Adam:biggrin:

It's hard to educate you foreigners when even half of the Dutch get it wrong, the BBC (who are sposed to be educationated and that) get it wrong etc.

But I shall keep trudging on, and will never be a Hollander!

[Adam Bourne]

did someone mention tea and scones,? i'll be round in a jiffy old bean....

 

perhaps we can get the rackets out and thrash our tension out over a spot of tennis old chap........

 

tally ho!!!

[Adam Bourne]

It's ok Adam:biggrin:

It's hard to educate you foreigners when even half of the Dutch get it wrong, the BBC (who are sposed to be educationated and that) get it wrong etc.

But I shall keep trudging on, and will never be a Hollander!

 

thank you for sparing me Daniel, i'm afraid us foreigners just can't be educated my dear friend....

[dadio]

don't get your panties in a knot..

 

simple question: in the brit training courses do they explain the reasons why the notch is cut to 1/3 depth or 80% width.. if so ... what was the explanation?

[Frankie Lawrence]

don't get your panties in a knot..

 

simple question: in the brit training courses do they explain the reasons why the notch is cut to 1/3 depth or 80% width.. if so ... what was the explanation?

 

Are you trying to say that a 1/3 us the same as 80%?