Standard Face Cut For Lifting Picks?

Norm_Hall · Dec 13, 2010

It's a good method to have in the bag.
Don't use it much. When I have to clear adjacent trees or structures to the side of a pic, I use it. It's important to have the boom tip above the tie off or choke, keeping the choker 'plumb' to prevent shock loading and unnecessary swing. So, adjusting the boom angle is more the key than just hoisting. I also like leaving a bit of a shelf on the back cut.

Jamin_Mayer · Dec 14, 2010

I use face cuts with crane work often. And the angle the limb comes off the main trunk (or parent stem) will determine how wide or narrow the face cut is (at least for me).

Norm_Hall · Dec 15, 2010

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I use face cuts with crane work often. And the angle the limb comes off the main trunk (or parent stem) will determine how wide or narrow the face cut is (at least for me).

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Excellent point!
When the limb or wood is plumb, the notch should be closed.

treebear · Dec 15, 2010

We don´t use crane a lot but when the opportunity comes we usually balanse and slash cut, standing sections where there might be an uncertainty whether the butt will come against you we use a shear cut.
Don´t like the idea of moving and swinging pieces.

Jamin_Mayer · Dec 16, 2010

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...Don´t like the idea of moving and swinging pieces.

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I know what you're saying.

But, with using a notch, the loads are being lifted in a controlled manner. Once, the limb is vertical, it should come off nicely.

Fred_Berkelhammer · Dec 17, 2010

Balancing doesn't take much extra time; you're running back along the limb toward the center of the tree anyway. It usually makes sense to throw a spider leg on, at least if the limb is closer to horizontal than it is to vertical. We've even balanced limbs that were close to vertical. This eliminates the chance of the butt slipping off the shelf, or the piece popping up too strongly (if the notch is too wide, and hinge holding.) Also saves time on the other end, because it helps the operator lay the piece down more quickly and precisely.

JMerritt · Jan 10, 2011

i use the lift to vertical technique almost exclusively. the operator i work with is very good at lining the hook up as the piece is lifted. in big pines and such i like to but tie and hing down, starting from the top of the tree. this way i can tie off multiple limbs, lay them onto the limbs below one at a time and the away they go. most of the time i don't use a face cut in either scenario. as the operator lifts i can nip at one side or the other if the piece wants to roll, and i can release it when it has found its balance and been lifted. species makes a difference of course.

theXman · Jan 10, 2011

cory · Jan 10, 2011

Looks like a sweetheart to me.

huggybear · Jan 10, 2011

For the most part for horizontal limbs we use a 8 foot choker and a 15 foot choker. The short strap gets set towards the tip and the longer one set more towards the butt.

This helps keep the limb balanced without the uncertainty of a single strap. Usually do an overcut then undercut while the operator lifts up and usually towards him. Sometimes we notch using this setup to get the limb's weight more towards the crane.

The above works for most situations on horizontals, sometimes a single strap and a notch works, or sometimes you need 3 straps.