“Sorry about your fence.”
Have you ever uttered these words to a client? Yeah, me too. It could have been a fence, birdbath, gutter, roof or solar panel. The list of what is under trees and also breakable is quite lengthy.
After all, why would you need to control a 2-inch limb? It’s just a 2-inch limb! However, those are the ones that seem to cause a significant amount of property damage. But let’s be honest with ourselves – rigging them is just not cool.
Light-limb rigging doesn’t have the same style points as the double-whip, span-rig, multi-block, balanced mechanical-
advantage system. Arborists tend to gravitate toward the biggest and baddest rigging equipment and techniques and ignore the mundane, boring, profit-eating small limbs. After all, who wants to pull up a 2-ton block and ¾-inch rigging line for a piece that will be cut off with a handsaw?
In this article, we explore some of the equipment and techniques used for controlling smaller limbs that don’t require a traditional, heavy-duty rigging system. These techniques are about preventing the “limb-that-got-away” cause for property damage – or worse. Please remember that the methods described are not for large dynamic loads; these methods are for controlling limbs that may present difficulty if managed by hand.
Some of these methods also can be useful when the temptation is there to use a chain saw one-handed to manage the limb with the other. A reminder of ANSI Z133-2017 6.3.5: “A chain saw shall be operated with two hands at all times, one hand on each handle with thumbs wrapped around the handles.”
Now let’s look at some photos. Unless otherwise noted, all photos are by Ryan Torcicollo.
Photo 1: Webbing slings
The webbing-sling handle; this trick of the trade is by no means new to everyone, but it has proven itself useful over time. If a limb is a bit too large in diameter to manage by hand or too slippery to get a good grip on, or even if the work position is not ideal, this can be a quick fix. Another benefit of using this method is keeping the support hand away from the handsaw. In certain situations or positions, it is advantageous to add some distance.
Photo 2: Sling-to-sling method
Sling-to-sling is another useful method, when you run out of hands, to manage a limb while making the cut. Precautions need to be taken to ensure the connective link is loaded along the major axis, as stated in ANSI Z133-2017 8.5.5: “If a carabiner is used in a rigging system, loading of the gate and/or the minor axis of the carabiner shall be prevented.” One advantage to this method is that a climber can cut the limb free, leave it suspended while storing their handsaw or chain saw, reposition if necessary and then manage the piece.
Photo 3: Compact pulley systems
There are many options on the market today for beautiful, shiny aluminum. Compact pulleys are easy to find, relatively inexpensive and very versatile. Pictured here is a DMM Pinto spliced into a sling with a spacer. Carrying a setup like this into the canopy doesn’t add much weight or bulk, and, if there are obstacles in the drop zone, it comes in handy. It is worth noting that the knot tied to the limb needs to be dressed and set very well before cutting. On a tree with smooth bark, there are sometimes situations where the knot will want to slide toward the butt end of the piece. Because this situation does not involve a heavy limb under dynamic load, the termination may not cinch down as much as in other rigging situations.
Photo 4: Rigging rings
There are several varieties of rigging rings on the market that range from compact to downright enormous. The smaller ring setups are light and don’t take much to either pull up into the tree or carry with you. They carry a high rating, are very durable, can be set up in multiple systems and can be spliced into several different sling styles.
Photo 5: Webbing sling and carabiner combination
If there was anything in the category of light rigging that could be considered “classic,” it would probably be this setup. Easy, fast and usually already available on the harness, the carabiner-
and-sling combo is very useful. The bend radius of a rope going over a carabiner can be less than ideal. Adding a pulley to this system can improve the compatibility. This is not a system that should be used for dynamic loading with large limbs!
Photo 6: Webbing slings for leverage
Another useful application for webbing slings is to increase your reach to improve leverage. Guiding a limb laterally before it breaks free can be a necessity when working next to or above obstacles. Moving a webbing sling past your reach allows you to directionally pull more effectively and adds the benefit of the webbing-sling handle once the piece is cut free. Remember to maintain minimum approach distance (MAD) when working around electrical conductors.
Caution
Please keep in mind that with many of these methods, there could be potential for confusing the light-rigging items with life-support gear. ANSI Z133-2017 8.5.8 states that, “when the potential exists for rigging equipment to be confused with climbing equipment, the equipment shall be clearly marked to indicate its different purpose.” Some successful ways to adhere to this policy are color coding tools and material categorization (example: aluminum for life support, steel for rigging).
Conclusion
Considering the cost of lumber and materials these days, a few extra tools for light rigging could be significantly cheaper than that next fence repair.
Mike Tilford, CTSP, is director of general tree care for SavATree, a 35-year TCIA member company headquartered in Bedford Hills, New York. He is an ISA Certified Arborist, a Municipal Specialist, a Certified Tree Worker – Climber Specialist and an ITCC head judge and gear inspector.
