The GRCS (Good Rigging Control System) makes my (and everyone else's) life way easier on jobs like this! If Greg Good sponsors me, you might see a link to one down here some day ;) #treeclimbing #treeremoval #arborist
Good morning Zacheus, George here. That is a curious split in such a large oak. I remember growing up in Ohio, (near Delaware, Ohio), we would cut the trees that tornadoes nocked down almost each year for our heating wood. We burned around ten cords a winter. Beechnut, big white ash and oaks. One year I think it was winter 1976-7, temperatures went down below zero very quickly, in to the negative twenties. We had trees burst from the ice that formed quickly in the trunks. Sounded like dynamite going off back in the woods. That trees limbs dont look like it has been wrangled by a tornado so maybe that crack is from ice... Nice video, good job. : )
Ahhh, interesting thought! I have heard of trees freezing amd behaving differently. Its certainly not something im very familiar with. That must have been quite a time to be heating with wood!
Great job with that tree, and I love what you guys can do with a GRCS. I would have liked a longer video with more of the limbs, rigging, etc. I know you said that you had to rush off for a family thing, so you may have just chosen to do a LOT less recording then normal. If you did get more footage, maybe a longer video could be put together? Please? 🥺
Haha, I do apologize for not making a longer video out of this job. I don't have anymore footage, but I do have a decently extensive removal video coming out this weekend. It has some unique stuff in it.
Man that GRCS is a beast! I did the math, a white oak log that's 48' long and 12" diameter is roughly 2300lbs! Now I'm sure that branch didn't weigh that much, maybe half of that? But still, it really makes me want to invest in one of these. It's so versatile. It's kind of basically like having a little mini crane, just it's attached to the tree lol. Great job man!
Yeah man! The thing is the sweetest device I own. It's not mandatory for tree work, but it aids production in rigging so much on some trees. The most it will lift with a hand crank is right around 2,000 pounds. I have a video where we compared a couple different drills to see what they would do I'll link it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LOp-iATox24.html
Enjoyed the video. The GRCS is a really nice device for tree work. Only thing....it's pretty expensive. OK if you do a lot of trees that you can use it on. Nice job on the video and good job rigging and cutting.
Thanks! It is an expensive tool for sure. If you're looking to get a winch to mount on the tree, Hobbs is the only thing cheaper that I know of. It's heavy duty, but not nearly as productive. There is also the smart winch, but it costs almost a thousand dollars more than the GRCS. The FTC Transformeur is nearly $1,500 more than the GRCS. Stein does have the RWC 3001 bollard and winch set up for pretty cheap. It will lift, it's just not super productive for all day lifting. If you have a machine, you can always put a block on the bottom of the tree and using the machine to lift. Again, production suffers for all day lifting because the machine is often tied up with lifting when it shuold be dragging brush. All said, there are a bunch of different options, you just gotta find what works best for you 🤷♂️
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving mine was unbelievable I worked in the woods and then on Thanksgiving had a nice little dinner Friday was the first snow and I cut down a tree that I shouldn't have because it was perfectly straight and I could have used it for a clothes line but the important thing is it was a 5-minute job and it took me 3 days because I kept waiting in between and I got to fall exactly where I wanted it. It's the tallest tree I ever tried. It wasn't that big around but since it wasn't leaning anywhere I had my work cut out for me I'm so happy to have learned so much from your videos. Even though I could have left it it could have fallen on the highway or on my house in my old age so I'm glad it's down. Thanks again for all your great confidence building videos
Thanks, Wendy! I had a great thinksgiving, and I'm glad to hear that you did too! Proud of you for taking on a project like that and conquering the challenge safely! Standing trees always present some level of risk because they are influenced by the weather. If a tree is in a spot where it's not appropriate to take the risk, it can be best to take it down. Sounds like you did the right thing to me!
@@zaccheus thank you so much. That's a great compliment coming from you. I added a little humor about how it was a 5-minute job but one day was windy so I just plain left it alone. I sure have learned a lot from you. Thanks again
I am noticing how the RU-vid tree community is just now starting to realize how effective the different cuts can be and how beneficial they are for improving productivity. Everyone is sooo surprised whene they see how well it works.
@@zaccheus I’ve been making magic hinges for quite a while. I’ve heard many times that any kind of fancy hinge is a gimmick. I’ve seen a few youtubers try and have less than stellar results, but I feel that the cuts were not as perfectly laid out the way the physics suggest it need be. This time on your sizwell, you made the correct angle, the proper lay out, if you will, and you were surprised at how much success resulted. The physics that would compromise a properly laid out hinge, would be internal fiber problems that went unnoticed. Other than that, I rely on them especially in situations like you used on this video. I agree as a professional, I rely on ropes because of potential unforeseen internal damage, but I use fancy hinges very commonly and I am always impressed with a trees ability to be manipulated by fixing the fiber to do what I need. Edited to add, buckin billy blew my dam mind with the back cut first. I’ve never heard of that before billy put that out on the RU-vid. Such a tree hack. Whene I saw that, I felt so dumb....like, why diddnt I think of that?!!?
@ericharris893 I gotcha, I see what you're saying now. There are definitely a bunch of different cuts out there that take advantage of different resources the tree gives us. This wasn't the first time I used a sizwheel in a tree or on the ground, but it was my first time using in that application in a video and so I tried to use some theatrical elements (like the tone of suprise) to keep the video interesting. I certainly wouldn't have used that cut there if I didn't think it would work 😅 I think I have similar feelings about the use of ropes vs cuts. We have a lot more known factors when working with ropes and there is much left guess work. This becomes incredibly important for use in urban setting with high value obstacles. When we are in the woods falling timber, obstacles are typically pretty low value and cost of certainty makes the reward of a little risk worth it. I think we're people tend to get excited and even defensive is when you have folks trying to use some fancy cuts to avoid a house or swimming pool 😅
@@zaccheus usually it’s just because I need to get through other trees. Not physical structures. I work in situations where that kind of thing is exactly what rural customers need. It costs me in the occasional divets in some grass when permitted. I deal with structural damage different like you pretty much
Yeah buddy what a great tool...the GCRS...worth every penny. I suppose with the skid steer there, one could simply use a porta wrap and the machine and accomplish the same lifting, but with the GCRS, why would you. maybe some day you could prove my point. With the appropriate tree of course. Also gotta love the no cleanup. I guess the client was gonna use it for firewood or have it milled? Good job ZACH.
Yes! The same thing could absolutely be achieved by putting a block on the bottom of the tree and pulling with the rope bollard on the skid and then lowering the branch with friction on that bollard. The same thing could be done by tying a porta wrap to the machine. That seeks to work really well for a few critical limbs in a removal, but I've found that it really cuts into production if you are doing it a lot. The machine suddenly becomes the choke point because it can be lowering a limb and dragging a limb to the chipper, for example. Yes! Limbs went to firewood, log was to be milled and then used to build the horse barn that they are building where the tree. Nothing went to waste 😊 One more note about machine vs. GRCS. The machine route will always be limited by traction (which is a fairly unknown/inconsistent value) where the GRCS fails at an unofficial 23,000 lb. GRCS has an SWL of 2,000 lb. I don't really have a good idea of how much I can expect out of a machine, and its capacity could change throughout the day as the grass dries.
No doubts. Way too much manpower/wasted labor to try doing the same task using skid steer. Not arguing the point, just trying to illustrate that any other mechanical advantage could be used. Farm tractor, heck your pickup truck. Take care friend.@@zaccheus
@ClellWise Yes, yes, of course! I certainly wasn't trying to argue back. I just kept thinking of different aspects to the situation 😅 I might see if I can get a load cell and measure machine pull sometime and see how it compares 🤷♂️
I wondered aboutbthat too. Especially the cracks that go out toward the edge. I don't have enough experience to say those kinds of thing with certainty in the video, but I can definitely see how it might have been a possibility
Newer climber here, with a question. I love watching all of your videos, and I think, as far as education goes, you do the best job of explaining what you were doing, and why you are doing it. My question is, and you’re not the only one that I see do it, but why do you put your tie in point above your rigging point. Thank you for all of your content, I have learned so much watching your videos.
Thanks man, I'm glad the content has been helpful for you! The most ideal situation is to have your climbing system and rigging system on two different spars in the tree. In a case where you really only have on spar that works well for both things, you can put them on the same spar. You just have to be careful because if the rigging point fails, you're going down with it. If you must put rigging and climbing systems on the same spar, separating them vertically can help keep the ropes apart from each other while you swing limbs around on the rigging rope. In theory, putting the climbing system above the rigging systems helps keep the systems from crossing and helps keep the rigging rope from running across the climbing anchor and burning it.
Didn't realize I was talking to an expert lol. Looks like on the job learning to me. How long have you been operating a chainsaw for? How long have you been cutting trees? I'm 40 years old kid you don't have anywhere near the experiences I do. I might not climb trees like an arborist but I've cut down some big trees. And I don't claim to be an expert like you.
I haven't named myself an expert. If you're not learning on the job, you're not taking advantage of the opportunities you have. New information is available everyday and if you're not open to hearing it, you'll never improve beyond your current state. If you're not experimenting and trying new things in appropriate settings, you're unlikely to make a positive contribution to the industry. It is a goal of mine to do both of those things.
They're definitely something you gotta save up for. They're almost never on sale becaise the margins are already so thin. I think sappy supplies has them for $3100 right now with the holiday sale. My goal every year is to save up and get everything I need on black Friday. Maybe that could be a goal for you for next year 🤷♂️ $3,100 is only $60 a week
@zaccheus Yeah, you're right, buddy. Every time I put money away. I get a soup up chain, ssw that's my thing. LOL but I am going to save up for one of the GRCs s definitely.
I don't know if I asked you before but I have a brand new pair of Buckingham. Titanium light tree gaffs. I'm trying to sell them. I wore them once so they're pretty much brand new. I like the carbon fiber geckos better my opinion. If you know anybody, please let me know. I'll give them a good price, thank you.
What technique did you use to get the rigging line tied to those long tips? I recently moved to Missouri from NC and learning these sprawling oak trees has been challenging to say the least lol. Anyhow very nice job.
Thank you! Haha they can be quote a challenge sometimes. There is some really good stuff in the world of the climbing competitions for how to move around in a canopy when you're not wearing spikes for a trim. On this removal, I put myself on the side of limbs if they are fairly vertical and lean into my rope while spike and fliplining my way up to where I want to tie the rope. On fairly horizontal limbs, I walk out on top of the limb and lean into my rope to help be balance. In both scenarios, I don't let my climbing rope reach an angle of more than 45° without maintaining a second tie in constantly. I hope to make some more videos on this topic as the work slows down this winter.
@@zaccheus I bought it next day after your videos...and the zigzag man episode...also just received the truck mount plate..its very nice ..no strap to hook up
@Sethhaun78 Haha I'll stand by the makita drill until someone makes a better one. I told milwaukee that when they reached out about their saws. Their marketing team is super chill and they don't ask or expect you to solely promote their products. They just ask you to use them and offer feedback.
I climb to each one. I seem to be able to to that faster than throwing when there are a bunch of epicormic sprouts. I also don't go allll the way to the tips. If the piece is pretty thing and narrow, I'll just go a little bit beyond the balance point.
Hahaha right? I don't think they really had a good grasp of how much the log was worth if I had to guess. All they saw was some barn beams laying there. According to the OSU timber price report, that log would be worth north of $2k once transported to the mill. Maybe even as much as $4k if it would be considered a prime log. I don't know anything about log grading, but I don't think it was prime 🤷♂️
Not that I'm a total tree hugger taken down many live trees in my lifetime just a shame to see what looked like a healthy white oak takes many years to get that large I always try to talk a customer out of removal if possible on a tree like that
I'm right there with you. I was sad to see this one come down. I would do a lot to have a tree like this on my property. They had this one taken down because they wanted to build a horse barn there. From what I understand, the log will get milled and used in the construction of the new barn. It won't go to waste, but it will also never be quite as cool as it was in tree form.
@zaccheus That's cool I had a fellow arborist that constructed his entire shop with wood milled off jobs they did in the main line outside Philly father basically knew every board which job it came from
