RC0

Lots of arborist or related workers around here who seem to have either present or past ties to the logging industry, and generally talk in those kinds of descriptive terms. I was speaking with the owner in a local saw shop who’s also breaking into arborist hardware of recent. After about 10 minutes of explaining my role as a contract climber, he interrupted.... “ so you’re a topper?”.....I paused, and then replied, “ yeah....that’s right, I’m a topper”. I just couldn’t be bothered going any further. So be it. Some headcam views from the last couple of months, been a pretty good spring all-in-all I’m going to miss the trade shows this year, and what’s worse is that I never even made it to Jonsie’s in the past. I also find it curious to hear people actually complaining that’s its always the same old thing etc. Well, a very rare opportunity to catch up and kick back with friends and acquaintances, not to mention make new ones....eat, drink beer, shop....sounds terrible alright. For those who are going, have a great time. Switch your youtube setting to HD.

Why not from the start....instead of fighting all that extra stretch in the line and using armpower while your legs are redundant. And seems as you have your highline set already you can sit in it while you advance the flip line - take four steps while pushing back into the harness - tend the slack in your highline - advance the flipline again, and so on. Like walking up the tree. I watched that other video where the guy ziplines the Douglas fir. He goes back the next day and apears to be pulling himself all the way up the standing stem (pole)....with spurs on, I couldn't believe it, but didn't wanna ask. The Bigshot....I agree with you there, the best money I've spent in years.

Who said anything about wrenches and pantins, just use your flipline and spur it....you have them on already. Pre-setting the line is handy too if its an easy shot and time allowing, but dont over look the easiest and most obvious means. Glad the job went ok nonetheless.

Right on with the mid-tie's Ben, well done. Tell me you didn't really haul yourself up that tree from the ground on the doubled line?

5/8, 15ft steel core on all removals here. With the odd exception that I'll use a soft lanyard if its a real wide spar that I have to send a wave around to advance. Although more often than not a steel core is best as it holds its form so passes up the back of the tree with ease, thicker the better. Whats more, seems as the conifers around here (grand-fir eapecially) are forever popping resin at you throughout, only a mehcanical grab will do....a hitch quite quickly becomes unworkable. Always favoured a wire core for spurring up and down trees whether conifer or hardwood.

Like Pete says, straight across to the main stem, then you got nothing to worry about, minutes thats all....that lever would also then work as it should if the line entered from directly above, and not off to the side as you have it. Worse still, why isn't that ratchet backed up with a choker? as is in the manual, on the video and like I've emphasised many times here. Not so long back there was a similar such incident reported here about a serious accident in Austrailia where a guy was hospitalised using a strap that slipped on a similar LD....and of course theres been several photos posted on other forums over the years of Hobbs and GRCS greeting the climber up the tree. The choker facility is there for your protection, and again only minutes to set-up. Sorry to sound so critical James, but this is serious stuff and you ought to know better. Doesn't matter how many times you get away with something in the past.... you get unlucky, once, and its a potential life changer in/for many ways and people other than just the guy who set up the rigging. Nice tree

Run mine on a 16 in bar. Its a dog:thumbdown:

I did prorotype some felling levers some years back....the first couple worked great, and then I messed with the design too much resulting in a bunch that just weren't very good at all, so much so that I scrapped the idea. I dont know what you have there Dave as I dont recall passing any of those things on, other than a couple I gave away to retailers....but if it is infact a great big heavy thing that turns sideways in the cut then forget it mate because its junk. Felling levers in general are not really much use for felling trees of any size. You can achieve 20 times more with a bunch of wedges and an axe.

Yes Paul nothing has changed, just a different place. Very rare a homeowner would even consider putting the kettle on out here....I'm used to it now but I still think its slack. Dont blame you at all for having the volume down Ben, heaven knows you've had your share of my voice in person. thanks again

Its called a block-out face Ben, for better holding wood, pay attention! Dr Green, no always, but sometimes. and thanks

Switch your youtube settings to HD Excuse the lack of clarity and eloquence in the speaking, none of it is planned or pre-rehearsed. Its just that I make a habit of trying to explain my actions on a job so's the next time people know what to expect and are all on the same page. Most of the time it pays. 3 seperate trees in this instance, and a couple of the techniques discussed. Hope its not too dull for you guys. Thanks [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl_jogiuO94]Matching cuts, Back release, and Side leaner.wmv - YouTube[/ame]

thats a cool image Ian, the first one. Great promo pic:thumbup1:

Thanks Dont know about the wet/dry rope conductivity, only that it was a 15KV wire. David, it took the morning to get the tree down, probably 7 or more big chunks before we could fall it. It was about 4ft at the base. We did the smaller one adjacent in the afternoon and a lot of sawing. Like Marc said, the KRAB is for convenience....and people often seem to find the most complicated ways to attach a block and sling to my climb-line, so it keeps things simple in that sense also. Its always a good policy Mark B....and seems as I had to climb all the way up anyhow to set the rigging it often makes sense on a single-stem-tree at least, to cut away whatever you can.....and what with the weather being so changeable and volatile around here lately i.e. the property had 4 similar size trees down just a week or so earlier, one right on top of two out-buildings. Hope I haven't missed anything there. Thanks again

This job was kinda sprung on us by the HO. We’d originally turned up expecting to remove a couple similar around the back of the property....but upon arrival they said its either the two at the front or nothing today. A pretty uncomplicated job but still not much margin for error i.e. on the very first limb (not on video), upon safely lowering it to the ground Sean inexplicably steers the butt towards the wires upon touchdown sending a big wave up the rigging line bringing it to within feet of the wires....just not thinking. After that he did fine. Switch your youtube settings to HD: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPmoDTIWJNs]Fir removal over wires - YouTube[/ame]

yet you've made twenty three thousand individual posts:001_smile:

Matt, I have little doubt you're on of the best in the land. Good work. It would be nice if on occassion you just slowed down a little with the editing....so to appreciate the particular tree and some of the techniques involved. As is theres barely time to blink. Did you get any stills at all?

Thanks again I favour the Humboldt because its so easy to match the cuts having the big dogs on the saw. There's obviously a trick to it but beyond that its quite effortless. The same could work just as easy for the conventional but I've just gotten use to doing it this way now. Apart from that no, there was no other benefit....the hingewood was always going to be nothing more than powder so undermining i.e Fred Dibnah (on a mini scale) was the order.

Thanks Yeah its a Full-Wrap Stevie, not only makes for easier handling but if a customer asks to take that stump a bit lower you have a legit excuse. I had that 390 modded just recently so it cuts like a demon now. And what with adding the west coast dogs I can line up my notch cuts and barely have to look. Edit: Liam its just a 14in, thanks

This was quite a nasty one, due to the power lines down below and the spar/support tree being rotten. Some careful cutting and rigging invoved. Thanks, oh and switch your youtube setting to HD if thats possible [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meNpef3uSvE]Wind blown firs. - YouTube[/ame]

Well that seemed to go alright. If the grounworker is going to let it hang there a while just make sure that your rigging point is further away than where you've tied the line to the limb, so it swings away from you. Other wise if you get it wrong and the limb is brush heavy the butt can rush back at you. Stick with it:thumbup1:

Thanks all The wide-angled-view actually made it look easier on this occassion....probably the worst drag i've come across since coming to Canada at least. The fact that we were able to get that section of fencing out down at the bottom was what made it all feesible. Search for 'portable-winch' online. With the right application it can be invaluable....the key as always is spotting the opportunity. At the same time you can get in big trouble with this type of winch if you call it wrong. Kev I have puncture proof tyres, so no worries there. The last part of your post made me chuckle!

Switch your youtube settings to HD Not as boring to watch as the title suggests. Just an example of time saved with a little foresight, and the right gear. A recent job where the brush of 9 firs had to be hauled out from from the bottom of a long, steep back yard. We combine the Arbtrolley and the portable winch where otherwise either would have been pretty useless on their own. I'd say we were loaded to about x 6 what a person would physically be able to carry, which was compressed and held with a ratchet strap. I think we did about 12 loads in total, whilst the timber was cut and left as firewood. Only light duty rigging needed....what a difference wheels make.... Probably saved at least 4-5 hours on the job and what would have been some very sore feet if we'd otherwise had to carry all that stuff out by hand. Not ideal for with the head-cam, I realise everything looks a little squashed and shaky but it was just easier that way. Thanks [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ5741tCWZg]Arbortrolley Winch combo - YouTube[/ame]

Cant wait

:biggrin:Impossible to say just from watching that clip. Just remember that even if you dont locate the exact balance point, the closer you are the slower it'll tip, or tilt to a lesser extent....by which time the limb is often away from the climber and near the ground anyway. What ever rigging technique you use, just make sure it's going to achieve something thats actually worthwhile.

Why the double slings way up in the air like that? I you want to develop your sense of balance then stick with a single point attachment.