Beech TD

[Rupe]

So then just flip the rings over into the splitter and break them into liftables and away.

 

[Rupe]

Still had the final section of trunk to do, so cut it in foot rings, used the block driver to push them off and we split them there and then and took them away. The included bark continued right down the trunk.

 

[Rupe]

This is the forwarder taking the third load of larger wood away. The split bits in the forground all went on my truck, only had to go a quarter mile down the road so quite a handy job.

Think thats all folks.

 

[tod_k]

I liked your rigging plan. Redirected controlled rigging, thats what I like.

 

[Rupe]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
they didn't want to come undone

[/ QUOTE ]

Rupe;
You can always use a grip, tension the cable, cut it, release it slowly and carry on with the removal.

That's a big pig!
Nice pictures!

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Kevin. Not quite following you..

Tension was no problem, the cables went slack after we had removed the crown. I don't do any work with steel cables so didn't have anything to cut it with. I undid the nuts on the bulldog clips and they were just a bit rusty, got there in the end.

 

[Rupe]

[ QUOTE ]
I liked your rigging plan. Redirected controlled rigging, thats what I like.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Tod.

Occasionally I had a second line running through a biner or fig 8 attached below each cut. I used this to control the swing, especially on logs that were swinging directly towards the house.

At the very least this line was used to haul back the rigging line. Like you say controlled is nice, no stress rigging!!

 

[Paul Biester]

Rupe,
Very much enjoyed the pics!! That beech wood is FREEAKIN heavy!! you did an awesome job. It is funny... i know exactly what you mean about a rythm.And I am always with a guy who goes "crane alternative" I spent the first 15years of my career with no bucket or crane . Could not afford it.Spent a lot of time climbing and rigging trees that "had to have" a bucket or a crane.Very nice job by you.
Can you explain a bit more about how you jacked the sections of trunk over?
Thanks!!!!

 

[Rupe]

Hi Paul. You are in Gloucester county?? I live and work mostly in the county of Gloucestershire. Gloucester is the main city its about ten miles from me.

Can you explain a bit more about how you jacked the sections of trunk over?
Thanks!!!!

Do you mean the big rings or the longer sections of bigwood?

For the rings I'm using the Block Driver, made by Sir Reg Coates.

http://www.treeworker.co.uk/acatalog/Arborist_Tools.html

The day before it arrived we were struggling getting the GRCS to lift the large sections and so we used the big felling lever to help.

Theres lots of video on here of the block driver in action, heres some

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=5919664296897929985

REG, get your self a grippy wedge that stays put!!

 

[Reg]

Hi Rupe, where you been man?

Glad you liked the tool, always nice to hear.

Moving on from that though, how many workers and how long did the job take?

Did you do all the climbing?

Was the tree dying?

Busy road? did it need traffic control?

Big tree for that position, how much chip and timber?

Looked like a fun job to be involved with.

Dont be a stranger Rupe.

 

[Paul Biester]

Rupe,
yes I am in Gloucester county NJ. State side. I was actually talking about that nifty little device ,The Block driver cool machine . I spent many a time wedging and pushing some big wood , or pulling it off. Cool tool. Nice Job Sir REG.
Helpful hint: I drill a hole through a couple of plastic wedges and make a leash for them out of throw line. Same thing if you wish to take up a wooden handled hammer to help drive the wedges a bit.
Thanks for the vids Rupe !! much obliged

 

[Paul Biester]

I dream of a day when I can come to your Goucestershire and throw back a couple pints with you guys!!

 

[tod_k]

You mean a tip tie and a butt tie. I do that alot. Did you do a small job in the afternoon?

 

[Rupe]

In this case all the branches were butt tied and so the control rope was butt tied also, just to slow down the swing.

I had a marathon to run in the afternoon so we had to get done early!

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

I never cut beech, but it looks soft.

 

[Norm_Hall]

Rupe, awesome job. Controlled rigging is what it's all about. Very professional.

 

[tod_k]

Of course.

 

[cory]

Jerry! Hard to believe! Guess no beech trees in calif!

Beech is pretty hard wood.

 

[coblesklill]

I think that tree is European Beech. Dont know anything about E beech but American beech is harder than oak.

 

[fattyphatcakes]

Very nice job, great pics too. Looks like a lot of work though. Seems to me that a crane would have been worth the money on this one, even if it were not absolutely necessary to do the job. Why did you decide to rig it? Seems to me that the cost of a crane would more than offset the cost of labor on a job like this. In the past I've rented rolloff dumpsters and had the crane load large chunks into them, saving a lot on labor cost (and wear and tear on the back).

Just an honest question from a fellow arbo.

 

[Mark Chisholm]

Nice work Rupe! Hope to see you at the ETCC!

PS. I don't think that you needed to cut notches for the rigging ropes. I do beech all the time and have not had them slip out ever. But, that being said, if you felt that you needed it, then I would've made them too!