"Extreme Rigging"

Re: \"Extreme Rigging\"

I have never done this but I have often daydreamed about milling a tree standing in this type of situation. Imagine just nailing up a 2x4 up the side of the trunk in a straight line. Use a slab guide on your big hanking saw with an appropriate rip chain. Start from the top and rip it right down to the bottom. You can rig big beams out of the tree using the remaining portions of the tree until all your left with is a beam.
I am sure there are many ways to tackle the situation but in my experience beams and boards are the easiest way to transport trees.
It is also true that in most cases, ripping is a faster cut than cross cutting.

If the goal is to remove the wood in a shock free manner. That would be absolutely shock free.

If the goal is to cut pieces that can be managed and transported, good deal.

the money you could make off the wood might offset time losses by doing it that way.

I dont know has anyone tried ripping a standing tree? I actually envisioned using a lag or a couple of lags as a tie in point. This would prevent safety lines encircling the tree for any reason.

If the tree was big enough you could rig up an alaskan on that mug. have two climbers handling it.

I like the idea of lags to rig out the beams as they come out too.
 
Re: \"Extreme Rigging\"

Charly Pottorff showed me pics of a large cottonwood that he removed from a courtyard several years ago. Since the wood had to be craned out in small pieces he quartered the trunk and plucked the pieces out like you described. It was easier to do that instead of chunking down. I'm not sure if he used the cants for sawlogs or not.
 
Re: \"Extreme Rigging\"

treebing is talking about using a saw with a ripping chain and an alaskan milling attachment on it.

It's not hard on the saw.

Hmmm.... it would still take quite a while, but it would be fun and make some neat pictures...

cool idea.
 
Re: \"Extreme Rigging\"

What makes it hard on the saw is the running time to cut the length in a large piece of wood.
It's hard on the engine, as well the chain and bar are exposed to much more heat, the chain stretches and can cause more bar wear than usual.
You would be far better off to run a string down the tree and follow that, cut the tree into pieces that could be handled and then have those milled.
What would be better than that if you have the room is to drop the large pieces on the ground and have a swing mill come in a mill them on location.
Not too many arborists want to be bothered and would most likely give it to someone else to do the mill work .

milling25.jpg
 
Re: \"Extreme Rigging\"

I guess it would also depend on the type of wood right? I know that ripping pine is a breeze, whereas some hard woods are a pain either way you slice it. I am imagining those long fibers just coiling out flying down the cut. Very little physical labor on the cutters part. I think I was thinking more about the cutter than the saw. Abuse the saw, it doesnt have feelings.

Chunking wood is one of the hardest most physically demanding parts of the job that I can think of. Hauling around those big saws in trees is absolutely insane, ask anyone in the world and they will tell you. Its absolutely crazy.

I am thinking that once the saw enters the rip cut, your in a fairly safe position. Your still crazy though. All you would have to do is hold the saw and somehow manage your hitch as you cut your way down to the bottom. Interesting problem to work out or maybe not.

I wonder what the math would be as far as the length of the cuts that you have to do to get to minimal size needed to rig it out.

Theoreitically, you could rig down up to your working load limit on your rigging. That would take a very long bar or two cuts.
HUGE chunks. I would assume that the size and weight of chunks correlates pretty well with the overall distance cut through the wood. but I am not sure. I am starting to confuse myself.

If this hypothesis is true than in this method, you would cut less distance by ripping off huge cuts than cross cutting and shock loading little bitty chunks.


The big ole chunks could then be picked up with the GRCS and guided by tags into the bed of your nifty bandsaw mill you have waiting, or onto whatever rolling or sliding device necesary to take it to be further proessed.

The next cuts, as big as you can make them, would just leave enough standing to manage the last load.

Then with the skinny little beam you have left, I dont know, put a bird box on top.


I have an estimate out on an 30 inch ash tree growing through a deck next to a hot tub and garden boxes etc. If i get it, am debating giving this method a go.

I have been getting more and more used to the idea, and enjoying it, that time is pretty low on the priority list when approaching a job. Thoroughness and sanity (meaning fun) are far more important. Thats been a pretty common thread spoken here on the buzz that has been good for me.
 
Re: \"Extreme Rigging\"

this isn't much, but here's some pictures (3).

Took down a cedar tree.

Cut some slabs with my 066 w/ alaska mill attachment.

Nailed them to the stumps for a very rough outdoor table.

Customer appreciated it.
 

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