Spider Legs

KevinS

KevinS

Branched out member
Location
ontario
I've done a few crane removals (92' boom truck) but never used spider legs (with a crane). I've been told spider legs are a no no in Ontario but there are ways around that within reason as well.
We always use 2 usually 2" nylon slings 10' long for everything.

How much do the spider legs increase the ease of your jobs? If you take in the extra climbing, tying, etc.

Thanks
 
I made some 10' 3/8" tenex legs 1 for me and one for our other top climber (1 in each truck), I think I use mine more than anyone else and not all the time but they are handy
 
once you start using them you will prob find that you want longer spider legs. That way you can use a combination of nylon straps and spider legs. They are great to have when you need them. Plus the crane operators will give you mad props for having perfectly balanced picks.:D I also like 20' nylon slings. If you are putting 2 slings on a pick the longer ones make the angle off the hook much better.(if you have enough stick to put the 20' ones on)
 
I use 25 or 35 slings. Having that much length makes it easier to rig long pieces perpendicular to the ground and have the rope angle to get back in to the main stem and make the cut
 
I find the length works ok most times. If any longer it goes into the rigging point to often some trees are just wider than they are tall so it makes short drop zone. Usually I use the legs just to keep limbs up off roofs, decks, etc. often there isn't enough space to get the length of the limb down so they have to go down flat.
 
Spider legs are well worth the little effort it takes. Usually with a crane the TIP off the crane makes it pretty easy. If it is aquestion of strentght due to local regulations be sure your main sling is rated for the pick and call them balancers,not load bearing. They wont know the difference. As a general practice all my spiders could handle the weight by themselves anyway.
 
KevinS said:
I've done a few crane removals (92' boom truck) but never used spider legs (with a crane). I've been told spider legs are a no no in Ontario but there are ways around that within reason as well.
We always use 2 usually 2" nylon slings 10' long for everything.

How much do the spider legs increase the ease of your jobs? If you take in the extra climbing, tying, etc.

Thanks
Click to expand...
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Kevin I got this set from Sherrill but am working with Phil from tree stuff on some better ones. 10' are way to small, like the others have said minimum 25'-30'
You can add or subtract legs also. Very versatile and precise picks, no flipping or twisting like when using only one round sling if not placed properly
 
classictruckman said:
Bigwood had some cool slings that worked like whoopie slings, you could shorten them just by sliding the splice, and the best thing is they were rated just like regular crane slings.
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Shepherds is having them made now, 3/4 Crosby master link with the adjustable eye of up to 4 whoopies spliced in and a Crosby hook spliced into each fixed eye.
It's not perfect, but it does meet ontario regs ( no knots)
 

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We use spider legs all the time. Like allmark, every component of our rig is designed to be able to handle the load alone. Currently we have four 25 footers and one 40 footer. We usually have a dedicated cutter and another climber that is the "hooker" that attaches the legs then repels to the ground each time. (I would say that the hooker rides the limb out sometimes, but that would go against several other states' laws, so I won't say that here;)).

For 40+ foot limbs that are parallel to the ground and all over the house, the ability to cut them and watch them float away to the chipper with practically no dipping really ramps up the certainty and productivity.
 
deevo said:
a91e8460e21683a6d21527d31c1b366c.jpg
70e9ce8b8d098007aaddfd73532e0d80.jpg

Kevin I got this set from Sherrill but am working with Phil from tree stuff on some better ones. 10' are way to small, like the others have said minimum 25'-30'
You can add or subtract legs also. Very versatile and precise picks, no flipping or twisting like when using only one round sling if not placed properly
Click to expand...
you know that clevis is on the wrong way right?
 
What size and kind of trees do you use 25' or 40' spider legs in? I can't figure out how I could use legs that long in 99% of my trees. Do you have any pics or anything? If trees are 120' tall I can see it but I have 50' tall trees wider than tall.
 
KevinS said:
What size and kind of trees do you use 25' or 40' spider legs in? I can't figure out how I could use legs that long in 99% of my trees. Do you have any pics or anything? If trees are 120' tall I can see it but I have 50' tall trees wider than tall.
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This tree was a 95 foot White Oak. The leg tied closest to me (I'm cutting) is the 40 footer. Since the limb angles up slightly, there is a bit of line dangling from the 25's, but as you can see the longest line almost full length. The rational behind such long legs is that you can leave the ball way up which makes limb walking and rigging very easy. Once the hooker sets the boom/ball, he rigs the limb and distributes the weight as he sees fit.
 
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