'Ears' fears!

[Hill-Billy]

I gave myself a bit of a scare today - removing a fairly large tree limb about my own body-weight. Good work positioning was virtually impossible, due to the slippery nature of the wet tree and the lack of branches to stand on, so it was difficult placing the kerf cuts to limit fibre tearing. I was using my Silky the whole time, as it was too risky to use a top-handled saw, and unnecessary I felt. When I made the back cut the branch fibres still tore into my lanyard trapping me until my groundy could swing the branch and I could then lift it over a small knob of wood and free myself. I was very close to cutting my Lanyard by that point. Has anyone else had a similar experience? It isn't meant to happen when you make the kerf cuts surely. Maybe they just weren't deep enough.

[skyhuck]

I would have thought a silky is way too slow to be using to remove a large limb.

[Adam Bourne]

Sounds like the speed of your cutting may well of been a factor here mate....

 

 

Just a thought.

 

 

What diameter timber and what species was the tree ?

 

 

Adam

[Hill-Billy]

The tree was a sycamore. Thelimb diameter was approx 4-6 inches. Like I said, it was virtually impossible to get a good work position and too slippery for a chainsaw - no fear!

[skyhuck]

The tree was a sycamore. Thelimb diameter was approx 4-6 inches. Like I said, it was virtually impossible to get a good work position and too slippery for a chainsaw - no fear!

 

How could it only be 4-6 inches and weigh as much as you??

[Hill-Billy]

The branch was about 15 feet long. It's difficult to say exactly how much it weighed but it had me pinned down for a few seconds.

[Adam Bourne]

Seems strange for sycamore to hold like that? Especially that diameter and length ?

[waz77]

Did the branch split down the middle like a barber chair but in reverse? If so the ears wouldn't help.Like said prob caused by the slow cutting action of the silky. Either needs to be cut in smaller lengths or with chainsaw if thats the case

[john p]

think youd of been better off with a chainsaw,slippery or not,last thing i want to be doin onthe end of aslippy branch is poncing about with a silky.IMO:biggrin:

[RobArb]

I don't mean to sound like I'm preaching but a good work position its everything. If you were removing the tree did you not have spikes on? If not did you not use extra endless slings to aid work position for your feet? That way a saw could've been used, stopping the action of said ears (although does sound like a reverse barber chair) holding on and pinning you against the tree.

 

Stay safe out there

 

Sent from my Galaxy S2