Help needed cutting large limb!

[MattyF]

Triangle cut with a big sharp saw and watch it pop off, just don't get the saw stuck in the bottom cuts!

[Joe Newton]

I haven't got my cs 41. I better stop climbing eh.

 

 

You don't need it if you're rigging from a bucket truck

[skyhuck]

A very experience faller/timber merchant I climbed for when I was just getting started told me a horrific story of two brothers who worked together felling and climbing.

 

One brother was removing a huge beech limb, it exploded as it broke way from the tree, creating a spiky butt end to the limb. It fell tip first towards the floor, hit the ground and sprung back up harpooning him and pinning his body to the tree.

 

When the fire brigade arrived they were unable to retrieve the body, so his brother had to climb the tree and cut the body free.

 

If the limb is no twice its own length from the ground I would go out and cut small.

[mistahbenn]

You don't need it if you're rigging from a bucket truck

 

[Gary Prentice]

A very experience faller/timber merchant I climbed for when I was just getting started told me a horrific story of two brothers who worked together felling and climbing.

 

One brother was removing a huge beech limb, it exploded as it broke way from the tree, creating a spiky butt end to the limb. It fell tip first towards the floor, hit the ground and sprung back up harpooning him and pinning his body to the tree.

 

When the fire brigade arrived they were unable to retrieve the body, so his brother had to climb the tree and cut the body free.

 

If the limb is no twice its own length from the ground I would go out and cut small.

 

That's pretty horrific even to contemplate.

 

My only comment to the OP is, you're climbing it, do it whichever way you're comfortable with. Any fool can stand on the ground and direct, but you're in harms way. If they want it done in a way that you're unhappy about- do it themselves.

[VTS]

You say the guy is not a tree surgeon, so even with your limited experience you know a lot more about the climbing aspect of the job. I am going to stick my neck out and say that you are hoping to get more work from him, he probably knows this and is going to try and manipulate you and your inexperience. The fact that you have posted the question tells me that you have concerns.

My best advice is to tell him how you will do it, not how he wants you to do it.

I have know got to the stage when people ask me if I can just drop that tree that's leaning towards there house I say yes, which part of the roof do you want it on.

 

Go with your gut instinct, you have an in built survival mode.

Stay safe

[humpo48]

Be VERY careful - there is a seriously injured climber recovering at the moment who was removing a large beech limb recently. I'm not personally aware of the exact circumstances but what is clear from the pictures I have seen is that the limb tore out (I would imagine unexpectedly) and somehow dragged him and his 2 anchor points out of the tree.

You have admitted to this being a bit out of your comfort zone. It is important to challenge yourself as this is how you will improve. However, I would definitely take someone experienced with you to offer advice - forget what the client says.

When you are nervous/under pressure it is all too easy to end up biting off a bit more than you can chew - not the end of the world if the repercussions are broken roof tiles/damaged fence etc. However, if you find yourself half way through felling a 3 foot beech stem (effectively a medium trees CS32 fell, but hanging off a rope...) and you aren't confident with what you are doing/have poor work positioning/use the wrong cuts etc etc things can go wrong very quickly, with enormous forces involved. Will it barbers chair and spread you up the main stem like jam? Will it tear out and crush your pelvis and spine because you stropped on to the wrong bit? Will the tips land first and spring the timber back at you, catapulting you into next week?

If you are going to do the job under your own direction, do as others have suggested and take it off in small bits. You will learn more that way as you will have to climb higher/further out than you might be confident with. You will also still have to deal with cutting big bits of timber from a rope and harness, but the risk of massive forces being released unexpectedly will be diminished if you take the weight/leverage away bit by bit.

Enjoy the job, but be careful and stay safe!

 

 

One of the best bits of advice I have read on Arb Talk for a while. Good one.

[Djvicke1]

Thanks for the feedback and advice its much appreciated. Those are both horrific incidents and I always try and work cautiously especially when working outside my comfort zone.

 

I went to look at the job tonight. It's more than just a limb in fact it's one of 4 large stems that make up the tree. Its between 45degrees and vertical with large horizontal branches coming off it and is like a large tree in itself. As soon as i saw it I realised it was out of my skill level. There is also a new fence directly at the base and everyone seemed in agreement that it is a difficult job. I suggested getting a mate of mine who has been climbing for 8-9 years to have a look at it. I just took him to see it and he said he can do it by rigging a couple of sections to save the fence.

 

All said and done the bloke is going to get back to me to give the go ahead after he's told the farmer the price..

 

If we go ahead then I will ground for my mate and hopefully learn a few things watching him which I'm happy with as its a load off my mind

[mistahbenn]

Without seeing pictures, its hard to give advise. But if the stem is vertical, and you can remove a fence panel or two, the falling cut is alot easier to make than on a horizontal cut.

[carlos]

Thanks for the feedback and advice its much appreciated. Those are both horrific incidents and I always try and work cautiously especially when working outside my comfort zone.

 

I went to look at the job tonight. It's more than just a limb in fact it's one of 4 large stems that make up the tree. Its between 45degrees and vertical with large horizontal branches coming off it and is like a large tree in itself. As soon as i saw it I realised it was out of my skill level. There is also a new fence directly at the base and everyone seemed in agreement that it is a difficult job. I suggested getting a mate of mine who has been climbing for 8-9 years to have a look at it. I just took him to see it and he said he can do it by rigging a couple of sections to save the fence.

 

All said and done the bloke is going to get back to me to give the go ahead after he's told the farmer the price..

 

If we go ahead then I will ground for my mate and hopefully learn a few things watching him which I'm happy with as its a load off my mind

 

good call imo, hopefully you can watch and learn.