Peter Simpson

Well this is the smallest one! There’s a 650 with larger teeth and then the 1000- meter long blade edition...

Yes that one would be handy!

Voila! 12” Ash logs. Phew! Time for a glass or three of blackberry wine...

Thanks very much for your suggestion. I don’t use machines for cutting firewood because I am not handy with machines and am not experienced or trained with them and if you are a bit scared of them they are dangerous! Using hand tools means I have tranquility, exercise, and far less expense. I can work alone and do not have the palaver of all the safety gear required with chainsaws. Because it requires considerable physical effort I can also take my time to consider the best way to approach a job, rather than rushing in with a chainsaw. I cut many tons of firewood this way and it keeps me cheerful and our whole house warm throughout the year.

Anybody recommend these Katanaboy for larger limbs and tree trunks. I cut dead and dying ash and fallen oak by hand with Bahco30” raker tooth bowsaw but need something for limbs and trunks larger than 12” that I can manage with bowsaw.

It is designed to take 3 strand half inch rope, the mechanism has grooves designed to grip the strands. It can take any length of rope. I'm sure your professional requirements are much more heavy duty than mine. I'm an amateur doing everything manually for firewood-if I can't pick it up and carry it I can't use it. So I am thinning small sycamores, coppicing hazel, and cutting up oak wind blow branches after the winter storms.

You'll find a really good review and concise explanation of the workings of the Maasdam Rope Puller on You Tube on Educated Climber, which is produced by a professional arborist.

No, quite heavy duty, simple to use and well made. Only dangerous if you abuse it and then like Tirfor it has failsafe mechanisms. And using rope rather than wire is a lot less perilous as well as being very easy to handle. I'm also only using for small loads and working by myself all the time I take great care.

No just determined and I have the time and the inclination. And I like the peace and tranquility and am not handy with machines.

I did an Google search and bought it via Amazon about £80 including postage and import tax. Treekit sell them in the UK. They take 3 strand 1/2 inch rope. I managed to buy 90 metres separately locally from a guy for £18, plus got sling, carabiners, shackle, choke chain via FR Jones and Internet.

Further to earlier discussion pleased to announce that I have had much success with the Maasdam Rope Puller which I imported from the USA. Light, easy to use, strong, 3/4 ton pulling power and 10/1 mechanical advantage.

That's a Maasdan 1500 lb puller at 10-1 mechanical advantage and takes any length of rope unlike the cable pullers here which go into a reel this feeds the rope in and out.

How about a Masadam endless rope puller from the U.S.? Anybody use these? I think Treekit sells them here.

Thanks.

Yes I've seen that one. Impressive but laborious!