Rope Saw Safety

[steve in mi]

My Dad and I have faithfully used ropesaws to take down high limbs and branches on trees.  Its basically a hunk of chainsaw chain with a rope on each end and a weight to keep the chain oriented vertically.  They work amazingly well when sharp, and we use a bow and arrow to shoot a string up over high limbs, sometimes over 30' up.

After years of use, there was an incident recently.  My brother-in-law and a neighbor were using the saw.  They got impatient and escalated the brute-force approach.   The rope snapped, and the saw came whipping down and nailed my brother-in-law in the face.   Zorro would have been proud of this, very few places on his face or forehead were left unscathed and pretty good chunk out of the center of his nose with some mild bruising.  Nothing permanent, but some profound temporary welting that we'll laugh about in the future.   It looks like someone whipped him in the  face a few times with a Roman horse whip   

Anyway, stuff just happens.   Just the usual reminder to wear those safety glasses and exercise some patience.

[ShaneG]

Thanks for the reminder.   

While a rope saw is an inexpensive way to trim high limbs, I found a way more fun way to do it last week.  We had two silver maples at our church building that were rotting out needed to come down.  They were between power lines and the preacher's house.    I rented a 35' "cherry picker" trailer lift from Home Depot for $155.   Boyhowdy that sure was fun.   I was able to bring down both of those tree in pieces in a matter of no time.    Needless to say,  I'll be looking for excuses to do that again.

[Rick Alexander]

Thanks for the reminder.   

While a rope saw is an inexpensive way to trim high limbs, I found a way more fun way to do it last week.  We had two silver maples at our church building that were rotting out needed to come down.  They were between power lines and the preacher's house.    I rented a 35' "cherry picker" trailer lift from Home Depot for $155.   Boyhowdy that sure was fun.   I was able to bring down both of those tree in pieces in a matter of no time.    Needless to say,  I'll be looking for excuses to do that again.

I agree - way fun.  My father in law owns one of those things.  He's a mechanic and got it in trade for a car repair and fixed it up.  He is sort of the neighborhood tree trimmer now and loves it.  He gives all the grandkids rides too.  I could sure put some killer deer stands up with that thing too.

[Rick LoDico]

No pics?

[steve in mi]

No pics?

No, he wouldn't let me.

[Bing]

Oh man, I've got to get one of those-the saw, not the bucket.   $34 at Northern Tool.   Just the thing for getting at high limbs that I was wondering how the heck to do it.   Last time I used the bow and arrow though, I missed the target and went right into the neighbors pool.  I never fessed up and he moved.

[BobbyG]

The rope snapped, and the saw came whipping down and nailed my brother-in-law in the face.   Zorro would have been proud of this, very few places on his face or forehead were left unscathed and pretty good chunk out of the center of his nose with some mild bruising. 

Steve, I know this was sort of serious but I got a real chuckle out the way you put it....

Glad he'll recover without serious side affects.

[steve in mi]

Oh man, I've got to get one of those-the saw, not the bucket.   $34 at Northern Tool.   Just the thing for getting at high limbs that I was wondering how the heck to do it.   Last time I used the bow and arrow though, I missed the target and went right into the neighbors pool.  I never fessed up and he moved.

My dad hooked up an old fishing pole reel to a 20lb cub scout bow.   Drilled a hole in the end of an arrow.  He took the feathers off the arrow so it can be retrieved easier (still not easy).   Just winds her back in like a fish 

[ShaneG]

   Last time I used the bow and arrow though, I missed the target and went right into the neighbors pool.  I never fessed up and he moved.

Now that's funny!           Although, I'm glad you are not my neighbor.