The History Channel; Ax Men

[MasterBlaster]

Pay attention! There WILL be a test!

"It's only a hand." (http://www.history.com/minisites/axmen)

http://www.history.com/minisites/axmen/images/400x300/17998289__17G4521.jpghttp://www.history.com/minisites/axmen/images/400x300/35004327__17G8022.jpg
http://www.history.com/minisites/axmen/images/400x300/35000101__17G660.jpghttp://www.history.com/minisites/axmen/images/400x300/35001441__17G6197.jpg
http://www.history.com/minisites/axmen/images/400x300/35000155__17G7296.jpghttp://www.history.com/minisites/axmen/images/400x300/35004237__B8C2753.jpg

[sotc]

ive never seen a faller or bucker trim the butt cut. cool pics!

[Al Smith]

I will definitely watch it. That PNW logging is certainly different from the small scale stuff around here.

[sotc]

i failed the test, missed the link the first time. that does look cool!

[blue]

hope that makes it over here,looks good

[gf beranek]

It's only a hand. Went to work 15 days after going into the hospital. Lost four fingers on the left hand. I wonder what his job was?

[MasterBlaster]

He's the head of one of those logging companies - my guess is supervising.

[gf beranek]

Looks like it might be good. I don't hook up to the tellie. I guess I'll just wait for it to come out on DVD.

[Al Smith]

My uncle John the horse thief,er horse trainer,lost a hand about like that in a corn shredder.It didn't seem to slow him down though.He ran a string of trotters from central Florida to Libery bell in Philly for nearly 50 years.He did pretty good at but then too uncle John would lie if the truth would suffice better.;) Never the less the old boy made it til his mid 80's .

[squisher]

Frigging cool. Looks like lots O highleading on there. :evil:

[stehansen]

I'll be watching.

[MasterBlaster]

Still a few weeks off yet.

[OTGBOSTON]

It's availabe 'on demand', right now! It is a pretty cool show. I'll definately be keeping up with it. The scenery is pretty amazing:D

[squisher]

Having been in the bush for a decade I'd be really interested to see it. Somedays not many it sucks not having TV

[MasterBlaster]

OK, we gotta have us an Ax Men party tonight! I'll throw some briskets on the barbie so we can have us a nice snack tonight, and I'll have some whiskey to spread around.

Who's bringing the chips and beer? :evil:

9 PM, central!

[Al Smith]

9 PM, central!----which is 10 Eastern . If a person does miss it,not to worry.It will be just like "Ice roads " they will run the series for a long time no doubt.

[MasterBlaster]

I probably won't catch the entire 2nd hour. It appears they are showing the first two episodes back to back.

[Al Smith]

I probably won't catch the entire 2nd hour. It appears they are showing the first two episodes back to back. Tape it .We have a built in DVR on our digital cable box as well as another one.Better quality that a vcr tape

I've never done it but the DVR has the abilty to copy from a vcr tape using the input jacks or directly from a dvd .As well it can copy from the hard drive to any of those devices if you use the proper set up .

[MasterBlaster]

I don't have that, it sounds cool.

Besides, like you say, they'll probably show it so much we'll get sick of it - like Law and Order...

[inztrees]

finally something good on tv the only thing I like is these guys

[BostonBull]

I also saw the first episode on, ON DEMAND. (thanks Greg!) It was good! I feel they added the made for TV elemnt though. There is one part where a log gets free and goes racing by the choker setter, and cameraman, who happen to be fast enough to run 100' away in 3 seconds and watch the log scoot by them...........

If the second episode is on tonight as well ill definitely tune in.

[BostonBull]

As youre watching these episodes pay attention to how many times you see someone wearing the best team in Baseballs hat!

[squisher]

I've had runaways so close before I coulda touched 'em and they could easily have killed me. Not a fun place to be down below the intermediate when you hear over the radio, 'Runaway going my left' and that's the side you're cleared on. Pick a stump fast. I've seen runaways go right down an entire block and blow apart standing timber.:O

[Al Smith]

Well now that does bring up an interesting question .Just how would a person keep a hold of a tree on a slope ? I'm a flat lander and what we call hills most likely is nothing compaired to the PNW .

[MasterBlaster]

Here we go!!! :rockon:

[MasterBlaster]

Cool intro song, Hendrix!

[Frans]

It just now came on!

'ol melvin is attempting to 'pull' a quarter millon in doug fir.

Green Gold :big-dance2:

[MasterBlaster]

The trees are kinda little, so far.

[squisher]

Well now that does bring up an interesting question .Just how would a person keep a hold of a tree on a slope ? I'm a flat lander and what we call hills most likely is nothing compaired to the PNW .

Al you try to pick your 'roads' and 'settings' to take advantage of any natural lays of the land but more often than not you get screwed sooner or later as yarder country is steep country. Sometimes the yarder would just have to hold them until a forwarding machine could grab them, also we used a 'log brake'. It was like a fifteen foot long(wide) cylinder that had teeth on it so when you lay the logs down on it it would help to hold them, that thing was a pita to set up though and more often than not even chained in place it would end up getting messed up or be ineffective. Ha even had one get loose once and start down the hill it was so damn steep.

[squisher]

And damn I wish I had some tv tonight let me tell ya! I would love to see this show. Oh well the bad with the good I suppose. How are the ads?:P

[MasterBlaster]

It was interesting, no real climbing to speak of. Perhaps a later episode?

I learned the difference between a yarder and a yoader! :beer:

[okietreedude]

Watched the season premeir tonite. Pretty cool but not quite what I thought it would be coming from history channel. Thought it would be a little more like the fishing or ice road truckers. A little more info on the 'tools' used. Sure i know its chainsaws, yarders, loaders, etc.

What size saws are they using? I noticed a couple guys toting stihl w/ a monster bar....details anyone?

Im definetly going to keep watching..infact, ive got it saved on the dvr to record each week.

[fishhuntcutwood]

Yeah tonight was just the first night. Give 'em time to show the nuts and bolts of it all.

I thought I spied an 038 in there, but kinda doubt it. Couple of 660's fer sure.

[fishhuntcutwood]

Yeah, I caught that too!

[MasterBlaster]

It's just the first show, give it a chance!

[Swe#kipp]

Yeah tonight was just the first night. Give 'em time to show the nuts and bolts of it all.

I thought I spied an 038 in there, but kinda doubt it. Couple of 660's fer sure.

and some 385xp:s :)
not that I'm brand loyal at all ,,,,,,
can't wait for this show to air in Sweden !!!!!!!!!!

Our logging reminds more of thinning compared to this :lol:

[okietreedude]

Squisher asked about the ads,,,,Im surprised there werent any for stihl or husky, being it a logging show. There again, maybe theyll start up w/ future shows.

I tried getting on the post show 'live chat'...put up a couple of questions, waited about 20 minutes, neither got posted so I left. It was pretty interesting reading what that dude had to say. Kindof confusing too though about how and who pays, gets the bidding, etc.

[Al Smith]

It certainly opened my eyes to the methods involved.What a tangled up mess those men had to work in,my my.

Now I understand the long bar deal. Working that mess of blowdowns and snarled up trees you would need a long bar just to reach the work .

I was kind of surprised though because most of those pecker poles were about the size of the stuff they cut in the Carolina's. I realize of course that episode only covered one portion of the logging in that area .

I'm a little confused about the supposed time limitations involved in clearing the cut areas.If they are getting paid by the board feet what should make a difference if they did it in 60 days or 6 months .:?

Well it certainly is a different ball game on the far coast,the rules change for sure .

[lumberjack]

I was wondering that as well Al, the timelines.

[squisher]

Could be lots of things, I don't know about down there but up here you usually have a quota from a mill(or hope to) so if it's the same they would know what sorta time frame they gotta produce so much in. Don't meet your quota, lose your quota. Also most loggers are paid as the wood hits the mill/sort so they could also know what they need to do to keep things rolling. Again I don't know if it's the same down there.

[wiley_p]

Lots of things like Squish said. You get a price from the mill if you get the wood on the ground in X time. That equipment needs to be on to the next job pronto,And some agencies require that cutting, yarding, etc be done in a given amount of time. Plus it aint no love show, balls out get it on the ground, yarded out, loaded on the trucks and of to be scaled.

[squisher]

Are we logging it or dogging it?

[squisher]

Ha I miss logging when it's friday, the weathers nice, there's no bugs, and you got a fat ole pumpkin patch at the end of a long road. :D

[stehansen]

Are they able to log in the summer time? I was wondering about fire danger.

[squisher]

Hell yah, we log year round except for spring break up when the roads get to unstable to haul, even then depending where you are you might get some time in. We went to fire hours sometimes in the summer or when it's ridiculously hot and dry sometimes people get shut down, never on a crew I was on though. When you're downhill yarding though up here you're required to have a piss can at each of the haulback blocks(fire season only), sucks carting them around a steep hillside. Piss can on your back and a tommy morr with a big strap in your hands, good times.

[MasterBlaster]

Piss can on your back and a tommy morr with a big strap in your hands, good times.

OK, explain that jargon or be BANNED! :what:

[squisher]

piss can = backpack can full of water with a pump nozzle type dealio, picture a really big backpack squirt gun.

Tommy morr(sp?) = a big ass rigging block(compared to arb blocks)

Strap = a strap for the rigging block made of big ass heavy wire rope

[MasterBlaster]

:rockon:

[sotc]

Are we logging it or dogging it?

ha! ALL I WANNA SEE OUTTA YOU IS ELBOWS AND ASSHOLES BOYS!

[gf beranek]

The Tommy More block has an exceptional wide opening for allowing spliced eyes and shackles to pass through.

Down here we also have to lay fireproof blankets around the tailhold for 20 feet around the block. Because when the mainline splices are pulled through at high speed sparks be flying. Some big machines can pull in 20 feet a second under load. Freewheeling, much faster.

[sotc]

and on occasion a block can come apart slinging hot iron around. didnt know about the blankets, that does make sence. we had to keep fire tools down there but there was rarely anyone down there to use them anyway:dur:

[squisher]

It seemed like the stupidest idea I'd ever heard of too. I always figured if something did light up that the frigging piss can would be engulfed long before anyone would make it to it?

[Al Smith]

Being in the flat land I've never seen a high line set up.I have seen cable lines for quarry work though.They use two long lines which they can position the bucket with. From what I could determine from that show it looks like they work about the same way.


Another thing that popped in my mind from that show was the size they use down too.That explains how every so often you get 2 by 4's that have bark on all 4 corners .:( Of course I'm a fuss budget and don't accept them like like.If I'm going to pay the price for lumber it won't be barky.

[Bounce]

Yeah they're cutting pretty small stuff these days. I worked on a job recently where the instructions were to harvest everything "of marketable size." It turns out that means 4" and bigger. I don't what you get out of a 4" diameter tree - maybe 1x1 trim?

[MasterBlaster]

Probably wood chips.

[squisher]

For decades all we did was burn chips in big beehive burners to get rid of them, now they burn them in cogen plants to make electricity.

[Burnham]

Yeah they're cutting pretty small stuff these days. I worked on a job recently where the instructions were to harvest everything "of marketable size." It turns out that means 4" and bigger. I don't what you get out of a 4" diameter tree - maybe 1x1 trim?

Curly que 2"x2"'s :(.

[chris_girard]

Like I said over at the Buzz, the show was ok but I personally think A Beranek Productions dvd is more intersting and better quality.

[gf beranek]

Hey, thanks, Chris. I wont have the chance to watch Axe-men till it comes out on dvd. Though I have listened to a lot of reviews from a few fellow woods workers,,, who say it's a spin off the Deadliest Catch series. On that note I might just watch some of their vhs recordings of the show.

[MasterBlaster]

I sure hope it gets better.

[IchWarriorMkII]

I liked the show.

Learning about a Yoader and Yarder... seeing how its done... and how fucking miserable the weather and terrain is.

Yea, got the terrain here in the Rockies, but not enough trees nor the desire to go haul said trees out of them hills. Spooky shit, when those logs go flying down the hills.


I'll take my firewood cutting and enjoy the hell out of that...

[stehansen]

The reason I asked about the fire danger was when my Dad worked for a turfgrass farm they had 2-way radios that went off of a mountain top repeater. When it was really hot in the summer time some loggers from Oregon would come on the radio so we could hear them talking and I remember a couple of times they were getting shut down because of fire danger. A couple of times we could hear the conversation between the helicopter pilot and the guys on the ground. Close as I have ever been to loggin.

[Frans]

I liked the show but was frustrated at how they fill up the time with endless repetition of each and every event.
Almost like they are playing to a moron who cant remember one moment to the next..
But then again, most stuff on the boob tube is like that

[sotc]

gotta make it last all season:D

[Rubrababy128]

:big-hang-loose:Hola! I am an Arborist in Colorado, newbie to climbing (mostly bucket work), and to the house. I watched this show, now I am hooked! I feel like my jobs are toothpick removals now! When will the drama stop on Axe Men, and the technical side show up?:big-hang-loose:

[MasterBlaster]

Welcome to the TreeHouse! :beer:

[chris_girard]

[QUOTE=When will the drama stop on Axe Men, and the technical side show up?:big-hang-loose:[/QUOTE]

I think that is the way that most of us tree workers and loggers feel, but we have to remember that this show was made for idiot Americans who get their thrills from reality shows.

If they were to make the show for the real men and women, who work in the woods and trees, than their ratings would be incredibly low.

My favorite part of the show is the technical side too, and I hope that they start to show more of it.

[gf beranek]

Are there any you tube shorties of this show?

[gf beranek]

Terri looked for me. I can get the whole DVD set for $29 through the HC. Pre order, coming out in 8/08

[Chisel Tooth]

Have a look on the history chanel web site Gerry, there is a video clip at the top of the page.

[gf beranek]

I checked it out, or Terri did for me. Cool. Even if you don't have cable you're not left out totally. So long as you have broadband internet.

Cool

[Al Smith]

I checked it out, or Terri did for me. Cool. Even if you don't have cable you're not left out totally. So long as you have broadband internet.

Cool
Actually I have a special card in this one 'puter so that I basically can turn it into another TV if I wanted to. I really haven't used it too often,kind of silly when you have 4 other TV sets .

[sotc]

i like how they blew the pit for road rock! never seen that

[MasterBlaster]

They have the claw hand guy and his son chopping wood on the Today Show at the moment.

Boring.

[gf beranek]

A reality show about us tree tramps would be really good, but not like that Noose guy is doing it. Did I say his name right? No matter, there's enough real thrills and danger in this business that you don't have to build up hype and keep flashing repeat scenes to carry a program.

Too bad it always comes down to that. The people doing the shows lack good technical advisors, or they just don't listen to them.

[sotc]

no sack:D

[Chisel Tooth]

Ya got that right Gerry, it's about the ratings and not the reality. The closest thing to reality was when Melvin Lardy lost the log, and it went sliding back down the hill, Chris ( I think that's the guys name ) said "if that log had hit you I would have to pack you out in two pieces, that log would have ripped you in half".
Butch, I saw that this moring in a word "cheesy" what was with those axes? Did you notice the maddox on the back side of the axe head? :?

[MasterBlaster]

Lester was chopping like a gurl.

[Chisel Tooth]

Yeah I don't think the guy ever swung an axe before. :lol:

[MasterBlaster]

I was suprised to see no eye protection. I'd laughed my ass off if Lester woulda caught one of those flying chips in his eyeball, LOL.

[Jamin Mayer]

I'm going to the in-laws tonight to watch the first episode and the second. I'm looking forward to it.:D

[MasterBlaster]

Yep, tonight's another show! :rockon:

[MasterBlaster]

Alright, there's just enough time...


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[MasterBlaster]

Wow, this episode is WAY better. Sweet.

The Claw guy just gave a good example of domino felling.

[Monkeywithasaw]

that was pretty cool and when he pounded the wedge in with the claw that was the iceing on the cake

[MasterBlaster]

That block pulled his hand off, lordy!

[Monkeywithasaw]

im suprised that jeese didnt kick that newb in the butt for leaving the cap off the tank

[MasterBlaster]

The carriage is in place!!!! :rockon:

[MasterBlaster]

Awww, his spur strap busted...

And he has the top straps on backwards!

And he climbs like a gurl!

[squisher]

Dang it all anyways, man I wanta see this show!!!!

[MasterBlaster]

He's gonna get drunk tonight to celebrate because he climbed a 40' spar, LOL.

[Monkeywithasaw]

that poor kid better learn to kick in or hell get some vertical scars to remember for the rest of his life that and having crappy straps on the spurs is going to get someone killed

[squisher]

Well nothing wrong with that if you're a logger :lol:. 40' climb, pecker poles in the previous shows what's up with this? I gotta check this show out one way or another. Paul you get it on your cable stuff?

Did he top the spar?

[MasterBlaster]

They shoulda done better than that, just for the good of the show.

Crikey.

It was a better episode, up 'til that last part.

[top hopper]

Awww, his spur strap busted...

And he has the top straps on backwards!

And he climbs like a gurl!



:lol::lol::lol:


Did hear him commment on 'whobbly" the spar was? :lol:

[okietreedude]

I cant believe they claim to make the money they claim and have crappy spurs. broke straps???? wtf? A set of straps is like $15. Youd think they had about 2-3 sets laying around. Im no spiker, in fact, I hate spikes, but Id like to think I could spike a spar that slow.

That dominoe felling was infact pretty cool.

I didnt think either that those motors running down the lines were taht dam big. wow, was i surprised.

[top hopper]

I didnt think either that those motors running down the lines were taht dam big. wow, was i surprised.


yeah they dont look so big hanging on the line....

easily the size of a small car

[squisher]

I didnt think either that those motors running down the lines were taht dam big. wow, was i surprised.

What do you mean the carriage? Motorized carriage? Have they said what make or model of either yarder or carriage that they're using?

And did he top the spar? Just set rigging? C'mon guys I need answers.:D

[top hopper]

Yes, the carriage. Dunno about model, but they have diesel engines.

No, he only hung a block atop the spar, but it took him eternity to do it.

[Al Smith]

And did he top the spar? Just set rigging? C'mon guys I need answers.:D
The spar was topped before that guy got to it. Well,the poor guy wasn't a climber for sure.

[squisher]

Ha I used to set a block and three guy lines by myself in one climb. I'd attach two guylines to my belt and tie the block to one end of the rope and the third guyline to the other end of the rope. Everything coiled up neat and tidy. One man, one climb everything up by myself. I'm guessing he set a little pulley and had the block pulled up? Or did he do it himself?

I'd hand over hand the rope up between my legs and get that block up there, hold it on my lap/legs and get the strap done up.

[Skwerl]

Yer a maniac, Squishey. 8)

[squisher]

Heh I was one hell of a highleader no doubt about it man. And I never got hurt at work not once. Which just proves my point of how damn lucky I am.:D

You see the carriage running up and down that skyline. I've flown the carriage countless times, I've even held on to two looped chokers before and supermanned my way up the hill. Now I bet you're not gonna see that on this show. I was a wildman.:lol:

[Paul B]

Squashie, no sign of the show here that I can discern..

Superman up the slope? damn jesus that I would like to crazy beeotch! :D

[squisher]

That was a one time affair but I'll never forget it. I worked with one yarder crew for nearly five years you build some trust when you've got a tight knit crew. Normally I'd choker a piece of slash with two chokers and stand on it so that I could still use the talkie tooter while riding, the superman affair was in plain view of a engineer(yarderman) who obviously I trusted my life with. I said you won't be seeing it on this show as atleast up here riding the carriage is a big no no for WCB. I mean you can pull 2-3tonne turns on that carriage all day but you're not allowed to ride it up empty :roll:.

[sotc]

i want to see this to! what color is the carriage? it sure sounds like a big one

[squisher]

Lol I know it's getting me all fired up for some logging. ALmoST enough to consider going back out and doing some.
:lol:

[sotc]

probably a big madill tower

[Newfie]

This weeks episode seemed like one big OSHA violation from beginning to end, but maybe I'm just a big pussy.

I particualarly enjoyed the one handed dude wailing away at the wedges in the back-cut with his home made prosthesis.

[squisher]

probably a big madill tower

That would be my guess too, I think I read someone mention it's on tracks. Fun, fun, fun big yarders ugh everything is so heavy.

[fishhuntcutwood]

That would be my guess too, I think I read someone mention it's on tracks. Fun, fun, fun big yarders ugh everything is so heavy.

Yeah, on an old Sherman tank chasis.

[fishhuntcutwood]

And he climbs like a gurl!

He climbs like I do!:|:

I'm a faller, not a climber....and I'm barely a faller.

[stehansen]

i want to see this to! what color is the carriage? it sure sounds like a big one

I can't be sure but I thought it was orange.

[Al Smith]

Yeah, on an old Sherman tank chasis. That damned thing didn't have near enough track under it for the weight.Then too smooth track,about like a racing slick in that mud,worthless.


Most likely they built that rig because it was cheaper than buying a new one or they didn't make commercialy build yarders when it was fabricated heaven knows when.

Those old Shermans sat by the thousands at the very place the M1 Abrams is built today.Then the gov just sold them off in the late 60's early 70's .

I imagine they changed the engine in that homemade contraption because a Ford gas tank engine could suck down about 40 gallons of gas per hour .

[sotc]

couldnt remember how to spell maki :dur: ive never seen a maki the size of a car but is this them? the shot gun carriage is the type i was arund most
http://www.vannattabros.com/iron26.html

[Frans]

I sure wish we as arborists had a real small light weight carriage that we could use in our roping jobs.
Maybe weighing in a 5 lbs or so, mechanical instead of engine powered

[Al Smith]

If I recall correctly somebody had a picture of a carriage set up between two trees in an older version of the TH. It was engenious to say the least.

[olyman]

I imagine they changed the engine in that homemade contraption because a Ford gas tank engine could suck down about 40 gallons of gas per hour .[/QUOTE] along this line, al. did you know that some of the later tanks had a all aluminum hemi ford engine in them??? yup, i read of them, but never seen one. till last year, at a steam show in minnesnowta. walked up to the tractor, a puller, and said to friend--what in h%^is that???????? had two hair dryers, in a blow thru configuration. like the 79 4 cyl mustang. then on the front of the engine--a tag. said ford!!!!!!!!!!!!! BINGO--friend took alot of pictures of it. then i read about a month later--that engine went from drawing board to running---in THREE months!!!! tank crews loved em!!!!!!!!!!! said they would haul!!!!!!!!! dual overhead cams!!!! kinda predates the 427 sohc, huh??? that tractor has been donated to that steam show grounds----still runs also-------

[Al Smith]

I don't remember the exact cubic inchs on the Ford tank engine but it was large,overhead cam too. That was in the late 30's. Some had Pratt and Whitney radials but the best had Cat diesels . Not too many of those were made though.

Very ill equiped with a 70 mm gun[I think] in comparrison to the German Panzers. Some that saw action in the Pacific were equipted with a 105 howitzer. Those could do some damage.

You used to see salvaged ones doing all kinds of stuff. They mounted booms on them and used them for mobile cranes etc. I saw one once cruising right down the road in Norfolk,minus the turret. It belonged to some construction company. Heaven only knows what they used it for. For their size the tracks were not very wide thus lousey floatation . It isn't any wonder that guy got mired in the mud up on the hill in the show.

About 17-18 years ago the tank plant in Lima restored an old Sherman which is now housed in the local museum and gets out about once a year to run in a parade or two.The gasoline engine was rebuilt where I work.

Oddly the way it turned out the group from the tank plant that restored the old thing retired and now have a welding shop which is where I bought my Bridgeport milling machine.

[Frans]

If I recall correctly somebody had a picture of a carriage set up between two trees in an older version of the TH. It was engenious to say the least.

I will see if I have the pix. Did a job a while back with this, but it was slow and cumbersome

[stehansen]

Seems like a tracklayer undercarriage would have been a more practical choice.

[Al Smith]

Seems like a tracklayer undercarriage would have been a more practical choice. They most likely cobbled that tank thing together because it was cheap.

When I worked at BLH they made a tramway contraption that went on a crawler crane base.I think it was used for a cableway thing for quarry stone removal on water filled gravel pits etc.I never saw one of that model in operation.

[treebogan]

From the shorts of that series I've seen that yarder is a 171 Madil.They came out with a Cat 425HP engine and were built on M60 Tank Track gear.I worked with one for a couple of years in my Teens.They have a 75foot pole and four tie backs,usually used at a sky line yarder.We did some high leading,scab lining and shot gunning with it was well.

[squisher]

Cool, thanks for the info.8)

[Al Smith]

Well,an M 60 undercarriage and a Sherman is like compairing a Mack truck to a Honda Civic.Not trying to be a smart arse just an observation because I've seen both of them.;)

[treebogan]

Yeah,the 171 isn't all that nimble moving itself around!With the pole dropped and lying horizontal the machine is very back heavy and to be turned 180deg takes about five minutes of going back and forth just turning a little bit at a time.It can't be screwed around on the spot like a CAt or a tank can.

[Jamin Mayer]

Another one tonight! I hope they have a competent person climb a spar next time. That was embarrassing to watch.:what:

[MasterBlaster]

I'm anxious for tonight's episode.

[inztrees]

can they get there wood out ? Tune in tnight

[MasterBlaster]

"Sometimes it's a million dollars waiting on a dime."

[MasterBlaster]

I like the deadman tie off!

[fishhuntcutwood]

That was pretty cool. I like that guy. He seems pretty squared away. Out of the outfits, I'd work for him first.

[top hopper]

The deadman anchor was cool!

So, did anyone else notice the "feller" within about the first 10 minutes of show, who cut thru his hinge and the tree sorta rolled off the stump sideways?

[JIML]

I don't think he cut thru it, it just broke going over and rolled off. Happens alot, rolls to one side to the other.

[Frans]

I did see that! The tree just jumped and leapt over to the side!!

[top hopper]

I don't think he cut thru it, it just broke going over and rolled off. Happens alot, rolls to one side to the other.

Well then he cut to much of it.

[MasterBlaster]

And it's on again, tonight. :drink:

A repeat.

[fishhuntcutwood]

Well then he cut to much of it.

I did see that, but didn't think much of it. He may have meant to break it off early, and have a narrow hinge so as to avoid fiber pull.

But yeah, he may have cut it through. I've done it on little "shit sticks" that (relatively) aren't dangerous. They'll commit and be on their way, and you just get the "aw it's on it's way and it'll fall where it may" and you just cut on through. It can't pull fiber or split on the stump if it's cut through. Smaller, green trees, crappy wood, etc.... Maybe I'm full of it, but I've done it. :|:

[MasterBlaster]

Me too. No biggie, so to speak.

[Burnham]

Maybe I'm full of it, or of myself, too...but I never cut through a hinge on purpose. I may thin it down as the tree commits, for the reasons Jeff mentions, but I try to always keep a functioning hinge throughout the fall.

[MasterBlaster]

You're so full of it!!! :P

[Burnham]

Busted!

[fishhuntcutwood]

Good Lordy! Who let Burnham in here? What does he know? :P:P



The "sticks" I've intentionally cut the hinge through are specifically trees wherein they're of such small consequence that I don't want to spend any more time on them than I already have, and they're small/green/light enough that they won't break their own hinge, and I'd have to pop the hinge with the tree on the ground. I'm talking about a 40' baby fir or an 8" dbh wild cherry in a stand of second growth.

The tree the guy did in the show is one I'd think would call for a good sound bit of holding wood all the way down, and it's size would for sure break it's own hinge. But my standards and that of a professional timber faller in the bush are different things. Maybe he's comfortable letting that one roll off, or maybe he accidently cut it through.

[Burnham]

Good Lordy! Who let Burnham in here? What does he know? :P:P



The "sticks" I've intentionally cut the hinge through are specifically trees wherein they're of such small consequence that I don't want to spend any more time on them than I already have, and they're small/green/light enough that they won't break their own hinge, and I'd have to pop the hinge with the tree on the ground. I'm talking about a 40' baby fir or an 8" dbh wild cherry in a stand of second growth.

The tree the guy did in the show is one I'd think would call for a good sound bit of holding wood all the way down, and it's size would for sure break it's own hinge. But my standards and that of a professional timber faller in the bush are different things. Maybe he's comfortable letting that one roll off, or maybe he accidently cut it through.

Makes ya wonder sometimes, don't it...the questionable things I'll say ;).

That all makes sense, Jeff. I wasn't correctly visualizing what you described in your other post. I have done that with small stuff too...smaller than 40 footers, but the same thought process. I haven't seen the piece of film in question, so I have no standing to comment on that.

I have been watching pro timber cutters here in the PNW for near 30 years, both in action and by autopsying stumps. My considered opinion is that they are pretty much like any other profession...there are some really good ones, some really poor ones, and the bulk are clustered around the middle of the bell curve. Don't expect to see top quality performance from all of them any more than you would expect it from every arbo crew you come across.

[Al Smith]

I've done it the other way.Not enough wedge and too thick of hinge and the damned tree hangs instead of snapping the hinge .Then cut the wrong side and it goes where you don't want it to ,duh .:(

[JIML]

Say he didn't cut it off. The small face those guys use, would close and break the hinge wood with the tree still a good ways off the ground. After that it would seem like its completely up to gravity to play with. roll flip jump or whatever... Or am i completely wrong?

[fishhuntcutwood]

I don't know about small faces. That's the whole reason they use Humboldts out here is so you take your face from the stump, and not merchantable timber.

But yeah, there's times, places and reasons when and why you'd want your tree to stay on the stump all the way down, or "jump" the stump and do something else on the way down.

[boboak]

I don't know about small faces. That's the whole reason they use Humboldts out here is so you take your face from the stump, and not merchantable timber.

But yeah, there's times, places and reasons when and why you'd want your tree to stay on the stump all the way down, or "jump" the stump and do something else on the way down.

LOL...It's that "doing something else on the way down" that keeps us on our toes.

[fishhuntcutwood]

HA! True. I guess I meant coming off the stump, rolling to one side or the other or something like that.

[Jamin Mayer]

The third episode was good. I just watched it today. The in-laws TiVo'd it for me. Were they showing trees randomly falling due to the high winds? Or did I misunderstand something?:what:

[MasterBlaster]

No, that's what was supposed to be happening.

[stehansen]

Marathon tonight.

[Paul B]

what channel? discovery? I will try to see if its on up here and Canada eh.

[MasterBlaster]

what channel?


Please to note the name of this thread my good man. :drink:


:P

[Chisel Tooth]

The History Channel Paul. 9:00pm central time. What Butch said!

[Paul B]

learn something every day. 8)

[gf beranek]

Still haven't seen one episode. A few people said they'd record it for me. Time out there, I guess.

[MasterBlaster]

Well hey stranger!

[TC3]

Still haven't seen one episode. A few people said they'd record it for me. Time out there, I guess.

You'd get such a kick out of it, Gerry ! I've only seen one episode, & was like, "Oh yeah. It all boils down to $$$ & experience, ey ?" !!!
One of the 'Leaders' looks too fat to get out of his own way, but the guy knows his shit. It's a biz, like any other... but these guys jump right in harm's way for a buck. Most of 'em ain't even off the tit, they're so young. I just watched & hoped to gawd they didn't get crushed !

[Chisel Tooth]

Marathon tonight.

Yep, showing four episodes tonight.

[fishhuntcutwood]

Man, that dude just put that tree right on the sky line!

I wasn't there, but it didn't look that mean of a tree. A little wedge, and a better aimed hinge....well I wudn't there, but damn, he put it right on that line!

DOH!

[fishhuntcutwood]

And now a guy just snapped a gorgeous fir on a stump!!!

DOH!

[squisher]

Lol do they censor the swearing?:lol:

[Paul B]

Squish, are you watching it? wheres it at man, it doesnt appear on my channel guide... :(

[squisher]

No shoot man I got no tv reception at all, zip. I'm just inquiring, it is burning me up a bit not being able to check out the action.

[Paul B]

heck I pay about 60 bucks a month for digital cable and I still dont get to see it, who gets the short end of that stick?
:(

[MasterBlaster]

Not me! :P

[Monkeywithasaw]

the climber just took one five minute class in the front yard on how to climb from his dad thats just lovely

[MasterBlaster]

Well, he only had to negotiate a 30' spar.

"I'm cramping up!"

:lol:

[Paul B]

30'? :O

[Monkeywithasaw]

if he would have looked on the other side of the spar he would have seen two stubs he could have put his flip line over that and taken the weight off his legs

[Monkeywithasaw]

at least he got new gaff straps

[MasterBlaster]

Huh?


if he would have looked on the other side of the spar he would have seen two stubs he could have put his flip line over that and taken the weight off his legs

How do you figure doing that takes the weigh off your feet? All it does is stop your lanyard from slipping.

[Monkeywithasaw]

after you put your flip line over take two or three steps down and all the weight is on the flip line not your legs

[squisher]

Sounds like they got some top climbers on this show.:roll:

[MasterBlaster]

after you put your flip line over take two or three steps down and all the weight is on the flip line not your legs


You can do the same thing sans a stub, but I hear ya.

[fishhuntcutwood]

Sounds like they got some top climbers on this show.:roll:

Well they're loggers who climb, not climbers who log. I can't say nothing. They climb like I do!:D

[lumberjack]

The dude that threw the tree into the skyline cut through the hinge from what I could see.

It seems like alot of their mistakes are from a lack of understanding.

The Gufstan (spelling?) crew sure has a chit pot of logs at the landing, bout time they start shipping them out eh?

[squisher]

Well they're loggers who climb, not climbers who log. I can't say nothing. They climb like I do!:D

I can't say nothing either cause compared to all the kick ass climbers in the Treehouse I'm sure they'd get a laugh outta me sometimes too. But spiking a spar is pretty damn easy. I mean I remember some feeble climbers from the bush but I also remember some good ones(like myself) who'd make going up and coming down look like a thing of beauty. I'd hope they'd be putting someone proficient on television.

[Al Smith]

You gotta remember that show is highly "dramatized" .

As far as those two "climbers" ,just inexperiance .I had to laugh because that guy last night I thought his a$$ would reach the top of the spar before his head,ha.


I didn't quite understand why those guys spliced an eye in that cable rather than press a sleeve or use "Crosby" clamps ??? :? I'm telling you splicing an eye in a steel cable is a beech . Part of the show I suppose .

[sotc]

we spliced all the time on our skyline. cant keep a press on the job or a spare 2000 feet of 7/8" swedge.

[MasterBlaster]

I'd hope they'd be putting someone proficient on television.


One would think so, for sure.

[Al Smith]

we spliced all the time on our skyline. cant keep a press on the job or a spare 2000 feet of 7/8" swedge. It's probabley a "traditional " thing I suppose. I'm just used to the iron workers installing maybe 6 or 8 "crosbys" in a wire rope of that size .For that matter they make wedge clamps that hold just as much as a splice .Buut,that said I'm a midwest farm boy type rigger and what they do in the PNW I have no idea.

[sotc]

we used those wedges for dead end nubbins and hooks. never seen one for an eye though. some of the splicing was a long splice if we had a break in the middle of the cable, we could spread the splice out over 40' and not be to bulky to fit through shives. it really is a nessasary thing to know on a yarder side. 1-2 hours from anywhere a broken line would shut down production for the day as opposed to an hour or 2

[Al Smith]

A long splice is a pain in the butt but it will pass through a block where a short splice won't .

A lot of times they use a wedge in conjuction with a "headache ball " on cranes . The cable is actually just an eye that passes through the ball .Often times they put a Crosby or two on the "bitter end" [sailor talk ];)

[sotc]

i dont have many splicing pics but the first one you can see the bulge below the carriage and above the logs, that the swiveling hook that uses wedges in the end of the cable.
the second is one part of a long splice in the skidding main
the third is a farmers eye in the end of the skyline. this is a very fast splice, it needs to be a long eye so it doesnt bite to deep in the stump it gets wrapped around. we also used a 7 tuck for more critical eyes

[MasterBlaster]

That's a serious looking cable.

[Al Smith]

Wire rope[steel cable ] will eat you up.The strands will poke right through a pair of leather gloves and make you look like you got the short end of the stick from wrestling with a porcupine . :whine:

[sotc]

haha yeah al, jaggers suck, or poke or something:D
butch, the big one is the sky line (the one the carriage is hanging from in the first pic) the small one is the skidding main, it goes into the carriag and out the bottom into the hook

[Al Smith]

Evidently this "skidder" line is the same as a haul back line on a dragline type of crane.

[squisher]

We always spliced too, it's just what you do. Clamps would be to bulky in most applications like on the end of the skyline you need a splice with the ends all tucked away nicely so it doesn't hang up on everything.

[TC3]

Lol do they censor the swearing?:lol:

"Beep... Get that... beep... beep...RIGHT NOW ! God beep it, I never seen such a buncha beep beep beep... BEEP IT !!! Mutherbeeping BEEP it, how can you BEEP it up so BEEPING bad ???"
It's like Flav-O-Luv on steroids. When do we get to see the guy sent home on a stretcher ?

[Al Smith]

Just a question because I don't know,never seen it. Is the motorized trolley controlled by radio signals or something??

The setup is really kind of like a dragline in a way .With a dragline though the operator has view and controll of the whole operation .By the looks of some of those slopes the load could be a thousand feet away and out of sight of the operator on a sky line set up .

[fishhuntcutwood]

Yeah, if you watch the show, you'll see the lead guy in the brush has a transmitter on his belt that he beeps with various signals for the operator. Two beeps up, three beeps stop, whatever.

Is that what you're talking about?

[squisher]

The carriage I was most familiar with had talkie tooter radios that controlled the carriage directly. They also made a blast off of a horn on the carriage itself so you could confirm your transmission from the remote to the carriage. Our horn on the carriage lasted like a month and we never bothered fixing it. We used those hand held remotes as well as radios so the yarderman(engineer) and hillside man(chokerman) could communicate.

Our set-up worked like this:

Engineer sends the carriage down the hillside by releasing the skyline brake and feathering the yarder mainline brake, so the carriage is freewheeling on the skyline and its descent is being controlled by feathering the mainline brake on the yarder. Don't get to jerky with that lever boy or you'll have cables snapping and dancing before ya know it. A good engineer knows what his mainline spool looks like for how far down the hill the chokerman is working and can race that carriage down there slowing it up real smoothly just when need be. There's an art to it for sure.

Chokerman on radio tells engineer "little bit, little bit, good" as carriage slowly rolls to a stop he hit's the button once, this clamps the skyline brake in the carriage, anchoring the carriage to the skyline.

Then the Chokerman hits the button again and the motor revs up in the carriage and starts pulling slack through feeding it out at a nice even rate(I've worked with non slack pulling carriages before, they suck) and when ya get good at it you can use that rate of feed to time up big swings or doll some out and stop the feed in order to swing across obstacles. A good chokerman makes every use of any advantage to get those chokers to the wood in the easiest possible manner.

Once the chokerman has got to where they're going they push the button to stop the slack pulling feed, and then let the engineer know "got enough" so they can stop having to focus on dolling out the mainline nicely.

Then when all the chokers are hooked up and the chokerman is in the clear he hits another button(our talkie tooters had two buttons)twice to release the mainline brake. Now the carriage is still clamped to sky but the mainline brake is free so the mainline will just run right through the carriage.

Now the chokerman tells the engineer "go ahead" and the engineer steps on it and starts winching in mainline pulling the drag of logs towards the carriage.

As the drag approachs the carriage the chokerman on the radio again says "carriage" and this lets the engineer know to let up on it a little as the chokerman then pushes the 2nd button 3 times this releases the skyline brake and clamps the mainline brake so that then the logs are held up in the air with the chokers near the carriage for ground clearance and the skyline brakes are released. So when the engineer steps on her again then the carriage with logs clamped up nice goes racing up the skyline all the way to the yarder.

Then the engineer controls everything when it's right in front of him to set the logs down unhook the chokers and then it starts all over again.

A 'turn'

That's about how our set-up worked for a single basic turn. I ain't even gonna try and explain downhill yarding. To much typing.8)

[inztrees]

thanks that was great

[Burnham]

Well done, Squish...for a Canuckian you put that rather more clearly than one might expect.
:D

[squisher]

Lol doing it countless times has helped some of it sink in. I'm sure other yarder systems/set-ups run differently but that was the meat and bones of our set-up. I was a choker master but I always found the climbing alot more fun, pre-rigging was my usual thing, although I was so good at that that I'd end up having to go back and be a chokerpig to help out. :D I always wore the radio even when I worked with a boss, yes I am a bit of a control freak.

[stehansen]

I'm not sure how all the cables are attached. Splain please Squishey.

[sotc]

our set up was a little different but id surly confuse and its close enough to what justin said so eloquently:D ill try and draw a pic for you steve

[sotc]

ok steve, the pink thing is the yarder
green line is a guy line
blue is the sky line
red is the skidding main
grey is the carriage
black is the choker
brown at the bottom is a stump and the brown in the middle is a log

engineer tightens skyline, then feathers brake (brake controls drum speed) for skidding main as the weight of the carriage (which hangs from sky line by 2 pullys) is unspooling drum on the way down the hill. there are 2 "clamps" in the carriage, one will clamp to the sky line and the other to the skidding main. if you want to stop the carriage along the skyline then you activate that clamp, at this point you can release the skidding main clamp and pull slack through the carriage. when you want to pull the logs in the engineer winds that drum in puling the logs towards the carriage, when they get close the skidding main clamp is activated and the skyline clamp is released allowing the carriage and logs to be pulled up hill. clear as mud?

[Burnham]

Also good, Willie. I'm just gonna stay out of this one.
:)

[squisher]

Makes sense to me.:D

[Burnham]

Canucklehead!

[sotc]

Makes sense to me.:D

thats cause its clear as mud:D

[Burnham]

Willie, I'm pretty sure he's ribbing me, not commenting on your well done post.

But I could be wrong...he is Canadian after all.

[sotc]

in that case ill quote a wise man:)

Canucklehead!

[stehansen]

Thanks Willie. I understand now. I just have one more question. What does the motor in the carriage do? Cuz it looks like everything in your picture (except the clamps in the carriage) is powered by winches on the yarder. OR, am I seeing several different systems on the TV show?

[Al Smith]

Thanks Willie. I understand now. I just have one more question. What does the motor in the carriage do? Cuz it looks like everything in your picture (except the clamps in the carriage) is powered by winches on the yarder. OR, am I seeing several different systems on the TV show? My thoughts exactly .:?

[sotc]

the engine in the carriage powers the hydraulics for the clamps and the "slack kicker". the slack kicker helps pull the skidding main from the yarder so the guys on the ground can take the end of it off to the side to where the chokers are. with out a slack kicker the ground guys would have to pull by hand the line all the way from the yarder instead of just from the carriage. takes one guy to pull line instead of 3. the other 2 guys can be setting chokers

[stehansen]

Awesome! Yo comprendo! I think the whole system is genius.

[squisher]

Obviously invented by a Canadian then.:D

[stehansen]

These are the first five in the list on the Canadian invention web page.
5 Pin Bowling A truly Canadian sport invented by T.E. Ryan of Toronto in 1909[
Able Walker The walker was patented by Norm Rolston in 1986
Access Bar Patented food bar designed to help burn fat by Dr Larry Wang
Air-Conditioned Railway Coach Invented by Henry Ruttan in 1858
Abdominizer The infomercial exercise darling invented by Dennis Colonello in 1984
You guys should have just quit with the Abdominizer. I mean, what else does humankind need? :D

http://inventors.about.com/od/cstartinventions/a/Canadian.htm

[squisher]

In case you didn't figure it out smart aleck they're listed in alphabetical order.:P

Y'all really should check out the link, the world would be screwed without Canadians.:D

[top hopper]

Well we'd have a lot less shitty beer thats for sure!










:) :P

[stehansen]

Dramatic License.:D

[Al Smith]

[QUOTE=squisher;217323
Y'all really should check out the link, the world would be screwed without Canadians.:D[/QUOTE] We'll take the whiskey and beer,you can keep the geese .;)

[stehansen]

In case you didn't figure it out smart aleck they're listed in alphabetical order.:P

Y'all really should check out the link, the world would be screwed without Canadians.:D

I can't imagine the world without five pin bowling. I get all emotional........:cry:excuse me:cry:.......... just thinking about it.:D Seriously, I did use some acetylene yesterday. From now on I will say a little "thank you Canada" and gaze lovingly northward everytime I cut some metal.:D

[Paul B]

more fodder:
top-10-canadian-inventions-of-all-time/ (http://http://www.hotreport.net/top-10-canadian-inventions-of-all-time/)

[squisher]

:lol:Y'all are like fish in a barrel.:P

[sotc]

something else canadians invented?

[stehansen]

something else canadians invented?

Alan Thicke.:D

[top hopper]

and Celine Dion :barf:

[squisher]

State of hockey phwahh, this is the country of hockey!!!!

And let's not get into who's produced worse musicians eh.8)

[MasterBlaster]

So, anybody watch Ax Men?

[Chisel Tooth]

Yep watch a rerun last night.

[MasterBlaster]

I like how the gimp hand guy ain't afraid to spend some money on the helo, smart move.

[Al Smith]

Yep,that old boy has a "get'r done attitude allright,get's er done too .

[top hopper]

State of hockey phwahh, this is the country of hockey!!!!

And let's not get into who's produced worse musicians eh.8)



Hockey was invented here bud!


You Canuckians simply saw a good thing and rolled with it. :D



sorry for the derail, back to your regular programming

[squisher]

Canadians are known for rolling a good thing.:D

[rbtree]

I was rather appalled that they tried to push that tree over with the mainline tensioned against it....major fuc k up!

[rbtree]

Canadians are known for rolling a good thing.:D fatties, eh?!!

[squisher]

:/:

I haven't seen the show (as I've mentioned probably to many times now). But! I have used the lines to fell trees before. It can be a great advantage for felling a tree in a direction that it doesn't want to go.

[Al Smith]

I was rather appalled that they tried to push that tree over with the mainline tensioned against it....major fuc k up! I think a lot of these scenerio's are meerly fabrications to dramatize the show,nothing less .Even a flatlander like myself wouldn't do some of that stupid stuff .

[fishhuntcutwood]

:/:
I have used the lines to fell trees before. It can be a great advantage for felling a tree in a direction that it doesn't want to go.

Yeah, I could see it working, but this guy put his cuts in all wrong, and the tree fell down along, and then into the cable. They showed him putting the cut in, and I though it looked funny from that angle...and then as soon as it committed, I thought, "he's gonna hit that damn cable!"

Sure 'nuff!

[sotc]

that definatly sounds bad!!

[sotc]

heres a video that shows alot of whats happening. even some downhill for ya squishy
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XjFNkoukIFg&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XjFNkoukIFg&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

[sotc]

some good stuff here to. never seen grapples like the loader on here has
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/h8GMfMxb-7c&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/h8GMfMxb-7c&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

[MasterBlaster]

Good find, Willie!

[inztrees]

I just watched a bunch of those

[Al Smith]

Excellent vid. A thought on this matter with objectivity.

Here in the midwest the farmers harvest a farm crop yearly.The hardwoods are selectively cut about once every 50 years .In the Carolinas and Georgia on this side of the US the clear cut is around 35-40 years .Evidently the PNW cut is around 60 years .

All are just a harvest or a needed commodity .It's nothing more than simple farming except payday is a long time in between .Food for thought,perhaps .

[sotc]

glad some folks get it:)

[MasterBlaster]

Damn, he's fixing to top a tree with only his lanyard on. Wow.

I mean, I've done it but I wouldn't let anyone film me doing it.

[squisher]

Let me know how it goes?8)

[MasterBlaster]

He topped it.

[squisher]

I'm guessing he did a good job of it then if no one is posting about how badly he messed it up.:D

[sotc]

we never had a climbing line in the woods. fundamentals was the first i saw of that

[fishhuntcutwood]

Damn, he's fixing to top a tree with only his lanyard on. Wow.

I mean, I've done it but I wouldn't let anyone film me doing it.

Like I said last week, these are loggers climbing, not climbers logging. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a second line when cutting. I'm surprised he was wearing a helmet! The climbing gear you see out here is spurs, a saddle, and a line...often manilla.

[stehansen]

Like I said last week, these are loggers climbing, not climbers logging. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a second line when cutting. I'm surprised he was wearing a helmet! The climbing gear you see out here is spurs, a saddle, and a line...often manilla.

You'd think the OSHA or WC guys would be all over them.

[sotc]

they rarely leave the landing when they do show up. usually its a pole belt:dur: