Expert Climbing Arborist vs Huge Dangerous Maple

[@scotpettengill7801]

As an arborist myself for the last 40 years, I'm very impressed with Ryan's skill. A tree like this in the woods is actually fun to climb and cut. A skilled climber makes it look easy. Job well done, be safe.

[@xfx09]

Really.....OMG and I think I have it hard pruning 12 ft hedges.....and you guys do this all the time. Wow Michael The Really Useful Gardening Company (Based in Essex UK 🇬🇧)

[@Boomer_in_the_Trees]

This climber was excellent. Smooth as they come.

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Coming from someone with your depth of experience that means a lot. Thanks for watching!

[@marsdenbalaska784]

Makes me wanna go sharpen my chains up for my Stihl 028AV Saw which is almost 40 years old nowadays? But these are the best saw that mone ❤️y could purchase, bro!! There are other brands out there for chainsaws but Stihl have some of the best built 2 cycle engines made today

[@marsdenbalaska784]

You got some cool climbing gear and a buddy of mine I worked for off and on he just ODed and his Stihl Saws were all brand new yet went missing immediately after his passing away

[@sabbieh.9898]

Oh I enjoyed watching Brian work. What a skill! He was comfortable on that tree. Loved it!!!

[@lumberingshenanigans]

I enjoyed filming his work too. :) Thanks for watching!

[@jonesb04]

this was brilliant watching. Its always amazing to see someone who is a natural in their craft, there are some people who can do, but they are some that can do with ease.

[@thelastdetail1]

As a working climber with 20 years experience, I can say I just watched an excellent working climber here, do this job professionally calmly and efficiently. Great work.

[@dqmc07]

A great video with a very skilled climber and a sharp chain, well done lads.

[@ryanstewart1521]

Love watching a skilled climber/rigger, so much confidence. Ryan is the man! Great vid

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Thanks for watching! And I’ll pass that along to Ryan. :)

[@mathaze9122]

At the end it look like you under cut is that à reason ? By the Way great job im starting in cutting tree service and your vidéo inspire me

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Hey, thanks for asking. The last cut of the main trunk was done with a bore cut, due the the excessive lean of the tree. This technique prevents the weight of the tree from snapping the hinge material too early, and because there’s very little hinge involved, there is almost no risk of a barber chair split, and the face cut and back cut can be more closely aligned without risk. Obviously every situation and every tree is different, so this isn’t a technique for all occasions. Good luck with your new business! Any career in the outdoors is a good one!

[@AugustHunicke]

Ryan is solid. I like the filming style and camera work. 14:38 I disagree with the comment about cut limbs being dangerously unpredictable. Cuts and motion of initiated action can be predicted by a pro his whole career. There is a recipe for every piece, and Ryan is a great chef.

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Haha. Yeah, I feel that, my wording there may have been a little “overly dramatic” I’ll have to take that up with my writing staff. 🤣 Thanks for watching, and for the compliments, I’ll pass it on to Ryan next time I see him.

[@marsdenbalaska784]

What model saw is he using at32:00 in? Looks like a 440

[@lumberingshenanigans]

I'm not sure which saw Ryan was using, I'll try and get an equipment list from him and add it to the video description notes next time I see him.

[@scotpettengill7801]

I have never used the bore cut method but Ryan executed it perfectly. Many times it is used incorrectly but not this time. Ryans understanding of the cut and his explanation were great.

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Yeah, I’d never seen it done in real life before. It was immediately obvious why he did it, and how exactly it works. I love learning stuff like that, even if I’ll probably never need to use the technique myself. Thanks for the comments, and for watching. :)

[@michels.chapman9882]

Good show nothing more beautiful to look at the man who has mastered his trade

[@PAULWILLIAMS-sx2cg]

Ryan did an amazing job, you did a very nice job recording too thank you!

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Thank you. I really appreciate that comment, it means a lot. I’m glad you enjoyed it, thank you for watching.

[@mannihh5274]

Always a pleasure to see an expert do things right!!

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Right!? It was so great having Ryan come out and handle this for me. And to let me film him working… a win for sure. Thanks for watching! :)

[@shyaaa182]

lol, as a fellow climber it killed me him saying "not bad for my first tree" who else a climber who says this on the regular?

[@dlostyles2578]

I say " this is my first time(long pause) . . . in this tree" it never gets old, that looked like a fun climb only woods as obstacles. Good job.

[@justinother704]

I tell my customers I watched a how to video on KZbin on the way to the job. Hits the best right before a critical cut.

[@jerpatee]

@@dlostyles2578 w

[@kingslew1866]

Re Ryan: Absolutely! Considering the difficulty of the removal, the best thing about it, from his viewpoint, was the relatively unobstructed drop zone, allowing him to bomb everything, making it an easy job, because... he knew what he was doing... Nice to watch...

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Exactly! And the reason he brought it down in chunks was to utilize the small safe zone he had to work with. If it wasn’t leaning across two trails and my intended parking spot then it could have been felled in one piece. He did a great job keeping it all neatly out of the way.

[@kingslew1866]

@@lumberingshenanigans Yeah, for sure. I do tree work and have many years working in the Oregon woods, falling timber, climbing, rigging, etc. I fully appreciate his skill. Good luck with your property...

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Thanks, King. I definitely think I’ve bitten off more than I can chew with this acreage, but it’s an epic learning experience and I love everything about it. And the community here has been great. Doing most of this stuff solo it’s nice to see people responding to the various projects I’m cranking out. Much appreciated.

[@xfx09]

OMG what a great job. You would never have got me doing what he did no matter what I was paid. Nice one boys Michael The Really Useful Gardening Company (Based in Essex UK)

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Same here! I’ve never been great with heights, so this was definitely time to call in a professional. :) Thanks for watching!

[@marsdenbalaska784]

Oh I have that saw electric DeWalt 20v Lithium ion powered tool but it's actually a great saw except when it gets so cold outside that you cannot even set the saw down on ground in wintertime

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Hey, thanks for watching. Sorry to hear about your friend. The electric saw I use at the start is actually the DeWalt 60v (16" bar) not the 20v (12" bar). I have both, and the 20v is tiny and a little under-power for anything serious, but very useful as a limber or for a few quick cuts. It's great to throw in a backpack and take when going out on foot. A step up from a hand saw, and less cumbersome than a pole saw. Thanks for watching!

[@jamesp7271]

I totally get why people who are not arborists or climbers would say thats big and dangerous. And also why arborists and climbers say thats just a Wednesday lol. Gotta say though he is a great climber, super confident and calm and really good spiking technique.

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Haha. Yup. 100%. A better than average day for an arborist for sure. Beautiful weather, not a breath of wind, perfect climbing weather. The “dangerous” part of this setup (other than the inherent dangers of climbing with chainsaw) refers to the tree’s overhanging proximity to where I’ll be sleeping. For my personal threshold of risk this tree was dangerous, now it is not. :)

[@br-dj2ti]

Great work by Ryan definitely I've been climbing for about 16 years now the tree was not dangerous in any way shape or form it was a decent size maple tree yes but not dangerous the work is dangerous of course God bless they safe great video

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Yeah Ryan is amazing. Thanks. And yep, the work is definitely the dangerous part. But also, since I was going to be sleeping in a tin can exactly in it’s potential fall path, and directly under those extended dead branches, I guess it was up to me to decide if the tree itself was dangerous. It certainly didn’t feel safe. And considering the number of trees and branches that came down in last weeks snow storm (including large parts of the maple right next to it) I stand by my evaluation. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@marianatequiero28]

@@lumberingshenanigans it's a leaning maple tree it absolutely is dangerous, they barber chair easily and dead

[@br-dj2ti]

@@marianatequiero28 but there's things you can do to make it not Barber chair I've been in hundreds of leaning trees and never had one Barber chair on me there's different techniques you can use as you know to make it more safe from the barber chair and that tree was hard as a rock it was a great climb though I'm not taking nothing away from the climber he did an amazing job

[@marianatequiero28]

@@br-dj2ti techniques or not still no garentees probly why the climber chose to chunk it out instead of taking big tops ,and risking chair or saw pinched 50 feet in air . Maple and alder dangerous tree species

[@br-dj2ti]

@@marianatequiero28 yeah you're 100% right my friend I understand exactly what you're saying but the tree was not a dangerous tree the job is very dangerous yes some trees are dangerous some trees are not in my opinion climbing for over 15 years I don't believe that was a dangerous tree to climb you see how he climbed it he took the right steps to get it down he's a good climber now maybe with somebody not as much experience might have said hey that's a dangerous tree it's leaning but guys who do it everyday that's not a dangerous tree the job is yes now that's my opinion

[@gregorygilmont304]

What is that tool you're using to dig in the stump?

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Ah yes! My favorite forest tool! I’m rarely without it. I’ve found it to be an indispensable tool for dealing with blackberries and a million other things. It’s generically called a brush axe. The one I’m using (from Elk Ridge) has been discontinued, probably because it’s a knock off of the original WWII design called the Woodsman’s Pal (which I also have). It’s a little heavier than the Elk Ridge, and has a wooden handle. You can get them from forestry-suppliers.com for $175 or direct from woodmanspal.com for $185+

[@johnmoore8016]

Now that you have the stump level, it will make a good table for having a few beers out in the wild. Bravo Zulu to Rayn he is a cret to his perfession. I would love to do that but my knees wouldn't let me do it as they are not the on that came with the body. I love the way the moss had grown up the tree. enjoy your life in in your woods. Thanks for a very good video. I learned a few things about cutting tree down. (Mississippi Gulf Coast, USA)

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Thanks John, that’s really nice of you to say. Much appreciated. 🙏 Glad you got some value from the video, it was a fun one to make.

[@Andreyanswer]

very nice worck man ! good luck !

[@dougsmith548]

That stump could’ve yielded a lot of nice wood by itself. There would be a few Lathe woodworking people who would love to get their hands on that stump and roots. Stay safe🇨🇦✌️

[@br-dj2ti]

And tell Ryan if you ever speak with him again to get a BarkBox for his 500 I it's an exhaust West Coast saw sales gives it more power it's amazing

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Thanks. I’ll pass that along!

[@nealmunro]

What's the pulley you are using with the zigzag as an anchor

[@lumberingshenanigans]

I’m just the guy who hired Ryan and filmed him climbing, but he tells me it’s a PETZL Zigzag. Thanks for asking and watching.

[@nealmunro]

@@lumberingshenanigans I know it's the petzl zigzag sorry. I mean the anchor wrap with the pulley at the top of the tree he runs he's rope though

[@lumberingshenanigans]

I’ve reached out to Ryan to try and get you an answer. Those details are way over my head, literally. 😂

[@ryancafferky7294]

It is a home spliced friction saver. I use a large steel rigging ring on one end, a prussik on a DMM rig pulley, and a halyard shackle for the retrieval ball to catch on to pull it out. Wesspur makes one pretty similar that they sell. I found that it is the best thing for pulling out easily on a spar. Not the best for pruning but for removals I love it.

[@lumberingshenanigans]

@@ryancafferky7294 Thanks for answering that, Ryan. Wayyyyy over my head.

[@dcvariousvids8082]

I’d be interested to see what the milling produces. Maple is a lovely wood.

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Same! I haven’t been able to find anyone to come and mill it yet. I may have to resort to buying a mill, or even just a proper chainsaw and an Alaskan Mill. But I bet there’s some amazing slabs in that tree for sure!

[@thecanopyclimber]

All that flatness on the big wood! Atta boy Ryan! 🤘🏻

[@kingslew1866]

Nicely done! Ryan's really smooth...

[@lumberingshenanigans]

I totally agree. He was amazing to watch.

[@Raul28153]

I took a tree like that once. I drilled a hole 1" x15" deep in the base, packed the hole with black powder and a fuse then lit the sucker. It was fantastic.

[@lumberingshenanigans]

🤔 What was the result? Seems like a complicated way to start a forest fire.

[@Raul28153]

@@lumberingshenanigans Found this for ya kzbin.info?search_query=felling+a+tree+with+explosives kzbin.info/www/bejne/fF7bcqiQjZ2fja8 no fire soggy northeast USA. Tree split and came down. base splintered. Stump opened up. It was a mess. But in the woods. So~~ ~ ~

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Hahah! That’s amazing and ridiculous. The grownup version of the kind of shenanigans I would get up to in my teens. 💥

[@br-dj2ti]

Just curious if you don't mind me asking how much was payment to Ryan for doing this tree if you don't want to say I understand thank you

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Ryan is a friend of a friend, so the rate I paid isn’t a fair comparison to real-world pricing. What would you have charged?

[@br-dj2ti]

@@lumberingshenanigans to do what he did leave everything probably around 400.

[@thejackel1844]

@@lumberingshenanigans This is easy as it gets when it comes to removals, no rigging, just a "chunk down, leave lay" two hours worth of work, $200...

[@lumberingshenanigans]

@@thejackel1844 haha between you and @b r it looks like you fellers are undercutting each other’s rates. Race to the bottom! But thanks both of you for watching, and for the comments and the info.

[@thejackel1844]

@@lumberingshenanigans Two hours (max) worth of work for $ 200... Name the number of blue collar, manual labor jobs that make this (hourly) rate ?...

[@Genetics1]

how much time did it take Ryan to finish cutting that giant tree down?

[@lumberingshenanigans]

I’d have to go back and check the time stamps on the camper clips to be sure, but I think it was a little under two hours. I’m sure me climbing all over the place with a camera trying to get shots didn’t speed things up. :)

[@nickmastroianni5557]

Would be nice to know the tree's age.

[@lumberingshenanigans]

One of the kids from up the lane (who has much better eyesight than me) counted 83 rings, which sounds about right.

[@lionelroy4323]

that man knows his craft

[@christopherort2889]

Very cool video

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Thanks Christopher, it was very cool to watch. You see so many videos where people do things the dangerous or wrong way (and those get all the views) so it was great to see Ryan consider every step and every cut carefully and safely. Thanks for watching. :)

[@br-dj2ti]

And he's using the bigger saw as a 500i best saw they ever came out with I own four of them I'll never go back to another big saw again I don't think so light and powerful that response is amazing

[@StinkyPete69]

He's climbing with a 36, and the 500's are nice but a 462 with a aftermarket exhaust will do the perform the same but with a lighter build

[@jamesp7271]

@@StinkyPete69 Then a 500i? yeah I doubt that very highly. The 500i is the best power to weight you can get. I pretty much only use a 201 and then a 500i for wood

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Ryan is shown here using two different saws, I didn’t get the models, but he switched to the bigger one about half way up the tree. Hope that helps. :)

[@br-dj2ti]

@@lumberingshenanigans yeah I know what it is Buddy that's the saw I'm talking about it's a $500 I

[@AdrianJNyaoi]

Nice job. But, what is wrong with falling it by cuting it at the base. Less work.

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Hey, thanks for the question. In this instance (as I explain in the video) the fall zone for the tree is leaning over not just the drop site for my camper, but two of my main trails, and would have blocked those, and wiped out or damaged about 30 other trees if simply felled from the base. And since I don’t have access to (or room to maneuver) the kind of machinery needed to move such a huge trunk once on the ground, there was no other option than bringing it down piece by piece, in a contained clear area. Thanks for watching!

[@bobjerg468]

Hanging out at the butt once it falls is a bad idea, but nice job.

[@lumberingshenanigans]

That is generally a very good point. Although with a lean as extreme as this, the potential hazards are minimized by removing most of the tree from the trunk, and carefully and precisely implementing the bore cut method, it’s still definitely one of the indicated danger zones. Thanks for watching, and for taking the time to comment. Much appreciated.

[@donr4582]

I would of loved cutting that tree down . Easy tree job for a climber . No rigging made for an easy job

[@jameshaliday1929]

i agree with tree man at end if comments ,climber could have worked a bit safer, read other comments, stay safe

[@freddypatterson8653]

Why not use a climbers saw?

[@lumberingshenanigans]

I won’t speak for Ryan, but I can point out that he uses two different saws on this job, and I assume he owns more, so I’m confident all his tool choices are deliberate. Perhaps Ryan will reply here later, and if I see him first I’ll see what he says. Thanks for watching!

[@lumberingshenanigans]

But now you’ve got me curious, always wanting to learn from the community… what is the main difference? Is it just a size thing? Or is there some specific element that makes a climbing saw?

[@freddypatterson8653]

@@lumberingshenanigans It is a saw that can be used with only one hand. It is balanced well for tree work but don't be fooled by fake copies of this saw, they are very expensive for their size but well worth the money.

[@cathybenson5119]

Maybe some wood turners might like some of the smaller pieces. Lol. 👍👍🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Most definitely. I’ve actually been toying with the idea of building a pole lathe to work with all the green wood I have out here. I have lots of wild cherry logs and a few willow too. I would love to get a proper lathe, but I’m running off batteries so not sure I’d get much run time.

[@bencallahan]

That's insane. A master at work.

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Right!? Mesmerizing and terrifying. And such perfect weather. What an awesome day it was.

[@marsdenbalaska784]

Might be a waste of an effort unless you have a need for wet lumber that will eventually dry out

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Green maple has many uses without drying. It's great for carving, and turning when wet, especially on a spring pole lathe. And cutting 16" biscuits from the more manageable limbs (that I can probably move and stack myself) will make it really easy to slice off chunks for firewood for next winter. Ideally, live edge slabs would be great. I've always loved live-edge maple for shelves and small furniture... and at $1,000+ for any decent slab this is the only way I'll ever get to use it.

[@capturehishonor9292]

Most 'arborists' do not handle criticism well. Judging by Ryan, our host, and most of the commenters here, there doesn't appear to be much room for improvement. But I see several potential accidents. This tree could have been climbed safer and felled more quickly. I would have put a throwball near the top, tie my rope, pull it through and back down, tie one end around the trunk, and have the guys pull the loose rope away from the tree from several angles (there could be a structural defect, bees or hornets hiding under all that moss). If safe, footlock near the top. Tie in. Pull your loose rope up and tie a monkeyfist on the end. Throw it out on the windward side of the tree away from your dropzone (large branches hit and sometimes wrapped around the climber's rope. One branch could have wrapped the rope and pulled the climber away from the tree. If also tied in around the tree, jerked his upper body and possibly broke his back). Lower your monkeyfist until it hits the ground. If it hasn't already fallen apart, have a groundman pull it apart. Alert the climber and pull down the slack. Descend on the rope to the bottom of the crown and cut branches on the way up (don't leave stubs, because branches and rope can get hung up). The ground help should keep up with the climber's slack rope. The "unpredictable" branch almost drove the climber's running saw into his face. Even a braked saw can cut. That was a close call! He should have either made a cut on both sides, ascend 10 ft, broke it off while pushing it away from himself and his rope while it fell or ascend 15 feet, and cut it in shorter pieces while descending. Most branches larger than 4 inches should have at least 2 cuts to control their fall. Larger branches with face cuts should have marking cuts about an inch above the bottom of the face cut to help guide your back cut. If you're not able to see your marking cuts, you can periodically hit your saw brake, and feel where the marking cut is with your fingers. Gloves are preferable, so you don't cut your fingers accidently by grabbing your bar (you need a good hinge to control the fall. If your backcut drops below the bottom of the face cut, it could swing around and hit the climber). As you're working your way down, you need to make sure your loose rope is not in the drop zone. The ground help should also keep an eye on it. Not only can branches catch it, but felled wood on the ground can stack on top of it, and in an emergency, potentially keep the climber from descending. When confronted about such hazards, most 'arborists' dismissively reply, "It's always worked for me." But sooner or later, sloppy habits are get you, or your help, hurt or killed. It doesn't have to happen. Not even once! Good habits are just as easy to develop as bad habits. It is possibly to have a successful career without ever getting hurt.

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Thanks for watching the video, and for this amazing and I’m sure time consuming comment, words to live by for sure! I’m certainly no expert myself, but these all seem like excellent safety tips for anyone working with, and especially climbing trees, on any scale. Thank you. If it’s not too much trouble, do you have any favorite channels or videos you recommend on this topic?

[@verteup]

Get over yourself buddy.

[@verteup]

@@lumberingshenanigans Everything in this video is pretty standard stuff. There was nothing dangerous about this video he was perfectly safe. Don't let keyboard knowitalls try to convince you otherwise. I've been in this industry for years.

[@tomlorenzen4062]

@ capturehishonor. When is your book coming out??

[@marklam8548]

It's all in the details ... hopefully you will always predict your cuts as a matter of good habit... not hit or miss or all's well that ends well.

[@donaldkamrar9765]

Why didn’t he just cut it down from the ground"

[@lumberingshenanigans]

That certainly would have been easier. But it would have taken out about twenty other nearby trees as it fell, and would have left about 7 tons of maple lying across my two main trails.

[@marianatequiero28]

So what's the plan you gonna be a cowboy and bore cut that huge leaning maple top at 50 feet ,nah I think I'll keep goin , ....smart choice

[@garyowens3687]

Great job but about as simple as a day could be. I like his attention though.

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Thanks for the comment. And yes, totally! A dream day for any climber/feller who spends chunks of the year working California forest fires. I had an amazing day just watching!

[@JM-lu8le]

Better to act like it's a first than the last....

[@XLR8RRICK]

I almost stopped the video and ready to Dislike when the music started.

[@lumberingshenanigans]

Oh, interesting, thanks for that feedback. I always wonder if people want more music or if (like me) they prefer the ASMR vibe like TAoutdoor does. So I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts. Thank you.