MorePNW Lombardy Poplars

[rbtree]

These two Lombardy poplars were ~100-110 feet tall, and ~3 feet in diameter, so not overly huge,. But they were in a small back yard and over three other yards, so rigging was required. We were able to tip tie and lower the larger lower limbs and leads,, which is much easier than butt lowering lower limbs. The upper limbs and leads were butt hitched. However, it was being able to send the chipper winch line up and attach to the limbs that made it possible for us to do the job in one day. It would have been very tedious if we weren't able to yard the limbs out with the winch.

 

Please excuse the one sideways clip and all the chipper noise..and the length. Watch in HD

Edited August 13, 2014 by rbtree

[rbtree]

There's no video of me doing the initial rigging, which went super fast. After getting a few low easy limbs free dropped, i set a high block and tip tied all the lower leads of the front tree, and a couple on the back tree. Coupled with the chipper winch yarding them right to the chipper, it went super fast and smooth. I'd set a redirect block on a small cedar right next to the chipper, in order to get the winch line oriented perfectly, right between the houses. Tip tying lombardy leads is the best way to move fast, when there's no room for free drops.

 

The main climber is Patrick of Westside Tree Care. He worked for me for a few years before starting his own biz. As he has no chipper or dump truck, we do a fair bit of trading these days. A sweet arrangement! He's younger and stronger than me, but still needs to be around the old guy. I've got lots of tricks and tips that he can still learn!

 

There's a clip of Trevor, who has little climb experience, but is a great crew hand, having a bit of trouble cutting through a small chunk. Wish he was full time..married, non smoker, firefighter experience, and now works part time at a hospital as an EMT.

Edited August 13, 2014 by rbtree

[treesrus]

makes the one we did recently look easypeasy......

[RC0]

Good vid Rog easy to follow.

 

Id have said 85ft, but what do I know.

 

Looked like something broke at the 5 min mark ?

 

Great work with the winch, saved a lot of labor. Although a person would have to be very familar with that species of tree to know to what extent you could side load it like that. I like the way that last heavy top low to the ground while winching it out.

[rbtree]

Good eye, Reg. See the TH thread. I commented on the fack up:

 

That final top which Pat flipped was a ballsy move. Fence and deck each within 5-10 feet of the butt.

 

However, check starting at about 4:50, where I note that the section is tied a couple feet above the block and that it would be OK. Well, it surely wasn't,as the piece broke and fell, landing in the neighbor's garden, but doing no damage, luckily. Clearly, it should have been marled, meaning the line should have been tied off over about 8-10 feet of the lead, to get it into bigger wood. And marls would have held the broken lead together.

 

Yep, was aware of the side loading issues. More controlled, however, as compared to a free run speed line.......had I been concerned more, I'd have set a back guy--but that would have gotten in the way of the swing rigging of the leads of the back tree.

[RC0]

Good eye, Reg. See the TH thread. I commented on the fack up:

 

That final top which Pat flipped was a ballsy move. Fence and deck each within 5-10 feet of the butt.

 

Lombardys pretty easy to flip, but still, a lot of confidence from Pat in a tight spot

 

Yep, was aware of the side loading issues. More controlled, however, as compared to a free run speed line.......had I been concerned more, I'd have set a back guy--but that would have gotten in the way of the swing rigging of the leads of the back tree

 

Re: the side loading. Never doubted you for a second, but thought it worth mentioning

[rbtree]

Id have said 85ft, but what do I know.

 

True, these pop's weren't that tall, but, as you know, it doesn't take much for a poplar to reach quite the height. I once did one not 30 years old, and it was pushing 125, iirc.

 

I'm quite sure these were at least 100'.

 

Will soon be removing an open grown coast redwood that is danged near as wide as it is tall. The brush will be a bit of a challenge. We'll need to open a hole in the upper canopy in order to lift and swing some of the low limbs with the GRCS. The wood will be easy, as ACDeucy Crane can easily get it, at a 35-40 foot radius, and will load it directly onto urbanhardwoods.com truck. It's 34 years old, and is about 44" dbh. The butt cut will be close to 60"!

Edited August 13, 2014 by rbtree

[rbtree]

By the way, when are you coming down? Any plans to have it just be you, and climb with us, and maybe August? Remember, $ talks.....

 

If you do that, I'd have to go to film...and we could surely get Bix to come.

[RC0]

By the way, when are you coming down? Any plans to have it just be you, and climb with us, and maybe August? Remember, $ talks.....

 

If you do that, I'd have to go to film...and we could surely get Bix to come.

 

We were gonna come over a few weeks ago but the prices at the moment are through the roof....peak season and all. You should get together with those guys regardless....good people I believe.

[rbtree]

I also saw you're headed across the pond for a visit..and to TCIA later.

 

Cheers anyhow!!