murphy4trees
Addicted to ArboristSite
This subject has come up in a number of other threads and has now earned its own.
In particular I like Spidy's method of swinging branches across and down into the lowering line. So tell me if I got it right.
Say I Am lowering a 25' horizontal limb with the LL in a crotch (or block) on the trunk. In this situation the natural direction of fall into the line is straight down, which will tend to create shock.
NOTE: Spidy says he likes natural crotches because there is less length of line that has to get pretension to take out the stretch. That makes sense.. The other option when using a block is to use some winch device to pre-stretch the line from the ground.
So rather than dropping the limb straight down into the LL, Spidy likes to cut a triangle hinge leaving more wood on the up or tension side. This hinge is aimed to have the limb swing away and down, say to 7 or 8 o'clock.
I Am guessing he likes to tie the line 1/3-1/2 way out the limb, close to the center of gravity, and leaving it tip heavy. This gives the line enough leverage to "hold the limb up" during its swing and because it is close to the center of gravity, there will be slower movement once limb breaks free.
So as the limb begins to swing, it gradually loads line. This action of swing rather than drop also allows ground support more time to get ready to allow limb to run, if desired. When the limb tears free, it will slam back into the trunk, butt up, so climber needs to get his body above limb/ behind trunk and or have ground support let it run.
Is that about right?
What else do you all do to minimize shock?
God Bless All,
Daniel
In particular I like Spidy's method of swinging branches across and down into the lowering line. So tell me if I got it right.
Say I Am lowering a 25' horizontal limb with the LL in a crotch (or block) on the trunk. In this situation the natural direction of fall into the line is straight down, which will tend to create shock.
NOTE: Spidy says he likes natural crotches because there is less length of line that has to get pretension to take out the stretch. That makes sense.. The other option when using a block is to use some winch device to pre-stretch the line from the ground.
So rather than dropping the limb straight down into the LL, Spidy likes to cut a triangle hinge leaving more wood on the up or tension side. This hinge is aimed to have the limb swing away and down, say to 7 or 8 o'clock.
I Am guessing he likes to tie the line 1/3-1/2 way out the limb, close to the center of gravity, and leaving it tip heavy. This gives the line enough leverage to "hold the limb up" during its swing and because it is close to the center of gravity, there will be slower movement once limb breaks free.
So as the limb begins to swing, it gradually loads line. This action of swing rather than drop also allows ground support more time to get ready to allow limb to run, if desired. When the limb tears free, it will slam back into the trunk, butt up, so climber needs to get his body above limb/ behind trunk and or have ground support let it run.
Is that about right?
What else do you all do to minimize shock?
God Bless All,
Daniel