Winch & Pulley - Felling a tree against its lean
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- First time ever using a manual winch and pulley system to control the fall direction of a tree in the complete opposite direction from its lean. There are sooo many steps, and mistakes were made...
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► MY WOODCUTTING EQUIPMENT*:
• Helmet: Kask, Superplasma HD - amzn.to/3EVGOgA
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• Gloves: Terra, Anti-vibration gloves
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• My chainsaw: Stihl - MS170
► FEATURED IN THIS VID:
• Winch - Maasdam Rope Puller: amzn.to/40ahttq
• Pulley - Petzl Micro Traxion: amzn.to/46Fo0yK
*FYI, the links above are affiliate links, which means I receive a percentage of the revenue made from purchasing products through these links.
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Just thought you should know, I did this very thing today. I've got very little tree felling experience, but I have PLENTY of life experience and know that safety comes first. I now have the gear and solution for risky trees. Thanks to you!
Great video! I've done this many times and have used several different "objects" to toss up and over the limb. It's always the most challenging and frustrating part of the operation. Your knot-tying ability is a big asset.
Thank you for sharing! You remind me so much of my daughter. She’s 10 and I hope she can grow to have the resilience and freedom to explore anything she wants. I will be sharing your videos with her. Thank you!
Thanks Sarah, I have a large White Oak leaning toward our house, I'm going to use this method to fell it in a safe location.
Hi Sarah, Thanks for this video. I've watched it 2-3 times in the past year trying to get ready to do some of the same things. Learned a lot from you and your videos. Thank you!
Older lady here who is planning on felling some trees. Will be watching this with great interest, thank you!
Awesome! I hope you find it helpful 🙂 Stay safe out there!
@@TheRealSarahCatherine Thank you ! ☺️💗
Eldery man here watching..78 haven't felled a Tree since i was in Boy Scouts last aged 16..wow..you're a Darling..❗🤔❤👏🏻👏🏻
Have some to do now for Charcoal burning & clearing field for ploughing..❗👍🏻
I indeed did notice your mistake and appreciated the fact that you pointed it out after the fact. I've used a chainsaw since I was in my teens and am 74 now but I learned some good stuff watching this video. I appreciate that you tackled the video from a beginner's point of view but still taught so many good skills. Oh and you really remind me of my own daughter who is also Sarah.
You got the job done, worked through the learning curve.Excellent job and great information.
Nice cut Sarah, thanks for sharing and make me feel less foolish needing many attempts at the throwline - that sure looks easier then it is. Stay safe!
Great work Sarah! I liked how you went into so much detail with your explanation.
I will be doing this myself soon and seeing you go through it in detail is helpful. Thank you.
Nice job. A couple of things I do differently: I use an anchor hitch to secure the throw line to the bag. Faster to untie than a clove. I also find it much easier to throw a 12 oz bag. Easy to throw 40 or so feet with good accuracy. I discovered that after spending over one hour trying to land a 16 oz I started out using once. I still use my 16 oz when I Big Shot above 40 or so feet. And finally, I use a pile hitch (clove like you did, a single half hitch in the middle, then a clove on the tip) to attach my climb/pull rope to my throw line. Without continuous tension on your throw line that final half hitch you put on the tip could slack and move. I agree, always wear gloves when pulling your rope up/over with a throw line. That nylon will rope burn you without blinking. Ask me how I know. 😂 Never turn your back to a tree you have started to cut especially if it’s under tension. Great video, thank you so much for sharing, stay blessed and safe.
Really good advice.
Thankz for the tips! My biggest issue with ropes is the time and no forethought on how much stretch they cost me. Love the knot on the throw line to the winch line. Winching are my favorite videos to watch and learn. Thankz.
Thank you, good video. I appreciate your style and basic instruction. Snatch blocks could be used to increase the mechanical advantage for bigger, heavier trees. And you very correct on the "Barber Chair", it can and does happen occasionally. I had an uncle who was a logger and decided to go out by himself, on Thanksgiving morning many years ago, bad mistake. The tree Barber Chaired pinning him against the tree next to it. Unfortunately, it was fatal and he never made it home for Thanksgiving. Tree cutting is a dangerous task at best. My only suggestion to you bould be to always have a buddy around to help. When things go terribly wrong. Good Luck!
Thank you! I'm so sorry about your uncle 😢 You're very right, tree cutting is dangerous, and anything we can do to mitigate the risks is always worth it, even if it takes longer or is inconvenient, and yes, ALWAYS bring a buddy! Stay safe out there ❤️
I wondered if you had heard of a pneumatic air launcher where you can more or lessfor sending the ‘feed line’ without all the exertion of throwing at just the right time, also accurately to save exhausting yourself before you have done the job!
Well done on getting your workspace clear up!
Interesting techniques and equipment - awesome job. Cutest woodswoman ever, too. Love your attitude.
Thanks for the video as I have a bunch of trees to fell along a narrow road and all need to be guided as lots of other trees next to them which will remain. Thus I need all the tips which I can gather.
Good work.
Wind can be tricky as well
NiCe slowly done. No mistakes, if a good carpenter can hide our mistakes, no comment. " 🙏 ".
I love rope and pully work. thanks for taking the time to put this video together. I'll be using this technique soon. cautiously. 👍
Awesome! I'm glad you enjoyed it 🙂 It's a great technique for leaners, if a bit time consuming. Stay safe!
great videos! especially this one since i have a tall leaner that needs to be down. i have only recently learned about pulleys and snatch blocks. i also need to get the right gear other than the saws. thanks for the listing of your helmut, boots, gloves etc. i need to get the right clothing and stop cutting in shorts and flip flops.😊
Very good video. I have a tree situation almost identical to your video! Your explanation was terrific and very helpful.
that was pretty much textbook technique. More often than not I have to improvise some or all of that procedure because of muskeg or river or steep hill or barbed wire or some other damned thing is in the way. Fall direction is very often critical for me and the trees almost never lean in any kind of convenient direction because they are a bunch of jerks
I've noticed that, they all lean into each other, you think it's moral support, drives me crackers, cutting 75 ft pines and they are topped 30 years ago.
Should walk away, but at 72 I'm set in my ways, so is a battle of wills 😂.
They do seem to go out of their way to make things difficult don't they? Thanks for watching 🙂
Great demonstration ! Love your honesty.
My skill with a throw line is much like yours !
The Maasdam is a great little tool, so light & portable, but surprisingly capable. I find it needs some tension in the line to bite on the rope.
Do be wary of those Aluminum carabiners. They are marked with breaking strain not safe working load and usually in N, so divide by 10 to get to kg.
The one on the pulley block looked like the narrow end was too narrow for the block, so that it did not lie "fair" (i.e. naturally in line) when on the block. This puts extra strain on both carabiner & pulley. Rated shackles are actually better for this purpose really.
Barber chairs are nasty, do take real care with leaners. Bore cuts are much safer.
The little MS170 with a sharp chain & a short bar is surprisingle capable & light enough to use all day !
Love your positive but thoughtful style.
Definitely watch the carabiner lay as suggested above. Lateral force on the carabiner is a no-no.
I really suck at tossing a throwbag by hand. Hitting my target (even low easy ones) in less than a dozen attempts was a success. A big shot was one of the best purchases I've ever made. I rigged my big shot with a trigger release for a bow so that I can aim and fire it by holding the big shot and sighting down the barrel like firing a gun. I now rarely miss the first shot, even at small targets over 50 feet up. Nice job!
😊Glad it's not just me!@@donmonnot6156
Can you explain the bore-cuts? I'm going to be doing this in my property. Much appreciated, thx!
@@hanginlaundry360 Yes, to a degree, bore cuts are an advanced technique that needs some care to do safely, but once you learn it all sorts of things become much safer & better. Essentially rather than just cutting with the long bottom face or top face or the bar, you use the curved tip of the bar to "bore" straight thru the tree. If you do this incorrectly you get dangerous kick back, that is bad news. You have to start with the lower quadrant of the bar & progrssively rotate in to the bore with lots of control. Super easy when you have done it a few times, but probably not something to teach yourself ! By using this, you can cut out the middle of the tree, leaving a good hinge & a "trigger" that you then release only when you are ready. I rarely don't use it, it gives so much better control, precision and safety. Loy's of good You-Tube videos out there.
Sarah, you did a great job explaining how you used the manual winch and pulley/rope system for the first. Please use your teaching/instruction skills to show us how to use mechanical advantage on other jobs. Blessings to you.
Thank you for the video! So many steps I didn’t know how to do. Would you mind explaining again why you used two ropes (the 20 foot in the wench and long one on the tree) instead of just one really long one?
Your clove hitch is incomplete
You should always put a half hitch to keep it closed so it doesn't open.
Now if you are pulling the rope back, trying to pull the heavy rope through that V
You might find it much easier to stand as far back away from the tree as possible
There is less friction to pull against.
That way you hooked up your cable come along is only working at half it's pulling power.
This works fine for a light tree as you have, there is roughly a 40 % loss if it was not pulling through a pulley.
Look up mechanical advantages for pulleys and lines etc.
Better to pull directly from the tree, and sometimes you may need a pulley block up near the top for real heavy trees,
I hope you will take this as good advise to learn from that someone may not have shown you,
But you did a very good job of it.
One more note
Try putting your under cut in the front of the tree from below, cutting up,
The cut you made on any tree can jump back, where as when the cut is made up towards the horizontal cut,
The tree will slide down and not have any tendency to kick back.
To prevent a barber chair
Wrap a chain or rope or cable around the tree,
More than likely will happen with twisted wood or cracked and rotted trees !
Good luck.
Great video Sarah. To make the throw ball easier you might wanna get a Big Shot. If your rope in the tree is the same size as the rope for the winch you can use it by itself. You did a great job bringing the tree down. Take care and have a blessed day and I'll see you on your next video.
I sent a 3/8" drill bit through a baseball, threaded 100 feet of 550 cord through that hole. Then square knot a 100 foot 1/2 inch HPS for your base rope. The overall weight of what you're pulling down, is the main determining factor od the ropes you would use to complete various projects. Be cognizant of what you're trying to accomplish, and the tools you're using. Most issues I see, stems from folks trying to use support equipment that doesn't equate to the (force x mass) equation. It really gets simpler the more you use math and angles, super easy after it clicks, you literally can "see" the equation in the air of your operation.
24:27 Grumpy chainsaw after almost being hit by the falling tree. :)
Great job felling the tree according to your plan and from the first try. Planning to use the winch soon, but still learning how to do it.
That was nicely done. I have seen some videos where the tree is literally pulled down using a heavy duty come-a-long pulling the tree down root system and all. I have used the come-a-long system to direct my trees, anchoring to the base of another tree, but climbing a ladder and securing the rope high in the tree above where I am notching and back cutting. Once I have notched the tree and back-cut some I climb down and use the come-a-long to pull it in the direction of my notch. I had to use this technique due to limited area to drop the trees in my backyard and close proximity of other structures, so my notch was about 20 feet up. Of course, I do not recommend trying this method at all. Be safe in pursuing your passion. BTW I noted you didn't mention the type of chaps you are wearing.
excellent work... despite leaving the saw I truly enjoyed that you worked slowly and with a clear mind. albeit, foregoing safety for content is a tricky bit. personally working with your back to the tree made me nervous, even though we knew the outcome... .
We use pully's quit often especially on dead trees. As for the leaners we have learned to put a Heavy tied down strap around the tree to slow any barber chair.... we click that strap down tight. One suggestion I learned from a tree-cutter (arborist).... Wedges are your best friend... You can put them in while you back cut (tree dia. matters) If the wedge lifts up, that's an indication the tree is / maybe tilting back onto your bar... if the wedge falls out indicates the tree may be falling, and wedges can help in keeping the tree on the fall direction. are these fool proof....Nope. they were suggestions...yet you see a lot of arborist slipping the wedge in on a big fall... jus'sayn
Sarah, Congratulations on your nicely produced video.
When I saw the narrow crotch that was really the only one available for you to aim at, I was cringing. I thought it would take you at least 8 attempts to hit it. Congratulations on hitting it in only 7. The other concern for such narrow crotches is that they may not like to let the rope end pass through them.
One minor suggestion: rather than using a bowline to hoist a noose around a branch, simply tie the end of your rigging line around the trunk of the tree, making sure to keep the end out of where you will be cutting. When you tie the rope around the branch, your rope is going to stay there until you get the tree down. Normally, this will not be a concern. However, I had one occasion where I had to leave my work before I could fell the tree and had to leave my rope there for what turned out to be several days. If I had the rope tied around the trunk, it would have been an easy matter to untie it and take the rope in less than a minute.
Throughout your video, I was pleased that you pointed out each of your bits of acquired wisdom as they came to you. I was concerned about where you left your saw and was glad you picked up on that issue.
As a minor safety issue, you had plenty of extra rope, so you could have easily moved your winching station twenty feet down the road. You set up at a point that was within the fall length of the trunk. While it is rare, it is possible for a tree to fall well off course, even if you have done everything correctly, as you did. I was once winching down a large pine which fell 70 degrees off line. Though I spent 20 minutes investigating the cause, I could not find any reason for that very odd fall.
Congrats on doing this skill by yourself. You explained it in detail and you took your time. Well done :-)
The Maasdam needs a minimum amount of tension on the line to prevent slippage through the pulley. No matter what length of line is used, the tension has to be there to hold the line snug against the sheave in the pulley. Nice work with the leaner young lady!
I spotted two improvements, for the rest you did it perfect 👍 1) ALWAYS use the lock on your saw while not in use especially while engine is running. Only unlock when you cut. 2) use a stopping knot on your bowline when you send it upwards into the tree. If your bowline comes undone you have to restart from scratch. All the best! Kr.
Thanks for the tips! I'm glad you enjoyed the video 🙂
Isn't there some type of throw line shooter gadget as opposed to manually throwing the rope ?
HI Sarah, I just watched your clip. I am arborist in Stockholm, Sweden. Felling trees can be somewhat complicated and dangerous and they don’t necessarily have to be small or large to be complicated. I really enjoyed the clip. Kangaroo Trädvård (tree service)
LOL! First time I used a throw line I spent more time untangling the line than throwing it!
Did a super great job, Miss Sarah! Very interesting how you made the Prusik from the rope you had. I have the same Maasdam system, and lots of trees to care for as well. Also got some pulleys and snatch blocks in case a little mechanical advantage may be needed. Thank you for posting, and fantastic work! Be well and keep up the great projects!
You learned a lot in doing this so good for you. I take it this was just a learning process and not the way to do things quickly as you could have cut that little tree and let it fall any which way and then simply hauled it out or cut it up or both.
Great work and great advice 😊
Really good idea to have that rope capture on your angle. Thanks for sharing!
Well done Sarah. What an adorable tree worker.
Love that you showed the tries ... every video on the UA-cams, people nail these things first try, every time and chalk it up to awesomeness. Happy to see someone who portrays it like it is in real life. Loved it. Also, not sure why - maybe it's just the way you do it, but why do you tuck your ears into your hat? Not making fun - just, you're a cute bird with skllls, if you're self-conscious - don't be!
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the video (and all my throwing attempts 😅). LOL, I'm not self conscious, but I do have a tiny head and hate being uncomfortable 😉 most hats are too big for me and rest really uncomfortably behind my ears. Much more comfy to wear them over the ears 😊
The reason is slips is the Mas damn was designed for twisted rope only . your other rope is braided.
I have to do this next month, so I am watching this video once a week to get used to it...thank you, I am a lot older, hopefully it does not matter(I have cut a lot of trees but NEVER a leaned one )...
Thank you! I'm glad you're finding it helpful 🙂 There's no age limit to learning new things, just take your time and stay safe out there!
did a lot of tree work in my younger days, the shot line was a big upgrade over tying a sorta monkeys fist in the climbing line and throwing that, although that's mostly still what you do when in the tree.. I always found the softball pitch windup throw (picture the college softball superstar pitchers) with a few inches of line between your fingers on the throwing hand and the shot bag, with a couple loose loops in your non dominant hand that can fair lead off your fingers easily without snagging so the weight can get a good inertial trajectory before it starts pulling line out of the bag. You will find you can get alot more velocity and range with a windup vs the pendulum method.
Great video! Very educational, I also love the sound effects you do ! , super cool and makes it fun! Keep up good work
Thank you! I'm glad you liked it 😊
Great skill to know. Thanks.
Your doing great, love your curiosity and positive attitude! 😊👍
Thank you!
I really like your video! I still use the techniques you show. Just one thing. Other than turning your back to the tree, Is there a good reason why you have the come a long so close to the ground? We mount it at standing height. Not only can you get more "umph" when cranking but more importantly if things go wrong you are already on your feet to RUN.
Great job girl!!! Well done.
The Maasdam Rope Puller is made to use 1/2" 3 strand rope.
If your longer rope is not a 3 strand rope it can slip.
Thanks, I didn't know there was a locking pulley. It's just what I need to cut leaning trees by myself.
Nice job Sarah, thank You.
what's a "clippy hook"? top cut first on the notch and don't isolate the pull line.. leave one side tied off to an anchor tree and pull on the other.. much more pull on the sytem that wasy
Bery interesting video. I wish you would have explained some of the things you mentioned, like "barber chair" I have no clue what that means.
Thanks! A barber chair is when the trunk splits instead of folding at the hinge. It's super dangerous and can happen for lots of reasons, like if the tree is rotten/compromised, or leaning really heavily, or in this case if I'd pulled too hard with the winch before the hinge was done. Definitely google it and check out some videos, it's an important thing to be aware of.
I like this video a lot 👏👍 You are an inspiration for many of us:)
I am very proud of you You did a great job
Hello. I loved the video and your style of teaching. You are braver than I am. I have yet to fell a medium or large tree. Only small ones, much smaller than the one you fell in this video. I learned a lot from your video and would love to be away from the tree when it is falling so a come-along seems a safer route. I have a question:
What are the carabiners you are using on your snatch block and anchor points? The name, style, load capacity etc... anything you can tell me so I can find something similar.
Nice job Sarah, looks like you were having fun, 👍TCT
Hi Sara I'm curious about a pice of equipment you used. The type(name) of
The pulley/rope grab you used when you had to adjust your rope.. . Loved the vid btw. I used it as proof that that was a better way to bring down a leaning tree close to obstacles.
Thank you! I'm really glad you enjoyed the video 😊 The pulley is a Petzl Micro Traxion, here's a link if you want to check it out: amzn.to/46Fo0yK
@@TheRealSarahCatherinefrom what I read neither the Petzl micro nor the larger mini is meant for 1/2 inch rope, which is too wide. Nor is the Cric. Not sure what the answer is for a locking pulley? Loved the video!
nice. I would wear your helmet when using the throwball.. and drop it almost to the ground.. throw lines r super hard and tricky to mast tho.. 6 or 7 trues happens all the time to everyone..
You could also use an arborist’s throwline launcher, if you wish to add to your arsenal of tools.
Nice, but i was thinking, i wouldn't leave my saw there cuz you never know sometimes.....nice work, small mistakes are the best kind to learn from. For the most part, when I "retreat" for the fall, saw goes with me.
Great video. It’s a skill I’ve witnessed before, but seeing it in such detail is great. Please do share details of your “lazy prusik” if you’re so inclined.
Thanks! I'm really glad you enjoyed it 🙂 I did make the prussik video, you can check it out here: ua-cam.com/video/g8LzEgbz9us/v-deo.html
Good one. Love your helmet too.
The braided rope slips because the Maasdam winch jaws are only designed for 3 strand ropes when you look at the grooves.
Thanks for your coaching.
Please let me share two things I've learned?
First, your hundred foot rope doesn't match the groved gear of the puller. Many people have 100' & 200' braided rope lengths that match the pulley. That saves us a lot of bother (and, coupled with a second puller) gives us something to fall back on if we need more traction on a tree. Second, your throw line is the same type I started with but retired in favor of a braided line line from Notch which has a lot less bothersome memory which leads to tangles.
DOUG out
You forgot to say TIMBERRRRR ! lol
What pulley block brand is the one you used?
Great little video, forwarding to my granddaughters. Questions are the boots safety boots to protect your toes? Once wore my LL Bean hunting boots clearing land in the winter, 50 years ago, and something fell on my toes, nothing broken but that hurt. Cheers Phil
Look like full on chainsaw resistant forestry boots
Hello Sarah. You mentioned certain rope slipping in the pulley. Before you start winching, pull the rope tail with as much force as you can muster. I mean really lay your body weight into it. Your now very taught rope won't slip and you it will significantly reduce the amount of lever pulls
Quite possibly the coolest girl on the internet. I’m embarrassed by my rope work compared to this.
Thank you so much! 😊
Первый раз увидел девушку, вальщика деревьев. Прикольно.
Хоть и маленькое деревце, технология валки деревьев с использованием шнура с грузом, веревки, лебедки показана.
Приятно было наблюдать в женском исполнении.👋👍
Hey Sarah!
We need to drop a big Pine at our place between the house and the shed. Want to come by? Lol
good work thanks for the demonstration.
Really cool and detailed explanation!
Could you tell me where you buy your locking pulley from Please Great Videos
Hi! Sorry it took awhile, but I finally put links to the locking pulley and the rope puller in the description 🙂 Thanks so much for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed!
Appreciate the enthusiasm. Just a tip,,,,,, even with throw line ,,,, don't wrap around hand when pulling.
Cheers
Thanks for the tip! Glad you liked the video 🙂
Nice, thanks for the lesson. I love how detailed you are on your process. I would be interested to see how the purple rope thing works in more detail. I use something I learned as the Monkeys Fist but looking that up doesn't show the knot so . . must not be the real name. Anyways hope you have a Great day.
You might be thinking of a Klemheist hitch. Not too sure what she tied but the klemheist does the same thing.
@@griley1474 hey thanks, that does look about right. The difference being we had a non looped rope with no carabineer so had to tie a knot. But worked exactly the same.
We all learn by mistakes...well done.
9:09 shows us Lucky Number 7.
Nice.
I cheat a little, I put a ladder in he bucket on the backhoe then raise the bucket high with ladder. To put my step around the tree. Then get down me and add more strap or chain to anchor to the bottom of another tree and use a come along.
I have seen barber chairs. I would NEVER go behind a tree you have under tension.
Nice video Be more careful Nice JOB
What part of the United States are you at? Just asking I do tree work also
I would have picked a tree further back for my winch anchor point with at least one good sized tree between you and the tree to be felled. I have seen back leaners pendulum sideways as they reach the balance point, especially if they have more of a crown, and you were right in the fall line if that had happened. Otherwise a very well explained and detailed video.
good video...but I have to say, watching you throwing the weight and string was the most entertaining part. LOL Just a note...bring electrical tape with you and tape the end of your throw line/pulling rope to make a tapered flexible section. The stubby end of the big rope will hang you up almost every time. Also you might want to make your loop on your bowline smaller so it can be tighter grabbing the tree. But good job showing the steps.
아름다운 영상 고마워요. 정말 감동적입니다.당신의 나무 작업은 매우 훌륭했어요.!
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video 🙂
lots of fun
Thanks SC
Keep the faith
Journey
Good technique
Good to do this once or twice. Another knowledge tool in the intellectual tool bag. Best way to deal with these leaners is leave them alone. Pick easier trees to work with. My favorites are trees that are already lying on the ground, i.e. blown down during a wind storm over the winter.
I have a number of very tall dying trees with ash dieback along the track to my house. I'm waiting for a winter storm as well. Felling those is very dangerous as the dead branches can snap with the vibration of cutting and drop on you. Has caused quite a few accidents, even fatalities here in the UK.
I have leaners in bad places, otherwise would leave them alone...
good job 🥰
Good Job- I actually have better luck with the side under hand throw.
Rookie mistake #2: never turn your back on a standing tree that has a front cut or back cut. Other than this--really good video!
You did great.
Back-cut first? On leaning tree. Yes? No?
I've never done a back cut first, but in this case it's really not necessary as the weight of the tree is supported by the pulley system before the first cut.
JOB WELL DONE !
Great technical skill with step by step demonstration.
If it had been me tossing that monkey ball ( navy term for throw weight), the video would have been MUCH longer. LOL.