GRRRHHAA... My rant for the day..
I ordered a Branch manager grapple two and a half weeks ago. It was suppose to ship in 3-5 days. 7 Days go by, no word the following week I left 3-4 messages every other day. No call back. Just wondering what was going on, not wanting to be pushy, but need to budget with quarterlies due. Finally get through, and "Oh, we are having issues with our parts suppliers. Will get it out in 3-5 days." I have jobs lined up, while they don't hinge on it, it sure would be nice over the redneck workaround I fabbed.
Got a call this morning, its done and shipped this am. I was told it would take another up to 5 days for freight. The email confirmation says 8/14 ETA!!!! Go to the gas station for chipper fuel, punch my card in, doesn't work.. Try again, doesn't work. Go inside, try again, declined... Pay in cash, then check my bank app in the parking lot.. No surprises, everything is as it should, it's my luck that ALL the taxes hit my account on the same day, but it's no biggie. I don't have any buffer, but its all good with a line of credit.
Get my coffee, and head out to the job. "Free" job for a friend, that I did a trade with for a few come-a-longs (2 of these, and one big brother
https://www.westechrigging.com/litt...mIQn8-iDjdTSLntn9OHcKC5LGDuM5jTRoCtH8QAvD_BwE) . It was a little last minute on my part, 3 alder down, some brush chipped, and a fir sapling... All little shit. I decided to bring my groundie, just to keep him busy (even though It's just a little trade job and I am further out on payroll.)
Groundie is chipping brush, I start in with a plan on the alders. Start with the two easy, then figure out the rest. See, nothing has been moved, ample targets, infact it's a freakin junkyard with no drop zone, just foot paths around pallets of building materials. Just let it slide off, any maybe it will look different with the two easy's outta the way. Drop one, hung up a smidge more than expected, but good plan. Now #2 looks like it has more of a back lean than I thought. Hmmm, rope, or wedge.. Rope, or wedge.. Not really thick enough for triad wedging. Screw the rope, back cut first, pound wedge, quick face..
Start executing the plan, pound wedge, vertical crack... Crap, barber chair signs.. The tree pops and a very small vertical crack forms. Now, this isn't a huge deal and I know how to deal with it, It's one where you are very decisive and careful. This alder tree is about 10" diameter, but 50-60'. I quickly make the face cuts, and then nothing. Nip a little, nothing, a little more, and she starts moving. Then twisting, and the hinge freakin rips right out of the stump at 90 degrees to the lay.
Like a child, I start to push, obviously I cant do shit. Then I realize, I was in a safe spot and it wouldn't hurt to try to slow it down. I stayed at the stump, the lower trunk hit the small tool shed (5X8) and pivoted out of reach. It continued to fall, with the top going across the ridge of the shop on the other side of the driveway. The ironic thing was it bridged not only the driveway, but a parked van (not running, tool storage). It took some bracing, and creative thinking to get the trunk bridging the windsheild area of the the van down safely.
Stopped for lunch. Checked my voicemail. The bank put a block on my card, as I the BMG Grapple charge was abnormal, and the PNW conference tickets that I bought for my self and crew all were in CAD. They said they would allow the charges and unblock the card within the hour. 3 hours later, Bm calls saying there was a issue with my card..
The wife of my friend was smoking like a freakin chimney through all this, I was about to freakin pop all day! I didn't, but holy crap.
