Safest cut for big horizontal Limbs ?

Aj ginger

Hi all,

Just wondering what cuts you use for Heavy limb removals,
it's easy to end up with a tearaway or barberchair if not careful.

Tony Knight

Limb: top cut either equal or slightly behind the undercut or (notch depending on the shape, weight and desired fall zone).

Spar : back cut above the face cut (distance to depends on species and tree condition). A scarf and rope maybe depending on job.

I'm relative new to aeriel work with a life on the ground, other more experienced climbers will be most likely be able to expand and improve.

Cheers


Tony

Eric Frei

Yeah they can be deadly.

Read this thread, just click the link, we got diagrams and all, stress not, we been there done that.

Scared when lead being cut splits

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ArbTrain

Gday Aj.. i guess you are talking about big flat lateral/ horizontal branches..(?).. 1 easy solution- get out there and take it where there is a/ not so much weight and b/ if it tears- which it should not with a decent undercut. ( remember on some species you have to side cut as well),, it tears out along the limb and not down as far as the branch collar.. another method is to get a rope onto it to take some weight.. but , in my experience, just get out there, good undercut, and block down /lower the stub. good luck. be safe - not sorry

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Aj ginger

Thanks all for the replies,

I usually go right out on the limb and cut my way back in managable sized peices.

I read on another forum someone advised the plunge-cut:

(cutting a scarf/wedge on the underside, plunging the saw through leaving a good hinge, while still in the plunge, cutting toward the topside of the branch leaving a couple of inches then cutting the remaining couple of inches from the top.)

I know this is good for tall Trees with a lean but wondered if it is safe for heavy branches especially Horizontal.

Apocalypsse

I don't think that would work so well for dismantling trees. Time consuming and not really necessary, especially if rigging. I normally step cut limbs, varying depths and gaps between the 2 cuts depending on if I'm letting the branch break off on its own or if I'm going to break it off and throw it down. Otherwise I'll scarf limbs out. I'll let the branch tear in some cases where I need a slower release and I know the tree isn't going to snap the branch off or tear off most of the bark.

Eric Frei

Sure, good technique but you need a big enough limb dia to do it.

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