Hung up Red Oak

[tod_k]

Had to remove this 34" up rooted red oad. I was around 100' tall. The tree it is hung up in is around 30" The tree to the left is also around 30"

 

[tod_k]

We set two opposing pendulums with dwt's. I then removed everything that was not contacting. Tons of tension wood.

 

[tod_k]

Once I had as much off as I could we tensioned the two dwt's plus one more rope at the top and then cut it at the base. Plan worked well. After several cuts there was around 50' of tree hanging free off the ground. I have a few more pics in my phone I will post later.

 

[tod_k]

A view from the tree.

 

[Mark Chisholm]

You learn quick young Jedi.

They always look bigger from the tree, and yet still look bigger in person don't they?

 

[tod_k]

Here it is hanging. Cut a peice, lower, cut untill it fit in the yard. I have never hung that kind of wieght before, surprised it worked.

 

[tod_k]

Young Jedi? Call me Yoda! Funny it was just like that. I saw the job the night before and came up with the plan. As I got in the trees I was not as confident. From me math we hung 25k from rope and the two trees. Like I said surprised the trees or slings did not break.

 

[southsoundtree]

Good work Tod!

What did you mean exactly by two opposite pendulums? Was it that the rigging trees were opposite to each other with the load in between.

For clarity for people not familiar with dwt-Double whip tackle.


What cut did you use to release it, and at what height? How did the tree move after the release cut? Swing? Butt drop onto the ground, or free hang?

What would have happened it rigging or anchor trees failed?

What rigging gear were you using?


I'll bet an adrenaline rush and stressful.

 

[matdand]

Double whip tackle?

 

[southsoundtree]

Unless I'm wrong about the mechanics of it...

A DWT means that the rope is terminated in the anchor tree, then comes down to the suspended tree, through a block attached to the suspended tree, and then a friction device is used to some degree near the termination point, or redirected through a block and down to the ground. I think that in the pictures, there was a GRCS at the base of the tree.

This creates 2:1 Mechanical Advantage MA where the load on the rope is cut in half, as there are two legs of rope and lifting power/ suspension capability is increased.

We typically have the doubling effect when using a rope through a block above the load, and back down to the friction device at the base of the tree. This is sorta upside-down, with a redirect.

 

[matdand]

OK cool. Thanks for the clarifications. It was kinda hard to tell on the pictures but I see it now.

 

[southsoundtree]

I'd have been sweating that one, if it had been near anything.

Its bad if you think your rigging might fail, and way worse if you think your anchor tree might fail.

Once again, good work Tod!

 

[tod_k]

You post great questions! Especially since the documentation is poor. The opposing pendulems had the load about 60/40 right to left on the first ground cut that was made at the base. The load then slammed into the ground, reducing the lateral force on the exsisting tree on the right and increaing the compression force. We made 6, 2' ground cuts untill it was suspended. Greame Mcmahon wrote a paper on opposing pendulum. I used that and added the dwt to reduce the force on the slings on the trees and add rope plus pull. If trees or rigging failed the result would have been property damgage. Perhaps injury with cutting under the load. Family is yelling at me!

 

[beau]

Awesome take down Tod.Looked a little tricky. thanks for posting i love seeing the take downs on here

 

[mattbc]

Good job Tod. Those are my favorite types of removals. I am sure that you had a few scary moments with a few of those cuts. With work like that even with good planning there is always the thought "what if I missed something or figured wrong" You didn't miss anything. Way to go!!!

 

[tod_k]

A bit of luck and a bit of math.

 

[rangerdanger]

Nice work Todd. That was a lot of weight you had suspended. If you don't mind me asking, what size rigging line were you using?

I really want to get a good, fun technical removal this summer. We haven't had one of those in a few months and I really want to apply some new ideas to real world applications.

 

[TreeWackers08]

sweet!!!!! wish i could of stayed to see the rest. good job.

 

[Roger_Barnett]

Very nice, Todd!

I've hung some mighty big trees.....the largest a 150 foot 45 degree lodged doug fir. Haven't used dwt for that application yet. These are the situations where there's little shock loading of the line, as when the butt is cut off, the load simply drops to the ground, so the full weight of the tree isn't on the rigging till you've suspended it....so, HMWPE lines and slings are suitable and safe to use. And the GRCS can accomodate 4-5 wraps with 9/16th line....that's why the Hobbs is better for big stuff, or big lines, as it can handle 3/4" lines properly.

I recently used both my spectra lines to rig two overhead tight lines, one for life support and one to rig---a very decayed white pine. It went swimmingly...save for the lack of photos due to being a man short.

 

[tod_k]

2 5/8" double braid and 1 1/2" double braid.