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Post by magnumwheelman on Apr 12, 2021 12:55:20 GMT -5
got a buddy with a pole saw...I could barely reach this branch with the saw blade standing ( I'm 6'2" ) with the pallet at 8 1/2 feet... don't think I could have reached with a pole saw... plus 9" base to the branch is likely pretty close to maximum for most pole saws...
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Post by magnumwheelman on Apr 12, 2021 12:58:18 GMT -5
I do the undercut everytime I cut a tree I want to keep, as before I did that, I have a couple, that stripped bark down a foot or two, when the branch lowered
this one just seemed way more brittle than others I've cut... has me wondering if it's the irregular graining pattern???
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Post by magnumwheelman on Apr 12, 2021 14:50:02 GMT -5
1st off thanks for the suggestion of the cage... as I mentioned, I have several styles of those totes around here for water, & that I use for hauling firewood, can't believe I didn't think of that... only issue I see, doing things solo still, is it involves crawling over the side, while up high... being a big guy, I'd hate to be climbing the out side of the cage from the top of the ladder, & have the spot welds break, & one of the cage rods drop out, & me to the ground... thinking I could drill each pipe crossing & insert a 1/4" bolt, at least on the side I use to crawl into the cage... back to the title of this thread... my incident has me wondering if the trees that produce curly maple, or other trees that are producing highly figured wood might be more prone to breaking in storms... & to chase down that rabbit hole, if a walk through the woods, shows 2-3 trees with a higher branch breakage rate than others in the area, might have a higher incidence of highly figured wood??? I've probably cut up 25-30 walnut trees from our place, & never found one that caught my eye... most have been tight dark rings, where as this tree has figure like this on each branch I've cut up... it's a challenge to find highly figured wood still growing... wondering if this could be a tell tale sign, before a saw is ever put to the tree???
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Post by x101airborne on Apr 12, 2021 15:51:33 GMT -5
I use a Stihl extendable pole saw a LOT. It is an unholy b-word from which there is no escape, but when you need a sadist, it is usually the sadist you need. I use mine enough to wear out 3 bars a year cutting branches and brush. I only buy carbide chains for mine. It is not the teeth that wear down so much, but the ratchet teeth on the bottom of the chain. One bar and one chain at a time. I even dip the head in a bucket of diesel fuel every so often to clean the bar and chain of debris.
Every cut can be an individual unto itself sometimes. Sometimes even the same branch can one time cut fine, the next cut the branch explodes or pinches the saw. I dont have any wisdom to share other than I have been there. Mesquite is especially like what you describe. One time it peels, the other time shatters. When green, you cannot beat it into submission; dry and you can look at it hard and make it split into toothpicks. I run 5 chainsaws up to 40 inch bars and three pole saws. That is just for ranch work.
I am sincerely grateful you did not suffer any worse than what you did; and I feel bad it happened at all. I usually take about 10 Hydracodone a year but when I do, I NEED it. Take care of yourself and Amazon sells the big Aspercreme patches with Lidocaine. Use the stretchy sports wrap stuff to hold them on while you sleep. They are a Godsend.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Apr 12, 2021 19:42:12 GMT -5
Unused Prescribed painkillers get saved for times like these, plus Ice packs and hot packs alternating them. A good single malt as well when prescribed painkillers aren’t available. The cage idea is great, but even when we are in our bucket 100’ up we’re strapped in with a safety line.
Trapr
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Post by magnumwheelman on Apr 12, 2021 19:50:41 GMT -5
Got a pretty high tolerance to pain... I would say I’m “uncomfortable”
This is the worst I’d ever messed up my neck... but as long as I can change positions every few minutes, and it’s not giving me a headache
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Post by rangersedge on Apr 12, 2021 20:43:06 GMT -5
Many years ago, i stood in the bucket of a large, old excavator while cutting limbs around the edge of a field. I was probably about 30 foot up. Had some play in the fittings and the cylinder leaked off a bit. Was a bit disconcerting when driver adjusted the bucket to keep it semi level or swung a little to turn. I have no desire to ever go up in a lift any higher than that. I can see why those big crane operators make big bucks.
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JM
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,423
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Post by JM on Apr 12, 2021 20:57:14 GMT -5
I've not seen two hearts/centers on a trunk/branch before. Not that I've seen many slabs.
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gregs
.30 Stingray
Posts: 454
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Post by gregs on Apr 12, 2021 23:40:12 GMT -5
I think the correct term is hindsight is 15/15 (crystal clear). At least you survived. Now, pain has a way of reinforcing the lessons learned. Wish you speedy recovery.
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Post by magnumwheelman on Apr 13, 2021 5:30:56 GMT -5
got my 2nd Covid shot yesterday... today my neck hurts half as much... it's a miracle neck hurts less today, but I can now feel a lot more less intense pain in other parts of my body more... will see how much I loosen up, after bouncing around on the forklift a little while this morning
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Post by junebug on Apr 14, 2021 10:56:20 GMT -5
Sometimes it takes a couple of days for the deep hurts to surface . A week to a month from now you will hurt and wonder why ,it will be those hurts coming out. If your body threw all those hurts at you at one time you might not be able to handle them so the body spreads them out. And its the body's way of reminding you how lucky you were. Those double hearted trees are not as strong as a single heart but they do have some pretty grains.
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Post by magnumwheelman on Apr 14, 2021 13:12:40 GMT -5
kind of a funny thing... I think I had a mild reaction to my 2nd Covid shot ( Monday afternoon ) about 24 hours later, I started running a low fever... I get really sore & crampy if I have a fever, combine that with as beat up as I was to start with... I was really bad yesterday evening... ended up in bed with a pair of sweats, & felt it break sometime in the middle of the night... today I'm still a little sore all over, but the neck & my right butt cheek, really closer to my kidney has deep pain ( where my farm revolver was when I fell )... funny I'm not really bruising as much as I thought I would, even with soaking in a hot tub once a day...
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Post by Gunny268 on Apr 14, 2021 17:59:34 GMT -5
Learned from a friend who clears powerline runs from tree growth. Every branch with a diameter greater than 4” is cut in 4’ lengths estimated from the tree trunk. First cuts are made starting from the tip of the branch, working back towards the tree trunk. Yeah. He knows his business from an electrocution injury, a crushed bucket, and 2 broken legs. I’m breathing a sigh of relief that you weren’t seriously injured.
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Post by magnumwheelman on Apr 17, 2021 10:03:36 GMT -5
Slowly less painful each day... did a little raking this morning... thinking I’ll do a little, probably won’t finish that pasture but forward progress anyway... might dig post holes, and get the gate started where I fell Did check my lil stainless 22 J frame farm gun, I was wearing when I fell... seems to cycle well... no issues with it... hip is still sore where I fell on the gun, so may leave it in the drawer, rather than on my belt for another week or two... glad the gun came through this without damage... again, credit to that Simply Rugged flap holster I’m a quilt widower this weekend, so I’m sworn off the chain saw and out of the trees for the the weekend anyway
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Post by Markbo on Apr 19, 2021 19:39:31 GMT -5
Count your lucky stars! Just shy of 3 years ago I was up on the roof cleaning out gutters. Done it a dozen times. Next thing I know I am laying on the ground a little dazed. Laying there I thought I was OK. Until I stood up. Worst pain I ever felt. Ended up I broke my pelvis in 2 places.
Count your blessings brother.
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