BlockDriverTester/ReviewerSought

[Frans]

I have one just about brand new Blockdriver kit w/CD.

I am seeking a qualified equipment abuser/user to throughly check out this device and then write a review w/ pictures included from various jobs the device is used on.

Will ship anywhere in the contiguous U.S.A.

In order to participate as a reviewer, the person MUST agree to the following conditions:

1. Submit the complete review within one (1) month of receiving this device
2. Correctly follow all the rules as stated within this message.
3. Failure to understand the rules as stated, will disqualify the person from participating in the selection process to be a reviewer
4. Must agree to return the device to me (at your cost), or, send the device to the next reviewer, or pay me money for the device if you decide your life is so much better with owning it and you just cant live without it. Exact amount unknown at this time, but all money will be donated to the TreeHouse so it's a good cause. And the cost will be kept reasonable and fair.
5. Must post the review, pictures, and opinions on the TreeHouse, and, publicly agree in this post to assume the responsibility of being a reviewer.



Any takers? I would prefer a high volume tree expert to work this device, and, someone well known and respected on the TreeHouse. In other words, not someone who has just joined and is unknown.

BlockDriver details can be found on the TreeBuzz or on ArbTalk.

Thanks

Frans

ps: sorry dont have pix as it is boxed up and ready to be sent to the next victim, errrr happy reviewer.

[MasterBlaster]

I have no idea what I'm gonna be doing from week to week, so I won't be any help.

[Stumper]

Frans, I am willing to review it. I am sure that I can arrange for Matt to be along to take pics of it in use... However, there may be others who do more big removals who would give it a better wringing out.

[Frans]

You would make a great candidate Stumper!
What I am looking for is someone who will actually use it, and then write about it, and provide pictures. Someone responsible

Lets let it sit for awhile and see who bites... Anyone?

...dont make me go to the TB, I will ya know, I've got a keyboard and not afraid to use it :)

[MasterBlaster]

Our trees aren't big enough. I can push anything I'm blocking down.

[Rotax Robert]

I would be no help, how about it RBtree...step in here

[MasterBlaster]

A lotta us hardly have to ever block down stuff like that. I rarely do.

[Skwerl]

WTF is it? I've never heard of it before. I also don't peruse the other tree forums so I'd be at a loss as to where to start looking. Can somebody tell me what it is, or post a link to a thread that can tell me what it is? Thanks.

[No_Bivy]

Is it that ratchet thingy for pushing chunks off?........Im open to review, what happens if I break the mofo?:D

[Stumper]

Brian, It is some Euro/Brit gizmo for tipping(sliding actually) chunks when blocking down...or I suppose you could use it on the ground also. http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-6400179171180263480&hl=en-GB

[Rotax Robert]

Well, the guy must been a camera-man before he went to falling trees.

[Skwerl]

hmmm. I'm trying to think of a situation where this might come in handy. On any cut other than the final stump cut, there are already many options available. Most can be dealt with simply by the choice of cut. The final stump cut can be dealt with by use of a hammer and wedge, cant hook or whatever powered machine you plan on using to load the wood.

Nah, my first impression is that it's a bit too gimmicky and not as practical as it might appear. Although I may be wrong. 8)

[rbtree]

Yup, Brian. Franz called me a few days ago. He'd emailed me to see if I was interested in testing it, and I'd forgotten, neglected to respond. After seeing the video, I can only see that cumbersome, two piece device useful for huge wood, the kind that we rarely run into here....and which can usually be gotten down by dropping longer lengths, or craning it.

When faced with chunks that are on the heavy side, I'll cut them longer if there's room....say over 3 feet, for leverage, and enlist ground help to pull them off.
Or cut them smaller, and at an angle if need be...last resort is ripping pieces, which I have done. Some of those times, there wasn't room to drop the whole piece, so ripping served two purposes; make the weight less and to fit the drop zone.

Another trick is to use a pry bar to lift the chunk enough to fit a dowel under, and slide it right off....easy as can be. I've done this when chunking down a tree growing through a deck, at least twice. It allows a considerable horizontal distance to be covered, depending on height and size of the wood.

[Frans]

so I'd be at a loss as to where to start looking. Can somebody tell me what it is, or post a link to a thread that can tell me what it is? Thanks.

Sorry skwerl, like most folks these days who don't care enough or are too jaded to pay attention, you have just flunked part 3 of the instructions:

"3. Failure to understand the rules as stated, will disqualify the person from participating in the selection process to be a reviewer."

So you are Disqualified from this giveaway.

Dont mean to be harsh, everyone, but it is easy to research items on the internet....all you have to do is take a TINY amount of effort.

I am seeking someone who is willing to mess about with this device and then get back to me and the TreeHouse with a review.

Simple, easy japanesy and no stress.

Or, I will just return the device over to Brit. land and be done with it.

Seems like some folks could have fun with it, and, with a bit of effort, help to school us other TreeHouse folks on the different tree gizmos available today....

[MasterBlaster]

Just between you and me I wouldn't buy any stock in the company.

[Frans]

Just between you and me I wouldn't buy any stock in the company.


Personally I second that :thumbup:



but hey, at least we can have fun with it! Or break it, either way.....:)

[MasterBlaster]

I don't think anyones gonna break it, it's very well built from what I can tell. It's one of those tools that, unless you routinely block down 4 foot plus trees, you'll rarely pull it outta the toolbox.

It's like that discussion before about using marbles or some such to roll the big chunks off. Meh... I just cut em smaller and push.

[Stumper]

The problem with the marble method is that it makes you lose your marbles.

[Old Monkey]

I would do it but I rarely get pieces that big and when I do rip them so the boys can lift them easily.

[No_Bivy]

yo frans, I'll try it. see above post.

[No_Bivy]

come out, come out wherever you are..........

[wiley_p]

Kind of a poorly thought out idea, why are you hawking junk Frans?

[Frans]

Got yer message, Nobivy. Maybe your the one! I want to let this sit for a bit and see how many takers their are.

Wiley_p, I take it from your question that you dont like the blockdriver?

And what is 'poorly thought out' about helping a guy who invented a tree device by getting folks to try it out?
If you invented something wouldn't you want some exposure for it?

Here is a chance to try a tool out without buying it first, win win situation I would think.

[wiley_p]

It looks well built, just not needed unless a guy is going to take three steps back in production and safety. In order to try it, I and everyone else who has to deal with large blocks in a small dz would have to skip much simpler and and easier methods. It seems goofy is all.

[wiley_p]

Just asking is all, fact is, for good ideas you are easily in the 95 percentile.:)

[Skwerl]

I think it was designed by somebody with not enough experience dealing with big trees, but they came up with an idea in their head while not being familiar with all the current and proven methods already available.

Sort of like the idiot who came up with the 'chainsaw chain on a rope' idea to cut limbs that are out of reach from the ground.

[Frans]

Sort of like the idiot who came up with the 'chainsaw chain on a rope' idea to cut limbs that are out of reach from the ground.

:) AND, that device only really works if you stand directly below the limb being cut!

Wiley_P, I happen to share your thoughts on the device. Be that as it may, the offer is not poorly thought out, and I am not 'hawking' junk. Take it or leave it, no skin off your nose.

[wiley_p]

Your offer is very well thought out, I was talking about the tool itself. My poor syntax is on par I see.:)

[Frans]

It's all good.
Next week I'll be hawking some snake oil. GUARENTEED to improve the life of anyone who drinks it :)

[No_Bivy]

Way back there was a time I thought the GRCS was a POS, way no worth it. Till I tried one. Things improve the more they are R&D'ed. but I dont know bout snake oil.......:lol:

[wiley_p]

Now if it was Cobra wine then I'd certainly be interested. Its highly prized in Vietnam.

[Stumper]

Instead 'a snake oil I'm gonna hawk Wiley Pee. Guaranteed to make you grumpy.:P

[Al Smith]

Instead 'a snake oil I'm gonna hawk Wiley Pee. Guaranteed to make you grumpy.:P You aint right,you're nutz.:D

[High Scale]

I think it was designed by somebody with not enough experience dealing with big trees, but they came up with an idea in their head while not being familiar with all the current and proven methods already available.

Sort of like the idiot who came up with the 'chainsaw chain on a rope' idea to cut limbs that are out of reach from the ground.


Have you ever checked out the inventers videos? He sure makes a crane job look very easy, he also makes a normal take down with rigging look pretty damn smooth.

I don't think I would use a block driver but I find no need to dis the inventor.

It may be a good thing for some people.

[vharrison]

So, it is kind of like a jack?

[FJR]

I watched the video. While I may not find a use for it, there will be someone out there that will. I commend the guy who made. When researching and developing sometimes you don't always come up with an absolute hit in the market right away, but it's a baby step in the right direction that might lead to something bigger and better.

[FJR]

Heres a link to the video for those who have not seen it.

http://www.mydeo.com/videorequest.asp?XID=11055&CID=90341


Here's a second one I found on google:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8410761819586398586&q=Coates+blockdriver&total=1&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

[No_Bivy]

:/:

[SteveBullman]

I don't think I would use a block driver but I find no need to dis the inventor.


too bad more people dont have your etiquette carl
to say the inventor has no experience with big trees is ludicrous and shows nothing less than pure ignorance. knowing the guy personally i'd put him up there with the best of them....but what do i know

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=3206097179768473036&hl=en-GB

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?...30996&hl=en-GB

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?...50185&hl=en-GB

:thumbup:

[Frans]

I also think it is worth a shot. Which is why I tried it out. While it might not work for me, I feel it is important to honor the request of the inventor to get this device out to folks, and get feedback.

It looks like No_bivy is the leading contender so far....and (breaking news) after that Greg Good.

[SteveBullman]

no_bivy would be a good candidate IMO

[RIVERRAT]

knowing the guy personally i'd put him up there with the best of them....but what do i know



The last two links didnt work for me. But the first one showed a good climber working with a good crane operator. Pretty good stuff Steve.

Frans, I was going to throw my name along with Charly Pottorf in on this. But I just dont know what it would get used for.....still thinking on it.

[SteveBullman]

dunno what happened to the other 2 links, here they are again

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-8212521504510650185&hl=en-GB

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-5475813839638130996&hl=en-GB

[High Scale]

I could have used it yesterday, the block driver, Tree of Heaven trunk, fecking heavy!!

[MasterBlaster]

So, are you gonna buy one, Carl?

[sotc]

i watched the first vid. nicely balanced, large pics and the operator was smooth, fast and paying attention :thumbup:

[stehansen]

I could have used one on a tree of heaven that I removed about month ago. Haven't had a big tree since. Have no large removals booked, or I would try it.

[No_Bivy]

pretty please with sugar on it......:D

[squisher]

The Bivyless one should be a shoe in, he's always posted great vids and pics of his work. What's to decide:?

[tntree]

The Bivyless one should be a shoe in, he's always posted great vids and pics of his work. What's to decide:?

I second that

[Frans]

What's to decide:?

:roll: Jeez, nothing to decide. Just trying to be fair.


no_bivy, I'll get it out to you sometime next week.

[Stumper]

I threw my hat in first but will be totally sanguine with He who lacks a bivy doing the reviewing. As I stated to begin with-I can find a place to test it in a month but I don't do that many big removals so probably wouldn't wring it out all that well.

Ah...I see that Frans reached a conclusion whaile I was typing. Excellent.

[Frans]

I thought about this for a bit and realized what made me take my time in answering folks.

The guy sent me the blockdriver with the expectation I would give it a fair shake, and get others to try it out.

I owe that to him.

I have kind of dropped the ball. Sent it to one guy and didn't get a real review in return, and now its been a long time.

So, my conscience was bothering me.

Anyway, No_bivy, you are more than welcome to try it out, when done respond with some kind of reasonable review, and then send it out to Greg Good.
He will mess with it a bit, and if you want to keep it, I will have him send it back.
You can then make a reasonable donation (your choice, I dont need or want to know what it is, or if it is money, how much) to the TreeHouse.

Thanks everyone for the replies

Frans

[No_Bivy]

:thumbup: will do

[squisher]

Heh I wasn't trying to ruffle no one's feathers, just seemed like Bivy has done some real nice documentation of his work on here and I would like to see this thing action. Stumper I'm sure you would give a thorough review as well, just as I said Bivy has a proven track record of vids/pics on here.

[High Scale]

So, are you gonna buy one, Carl?

Nope, I am going to steal one :/:

[Stumper]

Feathers completely unruffled here. I too think that No-Bivy can do a proper review of it-My point was that, although I volunteered first, I didn't have any qualms about someone else doing a review. Sometimes it is hard to know what unspoken inflections are behind the typed words.

[Frans]

Stumper, you said clearly you would be interested, but that you dont really handle trees all the time which would take this device and give it a workout.

So why explain? Its all good here, anyway

[Stumper]

Frans- I had no doubt that you were aware. Squishey was apologizing and I didn't want him to think I was bothered by his endorsement of No-Bivy- I was in fact seconding it. As you said-It is all good.

[Burnham]

Well done, all. I'll look forward to John's review.

Perhaps I just lack imagination...but I can't recall a tree that I'd have used something like this on. I just cut big rounds on a bit of an angle to assist sliding them off.

Must admit though, that I've never had to work in the tree with 4 foot diameter rounds.

[SteveBullman]

well b....you could cut 4ft rounds but you'd be slicing them pretty thin.....at least with the block driver you could cut them 3ft long and be able to drive them off.........that would certainly be a struggle by hand....no ones saying it cant be done.....this is just clearly easier on the body

[Burnham]

What you say makes sense, Steve.

[MasterBlaster]

I would rip the chunk instead.

[thattreeguy]

tell me if that thing is actually worthy id hate to throw one from uptop i carry 2 wedges and use a pull line if i need it...yes on block downs but i wondered about that tool..keep us posted.

[TheTreeSpyder]

i've all ways kinda been a gear nut. But mostly light gear, except block i guess.

A taller shape that holds weight; offers more leverage through the shape over the cg as a force point. Anything pulled over from ground like this, i like better with line over top, down back (spine) and hitched lower, to give more of a rolling/ flipping motion to the pull. sometimes making a trough/guide into the top far side of the load after the previous load's ramp(more on that later) for the "flippin' rope" to ride. The setup is a good auxilliary line for starting and finishing (inspecting) face with least effort. Also, fair for lowering block(on prussiked sling), and even bearing block's weight while anchoring said block.

On the push side quantity, i'm wit'RB. A small prybar; i favour a semi-truck's tire spoon personally- fits a kerf nicely, and it don't bend. A very small and tough package. If i needed longer, a hollow steel pipe over the end of the spoon. Have an old closet rod for that. i like better than wedge and hammer. Dowels are nice too. But mostly by leaning on bar, and pushing off on top of target, you can get tip; especially with assisted pull and moved pivot(more-later). Because then you have body weight/bounce + 2x effort; then multiplied times leverages of top side from pivot and prybar from pivot.

Both the push and pull on either side are then maximized, by working the center of the equation-move the pivot. On bigger stuff, i'd ramp down in more of a humboldt style. This starts with some of the weight already on the down side of the pivot and provides ramping for less sudden change-more control IMLHO. Also, the CG on your side of pivot (that is now less weight) has less leverage. Thus another double win-pivotal change in 1 move by altering both the equal and the opposite to advantage!

[MasterBlaster]

Here's my "blockdriver."

[NeTree]

Not trying to rain on the parade, but before I'd spend that much time using what is basically a modified bumper jack to push a piece over, I'd just tie a line to it and let the ground crew pull it off. Heck, if it's big enough to warrant a jack, it's already got two or three wedges under it anyways.

What am I missing here?

[Skwerl]

I agree with Erik in principle, except that I'll cut a quick notch in it before I take the time to set a rope. Then just knock it over with the wedges. I try not to get too involved with any one cut because it's usually just not worth the extra time. If it's going to take 8-10 minutes to get everything all rigged up for one cut then I'm looking for faster ways to accomplish the same thing. I can cut and chunk 4-5 small pieces faster than rigging one big piece. And if I rig the big piece then I have to wait another 10 minutes for the ground crew to cut it up and get it processed before I can continue.

So tell me again why I want to rig this big piece if I'm getting paid to get it on the ground quickly? Rigging is slow, cutting is fast. I'll take a tree down in firewood size rounds before I rig anything.

[No_Bivy]

rig if you have to preserve.......or else BOMBs away

[squisher]

Depends on the size and set-up I'd say Brian. I am rigging down more and more bigger pieces. Because my ground crew doesn't need to cut them up because of the mini/bmg. So bigger pieces means less pieces to handle and faster clean-up. Also zero impact if I'm roping stuff down. If you're comparing just using a pull line with a groundy to bomb big chunks. Great if you've got the room and the ok to smash the living hell outta the ground. I only 'chunk' down smaller stuff now that's easy to toss. Also the wildcard factor. When cutting and tossing you gotta have your groundys keeping that spot clean otherwise wood starts to bounce all over the place.

[NeTree]

Who says you have to bomb them? The crew can still pull off big chunks AND be roping them down... a process that I visualize is still faster than using a bumper jack.