Horse Chestnut felling with crane

RC1

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=3206097179768473036
We felled this Horse Chestnut yesterday, and although it looks ok on the video. It could have been a little easier. I should have taken the time to swap the gaffs on my spikes the night before to the longer tree-gaffs. The tree has pretty flaky bark as it is but this was made worse be the fact that it was dying, so I wasn?t as sure footed as I would have liked to have been.

Also, the wrong crane turned up so I was limited to doing smaller lifts than what I would have preferred, as this was actually quite a big tree. The crane driver also announced that he had to leave early.

We ran out of time for taking the main stem down and with tempers beginning to flair between some of the guys, it was time to call it a day. I tried to be as economical as possible with my climbing and work positioning throughout the job, but by the end, my neck and upper back were totally ?done in? with all the repetitive ?looking up? in anticipation of the chains.

I had a lot of editing to do this morning to minimize the file size, but I think its come out ok, with quite a varied mixture of lift and positions. Worth a look.

Eric Frei

Reg

Thanks for posting that .... nice work.

That was a big azzed tree and I spotted on a section you cut close to the camera which seemed quite rotten in the middle.

I didn't see any barber chairing tearing cuts ... all seemed pretty smooth to me.

Perhaps you could add some words of enlightenment to this thread http://www.treeworld.info/showthread.php?t=326

How big a chipper was there?

Also, the remaining log, what will happen to that? Just trucked off and dumped?

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RC1

The chipper was woeful Eric, thats all I can say about it. The big log, God knows. They're going back on Thursday to sort it out.

Drouin Tree Service

Climber look like he knew the score!i bet theres some real good hard climbers in the UK.

Why are most of the UK chippers small?

Great vid thanks for posting.

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Sunraysia Tree Solutions

Great Work RCI you have a knack for knowing the balenceing point of limbs, does this just come from experiene? I must admit in all my climbing work its either tip or but tie, any tips eg start with a cradle ? I'm with you eric no straight thru cuts for me except on really little stuff ie under 4to 5 inches

Lee Winger

Nice job, good balancing and weight judgement! are you a subby Reg?

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RC1

Fatkoala

Yes the balancing comes with practice and the obvious place to do it is on your conventional rigging/lowering, easier than it looks trust me.

Plus, I always edit out the bad ones

Roller, yes I am a sub-contractor. Thanks

Ace Master

RC1
Nice work,
a good crane operator makes it alot easier ,what size crane and what was the biggest lift of the day.You need to get a big bad ass chipper so the ground crew keep up when they are comming down fast like that.Keep up the high standard of work love it.

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Sean Freeman

As usual our man in Cheshire makes life look easy and leaves the job with a grin....nice work Reg, wish my crane jobs looked so damn smooth, ah well.

RC1

The crane was only 30 tonne, we had ordered a bigger one but for reasons I now can't remember, didn't get it.

Our biggest problem was the requirement to keep the road open, so the crane had to be positioned at the furthest side and as a result was 'reaching' a long way to make the lifts. I dont think we could lift more than 3 tonne from that position so both the crane driver and I had to get busy.

You're right about the big chipper, unfortunately that particular firm didn't have one.

willietd2

hey rc1, great video. my question is on the crane removel how do u guys find the balance point on the hookup? i mean for the most part everything came off in the same angle it was disconnected from. could not tell from the video but it looked like either one lead brought around the limb or two leads connected to it. gonna say the second is likley otherwise the limb would roll wright? anyway what a great way to make a living. cheers, willie

mike porter

cool

shaggs

As all have said, nice smooth work Reg.
Appreciate the posting.

RC1

Willie, I'm glad you enjoyed the video, it'll be a year in Feb, time certainly does fly. You're right we had two chains for most of the lifts, one on some of the smaller pieces. The balance points just come with practice, nothing more. Same priciples as conventional rigging with ropes and pulleys etc.

Many climbers might prefer to use multiple slinging to be absolutely sure, while a lazy climber like me will probably look to keep it as simple as possible

treevet

I really enjoyed your video. I know this is old stuff but I am new here. It did look like you did have some picks double choked? I am all with you in the keep it simple theory. Also with you in the view, the more you do the better you can judge where to set the choke for balance. I think you are very humble in understating your abilities. A certain sign someone is very good at what they do. Great crane op , too. I ve been doing craners for decades. I have settled on, for the most part, hanging a 3/4 inch by 12 foot double braid lanyard with a loop spliced on the end and hang it on the hook for the whole job and just bolen on the piece, sometimes with a marl and that way you never need the ball near you or have to take the choker of the hook to set a choke. I d like to know about the predominance of your cuts. I ve settled in to making a back cut on the crane side half way thru and then cut right square exactly into the back cut from opposite side as the crane pulls the piece into him.

RC1

Thanks for your input treevet, you should post more often.

When you say double choked then yes, for most of those lifts I used both chains but never more than about 6 inches apart otherwise I?d of had to keep adjusting the length.

I?ve been asked many times about balancing points and I wish I had a more informative and satisfactory explanation to give but unfortunately its like ? {Well, I just keep heading out on a limb until a voice in my head says ?Stop, this is it?}

So?. not much use to anyone really! e.g. http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-1095961566416913391&hl=en-GB
Any way, Re: the cuts ? I get the crane-operator to take the weight only, I don?t want it lifting while the cuts are incomplete.

I?ve found with chains its easy to mistakenly offset the alignment of the jib due to their weight/length/momentum plus the temptation to reach out and grab the chains without first allowing the crane-operator chance to let them settle. For this reason I?ll favor a snap/bypass-cut; so if I am indeed accidentally offset with the jib alignment I can still make the cuts but move to a safer position before the actual lift.

With slings the alignment is far more predictable so I often feel confident enough to front-cut and then straight through the back.

Obviously I?m constantly watching and monitoring what?s happening as I?m cutting, although the saw-cuts are often all I need to tell me everything about the balance-point, alignment, tension etc. Also, it?s not unusual to ask the operator to tweak his position or tension slightly while in the midst of cutting, especially if it?s a large spreading section and I?m trying to balance foliage against timber.

I think so long as you stay cool, focused and logical when working with cranes it can be done quite comfortably so, even for first-timers. However, a climber or crew that spooks easily can get into all sorts of trouble, they can see things that either aren?t there or vice-versa because they?re not thinking clearly. And try to remember that the view of what seems achievable from the ground often differs from that observed by the climber in the tree. However, I do believe the better judgment should favor the most experienced individual on the site, whoever that may be.

I hope that answers your questions treevet, sorry if I went a little overboard but I thought the extras might just be useful to someone else.

treevet

Very insightful.... composure is a great tool to have in the box. You re the first I have encountered using chains. Not to say anything negative about it. Anything can fail if not inspected and rated. Just different. How do you communicate to the craneop. Only saw one hand signal. Do you use walkie talkies? We use the nextel when nec.

RC1

I actually prefer the slings but will manage with either.

I mainly stick to hand signals but Ive been working with that particular crane-guy for some years now so he pretty much knows what to anticipate. I just point to where I'm heading and then up or down for tension etc. He also has the most amazing intuition and 'feel' for what he does, after a liftime of rigging etc he is a true master of his art.

However, you gotta watch him or he'd be trying to take over if he sensed any uncertainty, which is why I purposely avoid eye-contact. People offer suggestions with the best of intentions but for me to communicate back the messge of why it is right or wrong everytime can really mess up the flow of things; so as much as I like to encourage people to get involved and ask question etc, there's obviously a time and a place. During a crane job is not it, afterwards is fine though

There are plenty of other crane vids in this section treevet, just fire away mate if you'd like to add or ask something, I'll always reply just as soon as I can.

Sean Freeman

Really well written replies Reg , reflecting the wealth of experience you have....have you considered providing some of that experience as training further down the track when climbing and cutting have lost their appeal(feasibility!)....do you have certified training programs (for tree-crane work)in the UK?...(We don't in Oz but they do in NZ).

Oh yeah...Happy New Year.....Cheshire cat too

RC1

Thanks Sean and a Happy New Year to you also. I dont think they have any specific Tree/crane training over here and I'm sorta glad about that to be honest. Although Id still be very interested to see whats involved with the one in NZ and just how much depth there is to it.

The official training that goes on here doesn't really interest me at present although I do get alot of satisfaction from teaching someone a technique, seeing them take it on board and then go on to utilize it effectively. I think most people on here can probably relate to that experience though.

Who knows whats ahead Sean, I try to keep an open mind.

newguy18

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old schooler

Grais

Reg, thanks for posting this work video.
You really got your shit together mate, this is like a lesson in efficient and safe craning ops, just what I need for when I get to try my first craner.
Thanks for all the great work vids you post, they are a real help to people who haven't had the opportunity to observe crane ops.
Awesome work, just super.
A certain 'farmer'.
Stay safe bud,
-Grais.

askmeall

I tend to like the idea of holding the attitude of each pick with appropiate rigging , then any cut you prefer , will work just fine . We cut strait through on the majority of our picks . To each his own, even by his own design, if so demanded . w.k.b. tulsa

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