Great info man, i've been doing this professionally for 7 years. I've taught alot of people and it always makes me happy to see other professionals training in detail the way you do. Keep up the good work.
Your rope skills are on point! Great video and you guys make it look and sound.....smooth. Your groundies are also on point. Nice work, now back to work!
Few years ago, I was roping a decent sized sugar maple down over a garage. I was rigging off a limb and the rigging line went on the wrong side of the cut and ended up getting pinned against my lanyard. If I had set a tag line on the end, I could've ensured the line wouldn't have gotten caught across my lanyard, but I was inexperienced and thought the limb for sure was going to go to the correct side of the cut. This may not be the best description but I'm sure you know what I mean Pat. It's one of those things that easier to explain with a visual aid.
The point is: tag lines are a great way to make sure pieces go where the need to go. If you've ever had wind push a top back the wrong way, you know this all too well.
Yessir, I know what you mean. Taglines are one of the main reasons why a single ground guy is often not enough when there is real roping to be done... Patrick
Great job, Patrick. Love how quick you can tie the daisy chain hitch. Since seeing this hitch, I use it exclusively. New groundies have no problem untying vs bowline. Be safe my brother
Excellent explanation ! I’ve Been doing this for years and now I can just point someone to your video so they can see exactly what I was talking about. 👍🏼
Yessir that video has a lot of good info packed into a few minutes...thanks. Getting that rope on up there when the bucket is fully extended...great job
I remember as a kid in cleats self-learned and topped my first tree. And yes I was on a clean stick 45" up. Cut that top with a catchline. The line had way too many raps. The rope was a major brake instead of a controlled fall. Man, that stick moved so violently about threw me off my cleats. By the way no ground crew. Yes by the way it scared the living crap out of me. I was shaking from that one. But I finished and moved on to the next job with new knowledge attained. PS They also were pole cleats. What the freak did I know. I was a kid making money.
Always worth the time to toss one in. Handy tip for ground guys too, if you tie off your tag and just give some pressure midline itll prevent the urge to "jerk" on the line or slip and let it sit back if the wind catches it
Righteous Man! This video speaks volumes regarding your skills. Thx for tip! P.S. I am pretty good with knots, You on the other hand should be teaching knot tying!
Your lucky you have a good rope man my rope guy still learning and it sucks I always have to swing the bucket out the way of the tree or hold on when climbing I miss my good rope man so much
An observation: test pulls on tops can be deceptive and potentially hazardous, becuase the pull is exerting the entire tree, and not just the top; therefor substantially more leverage than will be exerted once the top is hinged.
Love ALL your videos. Probably watched them all. I am surprised you don't have a Saw Landyard though. Just incase that sucker gets pulled out of hands or accidentally drop it. Workers are in danger. ( I know some are always trying to say something negative ) Sorry....... Ive even seen other climbers ( no Bucket truck ) with no Landyard.
Shallow side cuts like this help to keep the cambium from tearing down on either side of the hingewood, which can throw a top off course. Doesn't happen very often, but it can be bad. Side cuts are a good habit to be in, one that I'm working on myself.... - Patrick
Why on earth would you have your saw scabbard on the outside of the bucket also with no leash in my opinion that’s just asking to be dropped .. couple also hit a ground guy down below if dropped unexpectedly
Heck yeah the little bit of extra time it takes to set a tag line in it is worth it to me. Rather then take a chance and have a bad day lol. I notice you havnt been using your t540 for a while. Do you prefer the 201tc over it just curious. Thanks for this video Patrick, love this channel! Be safe sir!
Thanks man. Yeah, my t540 crapped out on me last year. I used a 201 for about 3 months, but then it started running like crap. I finally found a good mechanic to refurb my old 200T, so that's what I've been using now for almost a year... Stay safe... - Patrick
Patrick I get the feeling your somewhere near Ontario. I had the same issue I couldnt keep fuel solenoids, Im unsure if its just the local fuel additives(even using Shell91 and petrocan ultra94) or just the wonky elevation changes here. I gave up and built myself a nice 355T since im fresh out of 200s
I found the half hitch with Daisy chain interesting, I've used multiple hitches while aloft but never that combo. Do you feel comfortable taking the same size wood as you might with a half hitch/bowline combo, or is it more if an intermediate hitch? Always good to see another one if your vids pop up.
Yessir, I use the Daisy Chain hitch for all my rigging. Richard Mumford actually tested it for me, it tested within 4% of the running bowline, so every bit as strong in practical application. Give it a try! - Patrick
I'll give it a shot for sure, also like the idea of how quickly the ground crew can unpack that hitch when compared to a bowline, cow hitch with better half, etc. Those extra seconds saved per pick can add up in efficiency over the course of the working day. Love it.
I remember when I started learning how to rig like that. And I always afraid to cut a notch in it. Thinking it would go over if I didn't have it tied off. And would fight the rope to cut the notch in. Like my old foreman always said "you gunna learn today"
I like that knot. WTF is that? A few half hitches ending in a daisy chain? It almost looks like a blend of a running bowline and some 1/2 hitches. Make a video on that knot brother! It looks slick.
They help keep the cambium from tearing down and sending a top off course. Doesn't happen very often, but when it does, it sucks. Side cuts are a habit that I'm trying to get into... - Patrick
Good stuff !!! But you could of made it easier on your guys by going down there in your bucket and cutting it smaller while it was off the ground given it looked like it was a tight space and you wanted to pop the top ....
side cuts can help keep the bark and sapwood from tearing down on one side of the hinge, which can pull a top off course. Doesn't happen that often but when it does, it can be a big deal..... thanks for watching! - Patrick
The side cuts are more important when climbing it and your lanyard is around the same stem, if it tears it can suck you and your lanyard into the trunk
Around here we call electricity 'hydro', because most of it comes from water power, including Niagara Falls. So when I say hydro pole, I just mean an electrical pole... - Patrick
Michael Gilbert I’m curious about this too. I’ve seen them made in several videos, but without explanation. I had thought that the cambium/xylem/phloem were the strongest/most flexible parts of the hinge and was also why posterior plunge cuts through the back of the wedge were okay because it didn’t damage the “corners of the mouth” of the notch. I’m eager to know why this is done so I can incorporate it into my practice.
@@lukewinkelman6029 thanks Luke. Your explanation has some good points. If in this instance, Tree Muggs needs the top to release and break free. Perhaps, these cuts facilitate the clean release of the hinge allowing the top to fall in the intended direction. Another question that arises would be; does the species of the tree make a difference? I'm getting ready to top out (and chunk down) two Sweet Gums (Gum Ball trees). I will try this technique on one and not on one. Will let you know if there is a noticable difference and will post the video on my channel. Peace