Cutting on storm damage??

R

rangerdanger

Location
Lexington, Kentucky
As many buzzers know, KY got hit by an ice/snow storm. There's alot of damage, and at one farm we worked today, it looked as bad as our last ice storm(for those that remember) Almost every tree there has some for of damage.

Back on topic, I was wondering what there is to know when cutting on storm damaged, specifically ice damaged trees. Every branch has a costing of ice and snow, so Dad said to be careful and keep hold of the saw. I also know to look out for the different pressures of the limbs, and predicting what will happen if you cut them here or there. Just wondering what other advices you buzzers could give. Thanks!
 
Hey Ranger,

We have alot of work ahead of us.

I myself like to cut smaller pieces when cutting ice damaged trees. I also like to clear the ice with the saw or available tool (were I will be cutting) so I can see what I am cutting better. One of the most used tools we have when cutting bent ice coverd limbs is our Stihl pole pruner (zippy), you can stand back in a safer zone and make your cuts. Be safe.
 
Crazy stuff....

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Be very aware of the tension the limbs are under. I remember just barely scoring limbs with a pole saw and having them literally explode.
I actually think its some of the most dangerous work out there ( as if its not dangerous enough} Then when the thaw comes, look out. Treat all your downed lines as if they were hot regardless of what the homeowner says. Footing is horrible also...proceed with extreme caution.....time to lose the winter weight...bitter sweet!
 
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Hey Ranger,

We have alot of work ahead of us.

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You got that right. One farm has 2 weeks of work alone. We've been out today going around to residential sites who called and have been cutting and stacking for the chipper tomorrow.

And thanks for the advice. Alot of the stuff we'll be cutting first is on ground level, just big limbs that have fallen, or lower limbs on trees(especially bradford pear and pines) By Friday we should be getting into the climbing part of it (Which includes a ton. For example, a big silver maple that we cabled thankfully held up, but most of its top is gone, and alot of the limbs are just dangling. Scary stuff.
 
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Treat all your downed lines as if they were hot regardless of what the homeowner says.

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Good idea! I'll add to that.
Be very aware of the sound of generators. If they are not properly installed, they can run power through the house then, back out to the lines. Where the transformer will step the 240 volts up to 13.2kV.
If you encounter lines call the power guys and let them clear it off!

Pole saw is your friend indeed!
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Treat all your downed lines as if they were hot regardless of what the homeowner says.

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Pole saw is your friend indeed!
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Got that right!! We just put new blades on them too, so one will be glued to my side, along with my chainsaw.
 
She's a beauty!
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Yeah! And kinda scary! Between the good lean over some power lines and the neighbors yard and some decay about 30ft up the trunk kinda makes ya wonder if it needs to be removed. Its been standing tall since the house was built during the civil war so I say nature should decide when its time for her to go.
 

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Be careful about where your crew mates are. Since a lot of storm damage ends up on the ground, it's easy to have three guys jump on it at once. This is risky, since one guy could cause the whole thing to roll over and make trouble for another.
 
what a delicious tasy treat this ice storm is. I had almost forgotten how much fun this is and how rediculously light those ice coated limbs are.
Seriously, I feel like I'm in lexington KY again and that was 94' I will say this, I'm not any smarter, but I am a bit wiser. The out of state tree Co.s are starting to roll in. "storm chasing" has to be a tough way to make a livin'. But if your young(or young at heart), willing and able.....more power!
Stay safe!!!
 
I hear you Roger. I was 10 when the last ice storm hit us, and I never worked in it. So this is my first taste of it all. Spent half of today cutting and stacking downed limbs, as our chipper crapped out with a bad alternator. Cutting was fun, getting plenty of time on my 192T. Tomorrow, we go through with the chipper, then more cutting and dragging.

As far as weight goes, it sucks dragging the crap, especially pines. They collect the most ice and suck to drag out or around. The place we're working at has a ton of damaged pines, just one branch on top of another. Got to go through it like a puzzle.
 
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what a delicious tasy treat this ice storm is.

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I'd like your opinion in 10 months. Ice storms ARE fun....in the first week or so. After that, with all of the yahoos storming your town, you'll be wishing for regular tree work!

Wish I could be there for the first rush of work! Nothing like being the hero!




SZ
 
Ice storms are a blast! We need some storm damage here in Pittsburgh. Work has been at a dead stop for about a week. All the jobs we have left for now are crane removals and my crane operator is going to be out for about a month.
 
Thanks for the welcome! My wife and I moved here 3 years ago from Boston. I think people here have been starting superbowl weekend all week. The fans here are crazy!
 
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