Snaps, by Tony K

Tony Knight · 1st August 2011, 08:30 PM

G'day all, I take a few pics around the place and thought I'd kick a pic thread off with a doozie I had the other night.
A bit of a yarn behind this. I am a vol with the local firees, bring a bit of bush knowledge with me. We had a call to a tree fire the other evening not too far from the farm, nothing unusual as we get a few throughout the year due to lightning strikes and diligent tree change types cleaning up their blocks. I went direct (as it was only 5 mins up the dirt) and was first there to witness a 5ft DBH 120ft'er (conservative estimate) hollow Manna drawing fire approximately 60ft up the guts (the owners were burning off at its base when the enviable happened).

The fire Captain arrived on scene so did 5 appliances and a heap of men and women firee's. They threw several thousand litres of water into the air at it but the fire kept climbing the rotten guts shielded buy the remaining solid wood. The Cappy knows of my back ground and asked for an assessment, "it’s stuffed." It’s was now dark and the light show was getting better. VTA, targets identified, RA completed and a plan formulated. A decision was made to fell it due to the ever increasing risk to the surrounding vegetation (and no-one wanted to baby sit it all night watching it break apart). I went home to grab my gear and the 66 with the 25" bar and upon my return the creeping fire had managed to rise the last 60ft and blow out the top not unlike a pyrotechnics fountain or volcano. You could now hear it drawing at the base over the noise of the fire truck pump all the while showering embers 20 ft into the air from its now clear flue (bugger me if pics on the phone didn’t come out).
I explained the plan and appointed a reliable spotter, we cooled the base and retarded the blow torch at the top with water long enough for me to scarf up the left hand side of the face while getting rained upon with embers and water. I withdrew for another assessment and identified a 6ft chuck at the top appearing to be burning quicker and looking to break away. I stopped and waited, 15 minutes later down came this slab braking apart on impact showering the ground in a 30 ft radius with large embers (the firee’s had to shift their hose’s once I deemed the site safe to approach again). Now soaking wet I then proceeded to scarfed up the right side and mark out my plunge and back cut leaving a healthy holding strap. Another assessment and I started into the final cut before the release loading the left hand side with wedges (alloy) to compensate for the bias weight. Withdrawing again making sure the drop zone as well as surrounding area was clear I released the holding wood to hear her crack and travel perfectly to the ground into the darkness

. All up 2.5 hours at the coal face to get it down , plainly due to the lack of light and ongoing assessments and wait time. later

. I took some pics the next morning, all good.

Cheers
Tony

Eric Frei · 1st August 2011, 08:44 PM

Great pics and well done.

Jeff Darby · 1st August 2011, 08:51 PM

By the sounds of you done great work, talk about "fire in the hole" great pictures.

Darrell Mcleod · 1st August 2011, 10:01 PM

And brave

Apocalypsse · 2nd August 2011, 01:26 AM

Damn man thats intense, awesome work. What exactly were the owners doing? Looks like the immediate area around the tree is only burnt.

Tony Knight · 2nd August 2011, 09:35 AM

The owners (daughter 25 ish, whilst parents overseas) was burning off the small fuel as it was on the edge of the entrance to the property, several piles spread around had been going for the better part of the day and I suspect this tree had been smoldering away as well. A couple more pics showing the site.

Regards

Tony

Tony Knight · 2nd August 2011, 09:54 PM

Another job this on the farm I manage, its was knocked around a fare bit on BLK SAT with loss off all fences pasture etc and a hell of alot of trees. I still have a couple of hundred removals to do and are just chipping away at when I get the time. This is around a Dam catchment and was the first of 10 that needed to be knock out.

Cheers

Tony

Apocalypsse · 2nd August 2011, 10:22 PM

Haha thats pro, using the jack like, never would have thought of doing that. Do you just drop and leave them or cut them up?

Tony Knight · 2nd August 2011, 10:28 PM

Same tree.

Regards

Tony

Tony Knight · 2nd August 2011, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apocalypsse

Haha thats pro, using the jack like, never would have thought of doing that. Do you just drop and leave them or cut them up?

It had a slight back lean but @ well over 100ft tall that puts alot of weight on the lift, a hydraulic aid lets me do a little more a day.
As for the logs general rule is we knock em up into 10ft lengths to facilitate transport to the firewood pile then ringed up and split later. This one is habitat for critters as the area is a reveg and putting a machine on the slop to recover the log makes a hell of a mess especially this winter.

Cheers

Tony

TrevMcRev · 5th August 2011, 12:02 AM

Great work Tony

That's some pro felling there.

That fire tree would have been a sight to see at night

Tony Knight · 12th August 2011, 08:54 AM

A few weeks ago I was touring the outback and took a fair No. of pics, these included some species of trees I have never seen before. I have manage to identify most but some still elude me, this is one. The locals call it a Riche Rich tree. By observation it grows close to water course (dry for the most part). Apparently it only grows in a narrow belt across the Simpson Desert area. Any ideas?

Cheers

Tony

Steve Tipton · 12th August 2011, 06:56 PM

Not sure, but it may be a Ballar, a type of Mulga.

Tony Knight · 12th August 2011, 07:41 PM

Thanks mate I have found it, slightly different in appearance as I expect location has a lot to do with that and all the species I saw as in my pics were close to water courses and not on gravel hills but the description of the bark is identical.

Cheers

Tony

Tony Knight · 12th August 2011, 07:59 PM

And the Acacia grasbyi.

Eric Frei · 12th August 2011, 11:35 PM

Good stuff and some good research.

Where exactly are these in Oz? GPS co-ords please.

Tony Knight · 13th August 2011, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Frei

Good stuff and some good research.

Where exactly are these in Oz? GPS co-ords please.

I am told they range across the central desert area from the west, I can't confirm as I am having trouble finding a distribution map. We struck a large No. coming down the Cordillo Downs Road, where I have circled on the map.

27 22 24.4 S
140 41 18.5 E

Cheers Tony

This is when we got to the slippery Sh1t, it i'll give you an idea of the satuartion around the water courses.

Cheers

Tony

Tony Knight · 19th August 2011, 07:10 AM

A few pics of a back leaner I did last year, mechanical assist (Tirfor).

Cheers

Tony

Tony Knight · 19th August 2011, 07:15 AM

Part II

Cheers

Tony

Wavapps · 22nd August 2011, 11:21 AM

Nice pics tony.
Thanks for the comment!

stihlkid · 24th August 2011, 11:02 PM

nice thread

Rob Chace · 24th August 2011, 11:19 PM

MOAR!!!! ...please

Tony Knight · 27th August 2011, 01:11 AM

This is a job needing doing for a while. This stagg was over hanging my pump shed, an expensive target! 35 deg lean, 3ft DBH, 100ft + tall, burnt and hollow. Whilst not overly large in diameter nor height the heavily bias 35 deg lean directly over the shed presented a planning issue as did the lack of integrity in the lower 20ft. The requirment was to fell it 20 deg counter clockwise to its gravity challanged position and thus clearing the shed and trees next to it with the upper portion of the barrel and head.
V scarf, a slight tapped hinge was set, wedge loading on the now bias side, released from the up hill side with a hell of a crack and a fast decent. All good.

Cheers

Tony

Tony Knight · 27th August 2011, 01:17 AM

Couple more...

Cheers

Tony

Tony Knight · 22nd October 2011, 12:26 AM

Good evening all, picked up a new (new to me) saw last night. An AU 880 Stihl with a 30" bar. Couple of years old but barely used. $1,500.00 smakers.
Nice fella that had it, was stiched up by a dealer and ended up with a hand full that he wasn't confident with. Some pixs.

Cheers

Tony

Apocalypsse · 22nd October 2011, 01:03 AM

Ooo shiny. Nice find.

Tony Knight · 22nd October 2011, 04:11 PM

Yeah, it was a good deal all round I reckon.

Here a a straight foward one I did the other day, had to come down as it was failing at the base and in the head.

Cheers

Tony

Tony Knight · 22nd October 2011, 04:14 PM

A couple more, only reason I'm posting them is that they came up well and is a good example.

Cheers

Tony

Tony Knight · 22nd October 2011, 04:18 PM

Finally....

rogue60 · 22nd October 2011, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony K

Good evening all, picked up a new (new to me) saw last night. An AU 880 Stihl with a 30" bar. Couple of years old but barely used. $1,500.00 smakers.
Nice fella that had it, was stiched up by a dealer and ended up with a hand full that he wasn't confident with. Some pixs.

Cheers

Tony

The 88 is a beautiful saw to use,it will make the rest of your saw's seem like toy's......

1st August 2011, 08:30 PM	#1
Tony Knight Mature tree Join Date: May 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 268	Snaps, by Tony K G'day all, I take a few pics around the place and thought I'd kick a pic thread off with a doozie I had the other night. A bit of a yarn behind this. I am a vol with the local firees, bring a bit of bush knowledge with me. We had a call to a tree fire the other evening not too far from the farm, nothing unusual as we get a few throughout the year due to lightning strikes and diligent tree change types cleaning up their blocks. I went direct (as it was only 5 mins up the dirt) and was first there to witness a 5ft DBH 120ft'er (conservative estimate) hollow Manna drawing fire approximately 60ft up the guts (the owners were burning off at its base when the enviable happened). The fire Captain arrived on scene so did 5 appliances and a heap of men and women firee's. They threw several thousand litres of water into the air at it but the fire kept climbing the rotten guts shielded buy the remaining solid wood. The Cappy knows of my back ground and asked for an assessment, "it’s stuffed." It’s was now dark and the light show was getting better. VTA, targets identified, RA completed and a plan formulated. A decision was made to fell it due to the ever increasing risk to the surrounding vegetation (and no-one wanted to baby sit it all night watching it break apart). I went home to grab my gear and the 66 with the 25" bar and upon my return the creeping fire had managed to rise the last 60ft and blow out the top not unlike a pyrotechnics fountain or volcano. You could now hear it drawing at the base over the noise of the fire truck pump all the while showering embers 20 ft into the air from its now clear flue (bugger me if pics on the phone didn’t come out). I explained the plan and appointed a reliable spotter, we cooled the base and retarded the blow torch at the top with water long enough for me to scarf up the left hand side of the face while getting rained upon with embers and water. I withdrew for another assessment and identified a 6ft chuck at the top appearing to be burning quicker and looking to break away. I stopped and waited, 15 minutes later down came this slab braking apart on impact showering the ground in a 30 ft radius with large embers (the firee’s had to shift their hose’s once I deemed the site safe to approach again). Now soaking wet I then proceeded to scarfed up the right side and mark out my plunge and back cut leaving a healthy holding strap. Another assessment and I started into the final cut before the release loading the left hand side with wedges (alloy) to compensate for the bias weight. Withdrawing again making sure the drop zone as well as surrounding area was clear I released the holding wood to hear her crack and travel perfectly to the ground into the darkness. All up 2.5 hours at the coal face to get it down , plainly due to the lack of light and ongoing assessments and wait time. later . I took some pics the next morning, all good. Cheers Tony Attached Thumbnails

1st August 2011, 08:44 PM	#2
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,848	Re: Snaps, by Tony K Great pics and well done. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

1st August 2011, 08:51 PM	#3
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,047	Re: Snaps, by Tony K By the sounds of you done great work, talk about "fire in the hole" great pictures. __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

1st August 2011, 10:01 PM	#4
Darrell Mcleod Mature tree Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Victoria Australia Posts: 242	Re: Snaps, by Tony K And brave

2nd August 2011, 01:26 AM	#5
Apocalypsse Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,154	Re: Snaps, by Tony K Damn man thats intense, awesome work. What exactly were the owners doing? Looks like the immediate area around the tree is only burnt.

2nd August 2011, 09:35 AM	#6
Tony Knight Mature tree Join Date: May 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 268	Re: Snaps, by Tony K The owners (daughter 25 ish, whilst parents overseas) was burning off the small fuel as it was on the edge of the entrance to the property, several piles spread around had been going for the better part of the day and I suspect this tree had been smoldering away as well. A couple more pics showing the site. Regards Tony Attached Thumbnails

2nd August 2011, 09:54 PM	#7
Tony Knight Mature tree Join Date: May 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 268	Re: Snaps, by Tony K Another job this on the farm I manage, its was knocked around a fare bit on BLK SAT with loss off all fences pasture etc and a hell of alot of trees. I still have a couple of hundred removals to do and are just chipping away at when I get the time. This is around a Dam catchment and was the first of 10 that needed to be knock out. Cheers Tony Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Tony Knight; 2nd August 2011 at 10:15 PM. Reason: spell'n

2nd August 2011, 10:22 PM	#8
Apocalypsse Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,154	Re: Snaps, by Tony K Haha thats pro, using the jack like, never would have thought of doing that. Do you just drop and leave them or cut them up?

2nd August 2011, 10:28 PM	#9
Tony Knight Mature tree Join Date: May 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 268	Re: Snaps, by Tony K Same tree. Regards Tony Attached Thumbnails

5th August 2011, 12:02 AM	#11
TrevMcRev Mature Tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Posts: 1,605	Re: Snaps, by Tony K Great work Tony That's some pro felling there. That fire tree would have been a sight to see at night

12th August 2011, 08:54 AM	#12
Tony Knight Mature tree Join Date: May 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 268	Re: Snaps, by Tony K A few weeks ago I was touring the outback and took a fair No. of pics, these included some species of trees I have never seen before. I have manage to identify most but some still elude me, this is one. The locals call it a Riche Rich tree. By observation it grows close to water course (dry for the most part). Apparently it only grows in a narrow belt across the Simpson Desert area. Any ideas? Cheers Tony Attached Thumbnails

12th August 2011, 06:56 PM	#13
Steve Tipton Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 824	Re: Snaps, by Tony K Not sure, but it may be a Ballar, a type of Mulga. __________________ Heightmaster

12th August 2011, 07:41 PM	#14
Tony Knight Mature tree Join Date: May 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 268	Re: Snaps, by Tony K Thanks mate I have found it, slightly different in appearance as I expect location has a lot to do with that and all the species I saw as in my pics were close to water courses and not on gravel hills but the description of the bark is identical. Cheers Tony Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Tony Knight; 12th August 2011 at 07:44 PM. Reason: Spelling

12th August 2011, 07:59 PM	#15
Tony Knight Mature tree Join Date: May 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 268	Re: Snaps, by Tony K And the Acacia grasbyi. Attached Thumbnails

12th August 2011, 11:35 PM	#16
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,848	Re: Snaps, by Tony K Good stuff and some good research. Where exactly are these in Oz? GPS co-ords please. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

19th August 2011, 07:10 AM	#18
Tony Knight Mature tree Join Date: May 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 268	Re: Snaps, by Tony K A few pics of a back leaner I did last year, mechanical assist (Tirfor). Cheers Tony Attached Thumbnails

19th August 2011, 07:15 AM	#19
Tony Knight Mature tree Join Date: May 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 268	Re: Snaps, by Tony K Part II Cheers Tony Attached Thumbnails

22nd August 2011, 11:21 AM	#20
Wavapps Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: N.J. Posts: 9	Re: Snaps, by Tony K Nice pics tony. Thanks for the comment!

24th August 2011, 11:02 PM	#21
stihlkid Sappling Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: ireland Posts: 5	Re: Snaps, by Tony K nice thread

24th August 2011, 11:19 PM	#22
Rob Chace Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Perth, WA Posts: 230	Re: Snaps, by Tony K MOAR!!!! ...please

27th August 2011, 01:11 AM	#23
Tony Knight Mature tree Join Date: May 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 268	Re: Snaps, by Tony K This is a job needing doing for a while. This stagg was over hanging my pump shed, an expensive target! 35 deg lean, 3ft DBH, 100ft + tall, burnt and hollow. Whilst not overly large in diameter nor height the heavily bias 35 deg lean directly over the shed presented a planning issue as did the lack of integrity in the lower 20ft. The requirment was to fell it 20 deg counter clockwise to its gravity challanged position and thus clearing the shed and trees next to it with the upper portion of the barrel and head. V scarf, a slight tapped hinge was set, wedge loading on the now bias side, released from the up hill side with a hell of a crack and a fast decent. All good. Cheers Tony Attached Thumbnails

27th August 2011, 01:17 AM	#24
Tony Knight Mature tree Join Date: May 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 268	Re: Snaps, by Tony K Couple more... Cheers Tony Attached Thumbnails

22nd October 2011, 12:26 AM	#25
Tony Knight Mature tree Join Date: May 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 268	Re: Snaps, by Tony K Good evening all, picked up a new (new to me) saw last night. An AU 880 Stihl with a 30" bar. Couple of years old but barely used. $1,500.00 smakers. Nice fella that had it, was stiched up by a dealer and ended up with a hand full that he wasn't confident with. Some pixs. Cheers Tony Attached Thumbnails

22nd October 2011, 01:03 AM	#26
Apocalypsse Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,154	Re: Snaps, by Tony K Ooo shiny. Nice find.

22nd October 2011, 04:11 PM	#27
Tony Knight Mature tree Join Date: May 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 268	Re: Snaps, by Tony K Yeah, it was a good deal all round I reckon. Here a a straight foward one I did the other day, had to come down as it was failing at the base and in the head. Cheers Tony Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Tony Knight; 22nd October 2011 at 04:20 PM.

22nd October 2011, 04:14 PM	#28
Tony Knight Mature tree Join Date: May 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 268	Re: Snaps, by Tony K A couple more, only reason I'm posting them is that they came up well and is a good example. Cheers Tony Attached Thumbnails

22nd October 2011, 04:18 PM	#29
Tony Knight Mature tree Join Date: May 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 268	Re: Snaps, by Tony K Finally.... Attached Thumbnails

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Kid Snaps & Breaks Bully's Ankle	Apocalypsse	Non Tree Related chat	13	24th April 2011 08:29 AM