how do I know "How big I can go?", until.....

T

treeajnin

how do I know \"How big I can go?\", until.....

until I go too big!

So ive been climbing 2 years. Ive climbed huge trees and done big pruning but now I'm starting to get my chances with larger wood.

I feel confident in cutting peices and rigging them to keep myself safe from the peice hitting me. But I always feel like Im wondering if a peice im cutting is too big or too small and im being ineffecient or going to break a crotch.

So im wondering how do I teach myself how much weight natural crotches and even false crotches can hold? and all the other questions that come into play when rigging big wood?

I work for an inexperianced company and dont have a veteran I can trust to show me whats too big! I feel like eventually im gonna keep goin bigger and bigger until an accident...
 
Re: how do I know \"How big I can go?\", until.....

Get a log weight chart and remember that with modern rigging gear, the tree can very often be the weak link in the system. You're asking a lot of questions in this one post... A good start would be attending a rigging class/demo with your coworkers.

Tom
 
Re: how do I know \"How big I can go?\", until.....

Not an easy answer to type . Rule #1- Never sacrifice safety for production
You should NEVER make a cut unless you are confident in the outcome so if you are having reservations about a cut then it is too big . Learn rigging techniques and understand rigging forces , inspect your rigging gear constantly, and condition and species of tree needs to be taken into account as well
 
Re: how do I know \"How big I can go?\", until.....

On a job with no targets. mess around with trying to break some ropes. Experience is the best way. But get the experience in a controlled way.
 
Re: how do I know \"How big I can go?\", until.....

You can start buy purchasing and reading the TCIA Rigging book. It will help you to understand some of the physics behind what you are doing. Learning what forces are pointing where and how to change magnitude of those forces is one thing I see most people ignore, multiple ropes and blocks can make a huge difference!
 
Re: how do I know \"How big I can go?\", until.....

It is amazingly easy to bust a rope. Just snub off the line to the base of the tree. Have the ground guys stand clear, make sure your clear and let the chunk smak it. Will also demonstrate to the ground guys what not letting it run means. Do this only when on a part of the tree that won't rattle the hell out of you. I did it on a big willow chunk. Sorry, maybe this is really terrible advice. I think it is good to see a rope breaking though.
 
Re: how do I know \"How big I can go?\", until.....

I use a heavy duty pulley(6ton) with a dyneema sling(12ton), that can handle 2ton with ease.

I only use a 12mm static line for lowering, so thats about 2.5ton breaking strain.

So that in mind, 200kgs is a max.

You can gauge the density of the timber after a few cuts, get a feel on a stumpy 5inch x 12in piece, use your minds eye to calculate the best you can go.

But there are other things to think about, like the wobble etc.

Here is a short vid dropping part of the crown off a scots pine (its bigger than it looks in the vid)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-71Xm0K8rWw
 
Re: how do I know \"How big I can go?\", until.....

Learn the green log weights of the majority of species you deal with. Take a rough measure of the piece and a quick calculation of the weight. Do this all the time in order to get better at approximating weights. Understand what the basic physics are in order to calculate the forces acting on the system. Learn mechanical advantage and how that affects loads on a given point. Know the ratings of all your rigging gear and how often they are loaded (cycles to failure).

In other words, become a math and physics wiz because that's what it's all about.

While Treebing has a very good point about breaking [pick a different word] to demonstrate the limits of a system, you may not have that opportunity the first few times you have to do a job. Definitely take a course or read any of the aforementioned books.
 
Re: how do I know \"How big I can go?\", until.....

thanks for the advice guys, I will definatly be looking closely at the green log chart.


So anyways, what are some books or websites you all know and agree with?
 
Re: how do I know \"How big I can go?\", until.....

Best book is the one of experience.
And for me some of the best experiences is found at the head of a maul.
Splitting wood, bend, twist etc of every species you will encounter is the best learning curve.
Be observant and question what you see.
Some great threads here on the buzz that will push you to examine things.
Bing, I agree!
Best of luck and keep safe Brothers!
 
Re: how do I know \"How big I can go?\", until.....

start wearing a diaper whan you know your taking a big tree down . After the tree is down , get your log chart and measure your logs in the diaper . Green logs are no good , means you took a chance , if you see nuts , well than that speaks for itself . Splatter is a not much better...
 
Re: how do I know \"How big I can go?\", until.....

applaudit.gif
 
Re: how do I know \"How big I can go?\", until.....

One thing that gets me is watching videos of people rigging, think the rope, the pulley and the groundy will control it.

Yet there is no principle of the:

'Its only as strong as the weakest link'

so that in mind, I see old alloy 24kn carabiners, a stem ready to split, rope with a poor knot, potential rope friction on the swing, the list goes on......
 
Re: how do I know \"How big I can go?\", until.....

[ QUOTE ]
start wearing a diaper whan you know your taking a big tree down . After the tree is down , get your log chart and measure your logs in the diaper . Green logs are no good , means you took a chance , if you see nuts , well than that speaks for itself . Splatter is a not much better...

[/ QUOTE ]

And pay close attention to the sounds coming from the diaper while doing the job. It can tell you a lot about the forces on your rigging. If you hear sounds coming from the diaper then pay close attention to the smell that follows, it will help with you know if the forces generated are static or dynamic. And if you are still not sure.....TASTE....TASTE!
 
Re: how do I know \"How big I can go?\", until.....

Been rigging down big trees since the mid 90s and have never once looked at a green log chart, complete waste of time.
 
Re: how do I know \"How big I can go?\", until.....

That's a pretty bold statement. It can never hurt to know ballpark weights and further your knowledge of rigging and the weights/forces involved.
 
Re: how do I know \"How big I can go?\", until.....

Cranes helped me understand wood weight. Sometimes you go big. Blew this pine top down end of today on Rope. Wanted to go home.
grin.gif
 

Attachments

  • 367169-image.webp
    367169-image.webp
    256.5 KB · Views: 137
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom