Hey Jomoco-
These are great pics.Speedlining always looks good on film but seems really inefficient on the jobsite.While your monkeying around 2-3 guys are just waiting for the brush to come to them. When your lowering, you can send down much bigger loads and the whole crew is involved. It seems like it's only applicable on one or two trees a year. I do work with a 4 man crew, so I can see if you only had one man on the ground this becomes more practical. What's your opinion and are there any tips that speed up the process.Much thanks-Drew
Well it's like they say, the old one chop drop, or one chop pick with a crane is always going to be the most efficient means of doing a removal these days.
But in my opinion speedlining probably has far more usefulness on strategic removals than most climbers realise, not only from up top wise, but perhaps more importantly on the ground on precarious, uneven, or steep slopes capable of propelling a runaway log though a home.
In my opinion one of the handiest aspects of speedlining is that the load whether branch or wood stays tethered and controlled until it comes to rest on the ground.
In my case nobody calls me because they have an easy removal to do, pedro does all those around here like most other places, when my phone rings it's because there's a strategic or high risk element involved in the job.
Some trees have speedline written all over them, others demand a hobbs or grcs, and some just seem to fall right into your chipper without a fight, it all depends on the trees and the terrain.
Another aspect of speedlining well is that it distinguishes you from the average tree service, and that wow factor when your customer sees you landing logs and brush that was hanging over their condo, 60-70 feet away
behind your chipper on the street.
My best tip for speedlining is to use steel carabiners and rated nylon loops, about a dozen of each is a good start.
My most important tip is to never involve a rookie groundman in speedlining operations, only experienced veterans who fully realise they have your life up there, in their hands on the ground down there.
jomoco
