Tom Dunlap
Addicted to ArboristSite
I almost posted this on the New Rope/BS thread. Instead of globbing up that thread, I'll give this new life.
A setup that works nice for excurrent, single-sem trees, IE conifers, is to use a vertical speedline.
Set a high rope using the throwline. It helps to isolate the line down through the branches, close to the trunk, but this isn't always necessary. Anchor the end of the rope to the base of the tree or another anchor. Take the working end of the rope and run it through a redirect pulley and setup the friction device away from the base of the rigged tree. The climber starts up the tree with a bandolier full of slings and biners. As the limbs are to be removed, a sling is attached and they're sent down the line. In this simplest setup, each limb comes down with the butt close to the tree. No worries about the branches hitting first and the branch pole-vaulting through a window, DAMHIKT!
The next variation is to do multiples. Set the sling chokers in such an order that several limbs are cut in one motion. As the limbs are cut, they slide down to stack against the last limb. The last limb cut doesn't alwasy have to be the lowest either. By using a variety of lengths the blossom or bouquet of limbs can be bundled neatly.
When the blossom gets to the ground, the groundie can give the speedline some slack to let the tips rotate. Or, by holding tight, they end up close to the trunk. When the blossom is on the ground we slip a choker rope around the butts, take off the chokers and grab the whole bundle with the quad and off to the chipper.
If the climber has enough slings they can get the next blossom setup while the groundies are clearing up the first.
When the slings are cleared they get racked and sent up to the climber on the tail of their rope. The rhythm of this setup can make the tree move out like its on a conveyor belt.
Most of our conifer takedowns are blue spruce planted close to houses, generally on corners or between houses. Sending blossoms laterally with a trad speedline isn't always possible.
Tom
A setup that works nice for excurrent, single-sem trees, IE conifers, is to use a vertical speedline.
Set a high rope using the throwline. It helps to isolate the line down through the branches, close to the trunk, but this isn't always necessary. Anchor the end of the rope to the base of the tree or another anchor. Take the working end of the rope and run it through a redirect pulley and setup the friction device away from the base of the rigged tree. The climber starts up the tree with a bandolier full of slings and biners. As the limbs are to be removed, a sling is attached and they're sent down the line. In this simplest setup, each limb comes down with the butt close to the tree. No worries about the branches hitting first and the branch pole-vaulting through a window, DAMHIKT!
The next variation is to do multiples. Set the sling chokers in such an order that several limbs are cut in one motion. As the limbs are cut, they slide down to stack against the last limb. The last limb cut doesn't alwasy have to be the lowest either. By using a variety of lengths the blossom or bouquet of limbs can be bundled neatly.
When the blossom gets to the ground, the groundie can give the speedline some slack to let the tips rotate. Or, by holding tight, they end up close to the trunk. When the blossom is on the ground we slip a choker rope around the butts, take off the chokers and grab the whole bundle with the quad and off to the chipper.
If the climber has enough slings they can get the next blossom setup while the groundies are clearing up the first.
When the slings are cleared they get racked and sent up to the climber on the tail of their rope. The rhythm of this setup can make the tree move out like its on a conveyor belt.
Most of our conifer takedowns are blue spruce planted close to houses, generally on corners or between houses. Sending blossoms laterally with a trad speedline isn't always possible.
Tom
