Artificial felling hinge

Nish

Nish

Branched out member
Location
North Carolina
Has anyone heard of bracing a tree so as to create an artificial hinge for felling purposes? My mind concocts images of steel braces bolted on opposite sides of a tree trunk and hinging on a stout length of rebar laid across the felling notch, flush against the (gapped) natural hinge. Such a device might be useful when the natural hinge is too weak for the task and holding/guying lines aren't possible.
 
Many years ago someone came up with a device like you're thinking about. It was a stout weldment with a heavy hinge. The device would strap onto the limb/stem with ratchet straps.

The catch...it was only good for about 5" pieces at most.

It was awkward...heavy...and expensive. It went no where from what I can recall.

Producing a device like this for market means liability...takes the profit out of many good ideas.

Most of the time an easier solution is to cut the piece in smaller pieces. I've diced things into small pieces using my Silky Hayate

https://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?item=848


Or a stick saw.

Not saying that you couldn't come up with a viable solution for an artificial hinge though.
 
Yes, I think what I have in mind would be too heavy for economical shipping, and too simple to sell for much to anyone handy enough to be using it in the first place. It'd also be somewhat disposable--no big deal when it gets bent out of shape by a big tree. It certainly wouldn't be fool proof. None of this bodes well for merchandising.

But lets forget merchandising it. What makes the idea seem promising to me is that I imagine it to be quite easy to match and greatly increase the strength of a natural hinge, even on much larger trees. This is especially true for arborists who already have the equipment for bracing codoms with 3/4'' steel rods.
 
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I thought of something similar but for hinging long horizontal branches that overhang objects on the ground and are hard to get out to to cut up in small pieces.

I think it would work but would have fairly limited application.
 
Accordion cut or cut out the heart wood and use the sap wood. Did a long leaner wiggly old molar with big pocket o rot half way up the stem crown today . Forced it away from the house and to the ground with a bit of shaving away the heartwood. Came down slowly and softly kissed the landscape. 4 hour of high risk removal done in 20 minutes and I never left the ground. Know your woods.
 
Artificial hinging is a viable. My best fell was a removal of split and decayed white pine over a condo. The other companies needed two cranes for removal. All I needed was steel cable back tie and two directional ropes and a few 2x4 and straps to fell it. 2x4 to ensure the tree would not blow apart and set down on itself. Do t he math and model if necessary.
 
Pipe might be a better choice. Slowing the speed of a fall to avoid collateral damage would make it worth considering in a lot of situation we encounter
 
A stout pipe footed into the ground and k notched into the tree, like 10' or so can push a tree over or direct a low limb away from obstacles.. It's a cool lil trick. Get your angles right. I use a j hook from a tie down strap to catch the pipe instead of relying on burying it into the wood
 
Ropeshield--I beg you to expand. I can't figure out what you mean by a "pipe footed into the ground and k notched into the tree." I'm completely tantalized.

I've also not heard of cutting out the heartwood. If I hollow out a trunk so that only sapwood remains (I imagine a lot of bore cutting into an open face notch), why would this strengthen the hinge or otherwise help?
 
Nish said:
Has anyone heard of bracing a tree so as to create an artificial hinge for felling purposes? My mind concocts images of steel braces bolted on opposite sides of a tree trunk and hinging on a stout length of rebar laid across the felling notch, flush against the (gapped) natural hinge. Such a device might be useful when the natural hinge is too weak for the task and holding/guying lines aren't possible.
Click to expand...
IMG_20150808_102832.webp IMG_20150808_102832.webp Here. Hope it helps
 
Nish said:
Ropeshield--I beg you to expand. I can't figure out what you mean by a "pipe footed into the ground and k notched into the tree." I'm completely tantalized.

I've also not heard of cutting out the heartwood. If I hollow out a trunk so that only sapwood remains (I imagine a lot of bore cutting into an open face notch), why would this strengthen the hinge or otherwise help?
Click to expand...
No notch. Just relying on root flare for the hinge and control. Most times I do this there is minor barber chairing. Root flares are highly tenacious.
 
Thank you Ropeshield--I've been out and about.

I take it that you use the e-track and smaller pipe as a footing and pivot point on the ground for the larger pipe. I also assume that the orange bit of hollow braid represents whatever sling you use around the tree trunk, ten feet up or so. I can't presently figure out the place of the blue ascender.

I'll be thinking about this I'm out and about.
 
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