Laser pointers and height tools

A while back, miyano2 I think on instagram showed a pointer zip tied to a triangular grate. Stick the triangle in the face cut, laser points the face aim/lay. I showed it to some faller buddies and they laughed at it. They fall all day every day and get enough practice to be real good. Now for the arb who only fells occasionally, but might have some tight shots, I like the idea. I could improve it with a more precision laser and a machined aluminum triangle. Any interest?
 
Steve Connally said:
Sorry you have that issue. I've read a ton about TBI. Interesting what some of the alternative treatments are doing for folks. Interesting it effected your math also. The math isn't from the lenses. It's from being a dipshit and not paying attention in school then getting so behind I never recovered and still count on my fingers.
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I had sorta the same problem in university calculus classes - it was something called GFID


GFID = Girls From Interior Design
 
davidwyby said:
A while back, miyano2 I think on instagram showed a pointer zip tied to a triangular grate. Stick the triangle in the face cut, laser points the face aim/lay. I showed it to some faller buddies and they laughed at it. They fall all day every day and get enough practice to be real good. Now for the arb who only fells occasionally, but might have some tight shots, I like the idea. I could improve it with a more precision laser and a machined aluminum triangle. Any interest?
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Isn't that with the sight lines on the chainsaw are for? Or maybe I am misunderstanding what you are describing...
 
ATH said:
Isn't that with the sight lines on the chainsaw are for? Or maybe I am misunderstanding what you are describing...
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No, you are correct, but they are not super precise. Moving the bar up or down with the slop in the fit between the slot and the studs changes the POA. Different saws gun differently, etc. Sometimes the saw is low or in an awkward position…
 
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davidwyby said:
No, you are correct, but they are not super precise. Moving the bar up or down with the slop in the fit between the slot and the studs changes the POA. Different saws gun differently, etc. Sometimes the saw is low or in an awkward position…
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Nothing about felling a tree is "super precise". Wind. Weight distribution...never mind, I don't need to list all of that - everybody here knows the variables. OK, so to my point: I agree that we need to aim to be as precise as possible, but a tree isn't felling "laser precise". It'd be like putting a sniper scope on a shotgun. Or weighing the stones for your driveway with a 0.1 mg accuracy micro-balance. If I need so much precision that the gunning marks aren't enough, I will be considering other ways to get the tree on the ground.
 
Maybe you have seen fallers out west smash pop cans with 100 foot trees? ;-) Tall skinny straight trees that hinge well go where you point them, and a little off on the hinge makes a big diff geometrically.

When I have a good sized tree that requires precision, I use an old redwood faller trick for very large trees. A stake in the lay, logger tape measure from the stake and mark both sides of the face cut/hinge….equidistant triangle guarantees precision.

After I got some small trees hung up thinning deads in the mntns, I didn’t trust my sights for high value target avoidance.

My buddy had 3 36”x 80’ eucs in his back yard leaning back over his neighbor’s yard. I went up in my (borrowed) 50’ lift and trimmed for balance and limb lock. Yard was pretty tight and target rich so I laid it out with the stake/measure deal and nailed them. Actually you know, I think I laid out the first one and not the last one and the last one the tips brushed his project trucks.

Point being sights have some wiggle room, and take some experience to get real tight with and a precision method takes the guesswork out.
 
Feeling like a freebie to a fellow machinist. Could use a line laser instead of a dot laser so you could see the trace on the ground as a line. Doesn't need to be a triangle because it's made of rigid metal (presume aluminum). Could also have a back cut option/version to see "if you got the same lay you did a parallel/uniform hinge". Best luck in your endeavour.

Also put a tube bubble level to show if your hinge is off dead horizontal as this also affects your lay. Though the laser I think just includes this effect anyway.
 
Got a concept for it holding itself in the face cut? Be nice to be able to walk away and peruse.

two ideas. one, big spring clamp but needs to accommodate varying tree size (or backside bungee cord). two, needle spikes that poke into the cut face with spring load - but might have trouble with very hard wood like dead/dry oak
 
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I have to acknowledge your shop which I saw pics of over at -cough- treehouse. Looks like you work on big iron! Site there got upgraded and hangs my remembered login browser. old machine and OS blues. I've got 30 years on my bench top mill and a tad of welding

check out Inheritance Machining youtube
 
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