dadio

And just t show that this isn't a technique that should be reserved for the super duper expert chainsaw types, these highway workers shared this video with me and with gratitude for making their life much easier:

Here are a few old videos:

That video was 2017

Arborpod:

I think tat the very scenario in the arborpod video is 100% predictable. When rigging the short but cut of a large limb, using a pretensioned line with overhead lowering point. You can count on a slow movement from a rip cut into the shoulder. So as long as you don't have a line or lanyard below the cut, this is the prefered cut. Safe, fast ,easy and reliable.

Would it be too much to ask an instructor making a video to explain the reason why he is making an undercut or side cuts? It just seems reasonable that if an instructor knows the parameters for when certain techniques are appropriate, the reasons for their use, and when it is not appropriate to use, they may as well not keep it a secret. What is the down side? If you really understood the subject it would only take a few extra moments to share such distinctions. I asked for the Brits take on this video and appreciate your answers. My takeaway from your answers is that the you have low expectations for training organizations in general and from this video in particular. My guess is that at the time this video was made that the instructors did not have a complete understanding of the subject, and as so much of the industry has done in the past, were simply regurgitating the unquestioned teachings that they learned. And Matty I appreciate your feedback. Do you have any more detail on how "single cuts are taught and need to be demonstrated in Britain for NPTC assessments?" My guess is that they are taught in a very limited scope.

The term I used was "college professor".... perhaps it's a matter of cross-atlantic semantics. I googled this: In the USA, The title of Professor is given to people that have a PhD and are teachers at any academic level. A person who is a Doctor is someone who has finished a terminal degree meaning they have completed the highest degree in their field of study above a bachelors. Mark Chisholm is also a ITCC world champion tree climber from NJ that offers professional training programs, in addition to working as a full time arborist. As a production arborist, his practices can differ significantly from his teachings. I think people that offer training and do production tree work on a regular basis are better suited to teach than one who teaches only. The main point of the original video is that SOME people that teach only are out of touch with reality, and that creates a drag on the whole industry. Until the advent of tree videos there were large segments of the industry that had never even seen high productivity in tree work. Actually I re-read the referenced post and I dd not use the term college professor, so my apologies. I use the term college teacher, by which I meant full-time college teacher, so it was a poorly written statement.

Did I miss something here? This woman runs a tree service she is not a college professor, as in having a PhD. The best college professor that tried his hand at tree climbing promptly killed himself.

names please?

why are they hard to explain? If your lanyard or climbing line is under the cut, use an undercut. If the limb has a rise of over 35 degrees, it can split and lift, similar to a barber chair, and potentially come down on you, so use an undercut. If the limb is long and heavy enough to split, it can pinch the bar, so use an undercut. Species that split easily are more prone to split during a rip cut, so adjust your cutting technique accordingly.

This video both demonstrates and explains the combined use of the rip cut (into the shoulder leaving NO STUBS) with well placed overhead rigging point and tie off points on the limb getting lowered. Do you think Arbomaster, the ISA or any other training organization has or will ever show this type of work. I'd call it technical except its actually far more simple than the teachings of undercuts, wing cuts, and finishing with the hand saw.

That's where good cutting technique and goor rigging come together. If you use a rip cut (no gob or undercut) then the piece is going to come off real slowly and give plenty of warning as the fibers begin to tear. Also the placement of the overhead rigging point helps if it is a bit off the stem. This was demonstrated in a large stub in the video. I think it's not too much to expect a higher level of expertise to be shared in training videos. There are a lot of variables to consider in tree work. Using the least common denominator (this cut works in all situations) maybe the easiest and safest way to provide training, but it results in a sub-par product. A more complete description of more variables would serve the industry. There is very little explanation of "why". Instead we get teachers saying do it this way and an industry full of teachers and trainers that parrot the teachings without understanding the "Why". Then its up to the individual to figure the rest out by himself. We can debate the reasons for such poor quality training material in the tree care industry. Is it because they don't really understand the distinctions necessary to provide a better product, or they don't care, as there is limited competition and they are doing just fine with such poor products, or is it simply a matter of trying to avoid liability. Who knows. BUt I can tell you one thing. There is not ONE person teaching college courses on arboriculture that has the skill and ability of a world class climber/rigger/faller.

What say the Brits?

no it's not about speed, as much as not wasting time. That may sound like the same thing, but it's an important distinction. And of course you can have safety and speed, IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I put most of the side of the tree over the driveway on the ground after the battery died, then jumped in the skid steer and stuffed it all through the chipper without one saw cut on the ground. The only other man on the job pretty much stood by the chipper and waited to work the lift cylinder or pick up a few sticks. If you look carefully you can see him chek his phone between runs. The skid steer made it easy for him. Two of us took about 45 minutes to chip the whole mess. The reactions to these videos never cease to demonstrate just how much people admire their little boxes.

thanks Steve. I was able to chip the whole mess with the skid steer and one man on the grond in less than an hour. Plenty more raking to so after that, but all the big stuff was handled by the skid steer.. Chipper is a Bandit 1590xp with a 140 hp engine. So a lot of this depends on what kind of chipper and material handling equipment you have.

After the intro there is uncut raw footage, showing 50 cuts in 15 minutes= 18 seconds a cut. https://youtu.be/H3F-A1XxGYo

NICE!!!

What you call "ill-behaved branch" is just a result of poor cutting technique...

Over 20 years since the last time I dropped one... hope that's not a jinx

Latest vid showing some fun cuts and rigging. There has been a lot of unnecessary spider legs shown on YouTube lately and even more unnecessary tip tying and lifting. Gravity is 100% and can most often be used to get the job done. But goes down, tips go up. As long as the rigging line is offset (not in line with you), the but will swing down and away, as the tips lift off the obstacle and swing away.

Event coming up in June https://artdotearth.org/branching-out/

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gDNiqrCRs8U" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> 120' uprooted tulip, hung up in a smaller oak, leaning out over the neighbor's house... took everything we had to stand it up, but the fun wasn't over then

do you think we can change the photos? I'd like to add some new ones...

Me too Steve... it's still a matter of heated debate in the industry, with one side saying it simply doesn't work or at best is unreliable, and therefore shouldn't be used and the other side standing here with our jaws dropped ... Here's a link to the article: http://allabouttrees.com/wp-content/uploads/guides/climber/Felling_Accuracy.pdf and a comment at the buzz from Tony Tresselt, a professional trainer and safety officer for a well respected tree service about an hour from me.: "I have not nor will I ever teach or use this technique on a arborist production work site. It was bull shit when the article came out, shitty pictures and all, and it’s B. S. now, lacking effect, perdictibality and flys in the face of most if not all safer felling practices."