gettin' ready

[Treevet]

Got a craner tomorrow which ain't no big shakes. But it is almost 3 in the morning, I am a bit of an insomniac anyway, but this a typical night before a subbed crane. I can get by day to day with some 200's and mid size saws but when I am paying a sub I go til I am satisfied with condition and have backups. Be a lot easier to just keep them that way but, hey I am a treeman. If I was always ready I'd be a Boyscout or something.

Put some new chain on, razor edged some others incl. rakers, de burred a few bars that needed and generally cleaned them out particularly filters. Woulda started earlier but had to go by a plywood road. My old stuff is worn out. Best thing bout this job is it right across the street from my house.
http://gypoclimber.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15916&stc=1&d=1236840948

[Treevet]

somehow top got gigantic on me....sorry.

[Treevet]

http://gypoclimber.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15917&stc=1&d=1236841298

missed last one...goin to sleep.

[Al Smith]

Well you have enough saws ,certainly a few of them will stay running .

[woodworkingboy]

Kind of a lot of torque on the sprocket/clutch cover nuts for the MS 440, it would seem.

[MasterBlaster]

What's up with the cheater bar?

[Chisel Tooth]

What's up with the cheater bar?

I was wondering that myself, that's a good way to pull the studs out of the crankcase.

[Treevet]

depends how much pressure you put on the cheater bar. just makes things easier. try it sometime. light pressure breaking and even lighter pressure tightening. I even use a skinnier one on the scrench sometimes. it is all about easy when you get old.

[MasterBlaster]

I gues you haven't seen my guns, LOL!

[Chisel Tooth]

:lol:

[woodworkingboy]

I gues you haven't seen my guns, LOL!

I've seen those guns so many times, now I'm starting to think they are fake :P

[Treevet]

I gues you haven't seen my guns, LOL!

I think you been workin' out.

Craner cross the road is goin fine. Good op is a pleasure to work with.

[Treevet]

Last night I walked across the street and plugged in my block heater. It was worth it. About 22F this morning. I also picked up some 3/4 plywood. Was good to go this morning. Here are a few picts. Not the biggest removal I ever did by far but certainly not the smallest. About 110'http://gypoclimber.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15971&stc=1&d=1236906587 Quercus palustrus, (measured against my 70 foot Teco) POS, Pin oak. Crane arrived at 8:30 and left at 4:30. Just got the stump left tomorrow and Dingo the grindings into dump trailer. Routine job, no bragging here. I like to look at picts so I should show some sometimes.

[Treevet]

few more...http://gypoclimber.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15981&stc=1&d=1236907023

[Treevet]

Last group....http://gypoclimber.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15992&stc=1&d=1236907406

[No_Bivy]

funky jib on that crane....never seen it befo'

nice work.....sleep good tonight?

why the "carving" at the bottom?

[Treevet]

the sequence of these picts are bass ackwards and I embedded some picts in a post I made. This is fun doing. Good day and I had a good enough number on the tree.

[Skwerl]

All the pictures get embedded on this forum. You just embedded a couple of them twice. No need to do that here. ;)

[No_Bivy]

mo stick on the crane would have been no' betta..
did you "catch" the one top on the crane or did it flip?

[CurSedVoyce]

Awesome pics... Great job Vet.. Thanks for sharing that. Hope you sleep better tonight. Like that high reach with the bucket too :D

[Treevet]

funky jib on that crane....never seen it befo'

nice work.....sleep good tonight?

why the "carving" at the bottom?

Thanks No Bivy, posted the picts bcs you asked for em. I think I am at that stage beyond tired. Maybe half hour jog on treadmill will help.

[Treevet]

mo stick on the crane would have been no' betta..
did you "catch" the one top on the crane or did it flip?

Didn't feel the need to get outa the picker so I dropped (folded) the top and couple of laterals into the hook. I love that crane, me and it been thru a lotta stories together.

[Treevet]

Thanks for advice Skwerl and comments CursedVoyce I am runnin on fumes tonight.

[No_Bivy]

weird jib.....how old is that rig Vet?

[Skwerl]

Well you cut a lot of wood today, for an old man. ;)
Wish I had worked that hard today. :(

[rbtree]

Nice to finally see pics of your work, Dave....!

Thank you.

Me next, go lookee...

[gf beranek]

Way to go. great pics and picks

[Treevet]

I'll find out No Bivy

Don't usually work that hard (intentionally) Skwerl

Thanks Rog, I saw the big tulip tk dn, great job

Thanks Gerry

Respectively

[MasterBlaster]

I guess your bar was too short to ALAP the stump properly? I like my final cut go with the log so I don't have any stump to cut and THEN load it. ;)

[Treevet]

I guess your bar was too short to ALAP the stump properly? I like my final cut go with the log so I don't have any stump to cut and THEN load it. ;)

I was too damn tired to walk across the street to get the 090 or 88 which I got ready the night before. It didn't take long with the 66 with new chain. Did most of the cutting while they, op and gm, were booming.

The last boom prior to the stump was capacity (jib was removed by then) so I could cut it from the ground at head height. We actually had to set it on the ground and cut it in half to boom over the street into the truck. It is a relatively small crane but very handy and an exceptional op. I use a couple of other svcs over the years, this guy is real good, real available (only will work for one other tree guy in the city) and real reasonable.

[Skwerl]

Ya use what ya got and make it work! I have no problem making an extra stump cut. Been doing it that way for over 20 years and it's never been a problem. I'm much happier getting rid of all that weight over my head from a standing position anyway. ;)

[MasterBlaster]

Frig extra steps - Imma lazy bastid.

[Mr. Sir]

As long as the crane can handle it, I'd rather make one cut and be done with it. :|:

[jomoco]

As long as the crane can handle it, I'd rather make one cut and be done with it. :|:

With a big whole tree chipper capable of eating it, it has to be the fastest most efficient form of tree removal possible without the use of atomic weapons!

jomoco

[Treevet]

It was too much to take the stump with the previous piece. He's the boss on that one but it was not even considered. The previous cut was marginal.

Lots of times I will drop sticks with the notch flush with the ground and the back cut the same. I hate cutting stumps but if you have the gm do it you gonna be lookin at a dull saw.

I wanted to drop this stick where the crane sat and use his boom to put the yankovitch on it. But he was concerned he would get his boom jerked and I said the hell with it. It wasn't probably worth the re set time anyway and I'd a had to move the picker and the crane was in the way....and so on and so on. We got it all done in one day, my main concern.

[MasterBlaster]

It was too much to take the stump with the previous piece.

Heck yea, I've had to do it for the weight factor a few times. That's the only time it's logical to do it like that.

[Treevet]

With a big whole tree chipper capable of eating it, it has to be the fastest most efficient form of tree removal possible without the use of atomic weapons!

jomoco

That is true, but I have considered putting my wood furnace on a trailer and taking it on jobs. Burned about 10 cords of wood this winter and got maybe couple of garbage cans of ash in my back yard. (just kidding but it is a thought)

[Treevet]

Heck yea, I've had to do it for the weight factor a few times. That's the only time it's logical to do it like that.

You're right...lots of times the damn choker wants to come of a short stump. You can cut notches but that is extra work too.

[TreeDimensional]

So Dave, are you still a moderator over at TW????

[Treevet]

So Dave, are you still a moderator over at TW????

No Brent, but it was me that decided to leave unlike in your case. Got no hard feelings towards anybody over there. Just looking for a more predominantly American site and esp. this one that has seasoned treemen and you don't have spend all your time teaching novices and talking PPE.

Thought you weren't talking to me again you old fart.

[CurSedVoyce]

I actually applaud your call on finish the stump the next day. When you are done.. You are done.. I have the chaps to prove the point. I said I was done once. I was asked to drop the last 10 feet of stem. I said "well, ok.". Saw walked out right across my thigh on the chaps. Never again I say!.

[Treevet]

I actually applaud your call on finish the stump the next day. When you are done.. You are done.. I have the chaps to prove the point. I said I was done once. I was asked to drop the last 10 feet of stem. I said "well, ok.". Saw walked out right across my thigh on the chaps. Never again I say!.

Me too, I got a 4 inch wide scar on my knee from a stump cut at dusk many years ago when exhausted. The stump took an hour, clean up another hour beyond that and we were off to something else. Was given a $200 tip and many compliments. He is a Delta pilot and watched every move we made as he was not flying yesterday. Nice to get a little love.

Got a couple of end of the job picts if I can ever find the camera. Later I guess.

[CurSedVoyce]

I have a $50,000 dollar scar from brushing on my left knee from not listening to my inner voice.. I totally relate.

[top hopper]

All I can say is WOW.

[Treevet]

I have a $50,000 dollar scar from brushing on my left knee from not listening to my inner voice.. I totally relate.

I'd like to hear that story if you feel like talking about it.

[CurSedVoyce]

I was working on a slope with a sprained ankle. Cutting brush on my hands and knees with a 16" saw. Something small and maneuverable in tight quarters. The handle on the saw came apart. Basically making the saw I had not really usable. My partner told me to just go get the 20" saw and keep on going. When I picked up the saw and crawled back into the underbrush it felt all wrong. Too much saw (55cc), too much bar and my balance was bad on the sprained ankle. I no sooner went ahead and made my first cut, it went through the brush and came back to my knee. Twas only a flesh wound on the knee cap but good enough for a trip to the ER for some stitches. Get my antibiotics and go home.. Week later, I wake up in the middle of the night with a fever. Infection! Back to the hospital, get pumped full of antibiotics but they suspect it may have infected the bone. So off to Stanford hospital for a 3 day stay on my B day for tests, monitoring and more antibiotics.
My not listening to my inner voice came to 50,000.00, a few weeks off of lost pay, and about losing my mind sitting around a house.
Inner voice had also said have Dr. give me more than 5 days of antibiotics, but I kept my mouth shut and look what happened.
I should have stayed off my ankle and let it heal, not got too big a saw to work in underbrush, and, and and.......

So now days, when my lil voice goes off.... I walk away and live another day ;) And I have the $50,000.00 scar to remind me....

There ya have it....

[MasterBlaster]

I think everyone has had a cut to the knee. I know I did, 4 stitches.

[sotc]

only with a handsaw, and that was more of a slap than a slice

[CurSedVoyce]

One of the most common places to be cut by a saw statistically.

[jomoco]

I went a whole 30 years before I needed to get stitched up from a chainsaw wound.

First was from wearing baggy long sleeved shirts that pulled my ms200 into my left forearm while holding a branch that I had just cut and get too close to my chain idling down after the cut, caught the sleeve pulling the chain into my left arm, 8 stitches, no muscle or tendon damage.

The same arm was hit again more recently in a young mex fan palm cleaning long collar stubs in close to the trunk with my ms200. My mistake this time was having my lanyard too snug on the trunk, not giving me enough distance when the saw kicked back on me despite having both hands on it this time! Caught me across the upper tricep just enough to need 12 shallow stitches this time, again with no muscle or tendon damage.

Luck of the Irish!

jomoco

[Tucker943]

I got it on the knee a few years ago from a 440. When i felt the vibration in my leg and the tugging at my jeans, I didnt look right down to see what the commotion was..........I knew.

[CurSedVoyce]

Yeah... my first thought when I felt it tug my pants was "that did not just happen:X ".

[jomoco]

I've had to tourniquet up some very nasty femoral artery leg wounds from a 44 chainsaw hit, stuff him in my truck, and haul azz to the nearest emergency room breaking every traffic rule in the book along the way including busting across parking lots and through hedges to get him there before bleeding to death in my truck, but we made it!

He quit this biz that day, and now happily flips pizzas downtown for a living.

Very close call though!

jomoco

[CurSedVoyce]

Indeed:drink:

[MasterBlaster]

Celox (http://www.rescue-essentials.com/servlet/Categories?category=CELOX&gclid=CIWPu-LW0pYCFRoSFQodHnbF2A)

[jomoco]

Yes MB, that celox gauze and pnuematic arm and leg pressure splints are a great addition to every woodsmans truck firstaid kit.

The Bailey's woodsman kit, the big one is in my truck along with an assortment of airsplints.

I want to get a folding aluminum stretcher that fits in a bag next.

jomoco

[Treevet]

I have 4 chainsaw cuts over the 4 decades. No stitches or lost time involved. Taken couple of pretty nasty falls tho.

I have had only one bad employee accident, about 30 years ago. I had my climber call in and said he was hung over. I said come in and work the ground. I left the job to get gas and stopped at office and ex wife told me gm called and said climber had been hit in the face with a chainsaw.

I went to the hospital and his head was wrapped in cloth like the invisible man. I am sitting behind the door when his sister came in and said she couldn't believe he had worked as she was still f'd up all morning from the acid they dropped late that night. He had cut his eyelid apart and could see out of his eye with it closed. Didn't hit his eyeball. Unlike Jon's luck, he was named Murphy and kept saying "Murphy's Law" (anything that can go wrong, will go wrong). Lucky he did not hit the eyeball tho.

[Paul B]

9 stitches in my left hand, Zubat 330. 3 toothmarks in my right knee, twice, Zubat 330. :)

[CurSedVoyce]

Sharp lil bastards! Careful with that thang Paul ! Boy they sure do cut limbs though.

I only have fallen once so far, but only till I hit the flip line. Only 4 foot. Made my chiropractor happy. Did not have all my slack tended :P DOH! Least I was roped off on one of two.

[Treevet]

9 stitches in my left hand, Zubat 330. 3 toothmarks in my right knee, twice, Zubat 330. :)

I got a nasty cut on my left thumb under the nail. Duma$$ new groundie walks right under big oak cut back and I had to grab the branch to save his ass and put the hand and saw together in the same place at the same time.

Were you cutting one handed and holding when that happened?

What's a Zubat (chainsaw?)

[Paul B]

Zubat is a Silky handsaw. I was cutting a 4x4 from right to left and left my left hand in the follow through area, it gouged me with three teeth across the area between my thumb and pointy finger.

[Treevet]

Zubat is a Silky handsaw. I was cutting a 4x4 from right to left and left my left hand in the follow through area, it gouged me with three teeth across the area between my thumb and pointy finger.

Those stitches look like they pulled out? You like me and ignore doctor and go ahead and work anyway?

[Paul B]

I worked within reason and I think they dissolved on their own, I remember pulling them out of my hand a week or so after they were put in.

[Treevet]

Sharp lil bastards! Careful with that thang Paul ! Boy they sure do cut limbs though.

I only have fallen once so far, but only till I hit the flip line. Only 4 foot. Made my chiropractor happy. Did not have all my slack tended :P DOH! Least I was roped off on one of two.

I took a 50 foot fall when free climbing on a humid morning I slipped on a mass of lichens. Luckily landed half way down and broke my fall but also broke 4 ribs and punctured my lung when rolling over in bed later. We used to all free climb to a tie in back in the day.

You are lucky you did not break that ascend er, I do not think they are meant for much shock load.

[CurSedVoyce]

Petzel Macrograb on a 5/8 cable core flip line. The adjuster works just fine and did not even flinch at my 150 lbs hitting it. The stop was a tad harsh when I hit the line... Cable core did not flinch either LOL

[Treevet]

Petzel Macrograb on a 5/8 cable core flip line. The adjuster works just fine and did not even flinch at my 150 lbs hitting it. The stop was a tad harsh when I hit the line... Cable core did not flinch either LOL

Correct me if I am wrong, but your 150lb doubles every foot you fall so that is a pretty good shock load on that device. Wonder what they are capable of as that is likely the weak link in the chain. The saddle hook up or the 5/8 cable core probably are stronger IMO.

[Treevet]

Here's a few more picts of the (boring) end of this job we finished in a couple of hours the next day.

As far as gettin ready....we had lined up a home for the chips around the same block, the stump grindings went to a convent next to my lot and the wood went in the lot. Lots of the material up to 20" got chipped. The rakings got buried under the chips. We have a permanent home for chips at a plant that is run by them. We have a home for non sell able wood (by me) too. Clean trucks asap so it doesn't hinder the next job.

The wires were taken down a half hour prior to starting and they were nice enough to drop the cable and phone too. Duke Energy came back within 20 minutes of our call and put them back up. I was amazed. We spoke with the neighbors prior to starting and they were cool with everything.

The set up is half the battle in a smooth job IMO.
http://gypoclimber.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16078&stc=1&d=1237123829

Don't know why I am getting double picts. I am working on this picture thing while in this thread.

[brendonv]

You've surely got alot of equipment!

[Treevet]

You've surely got alot of equipment!

I would have more if I had more space. City space is hard to come by. I have operated for my 40 years with just one employee, gm, and equipment makes it all easier. Old stuff lets you duplicate and accumulate more and the payments come in repairs rather than loan payments. I have been updating as I can afford to.

It is fun buying stuff.

[littlenick]

Have fun spliting that wood...

[Treevet]

crotches will get separated and thrown away or given away when a load is accumulated. The tw5 will split it all tho. We can boom it on the splitter, use the log lift on the splitter or Dingo or Bobcat them on. It is such nice wood to burn. I would usually throw away most of those biggies if not oak. That is one of the nice thing about keeping my truck crane right in the middle of the lot.

[littlenick]

crotches will get separated and thrown away or given away when a load is accumulated. The tw5 will split it all tho. We can boom it on the splitter, use the log lift on the splitter or Dingo or Bobcat them on. It is such nice wood to burn. I would usually throw away most of those biggies if not oak. That is one of the nice thing about keeping my truck crane right in the middle of the lot.

That tree should have quite a bit of fire wood in it...

[Treevet]

yeah, Nick, and we got $250 cord delivered and dumped last year. Hope that continues or improves this year. Gotta find the right buyers. What co. in Anderson are you hooked up with?