Life and Wood Chips

Life and wood chips are two things that have become close to my heart as I go down this forest road that God has assigned for me to travel. We will not know till we take our last breath here among the trees if we have taken the right path but after we will, if we know the One who designed the forest and the road. Life is always a wooded challenge! Wood Chips have made mine a pleasure!

I guess you could say I have life today because of three healers of Jewish decent, a Baptist missionary and Trees... Dr. Seth Rosen, Dr. Bruce Goldsweig, and above all the Great physician Jesus Christ. The Baptist missionary? That would be my wonderful loving wife, Laura.

Two years ago this time, May 30th, 2008, I was in surgery to remove everything Dr. Rosen could find of signs of colon rectal cancer from my body. The team of doctors had determined from tests that I was in stage four of the disease and prospects were not great but the surgery would tell more about my future prognosis.

I had been battling symptoms for quite some time and basically ignoring them. They were not seeming to get any better. In April of 2008 my wife Laura had finally convinced me to go in for a colonoscopy. My first one, at age fifty-two. Laura made my appointment with Dr. Flood in Villa Rica, Ga. His PC, Dr. Anni called to discuss the findings. We were in Connecticut working and she suggested we return quickly to see Dr. Flood and his referral to Dr. Rosen. Following more tests they diagnosed the problem and the tests showed the cancer. I went to doctor Rosen to discuss the first step, surgery to remove a baseball size tumor. The end of May, Memorial Day Weekend, I had the surgery.

Dr. Rosen removed the large tumor and twenty-one lymph nodes around and below it in the several hour long surgery. He also found two small spots on my liver and an area on one of my lungs, but didn't think they were cancerous. He put me all back together and then fed me ice chips for the next thirteen days. Nice guy, huh. Tim Ard not eating for that long a period is a miracle in itself. They did finally start some bottled food intravenously after the first eight or so days stay. I had lost some weight before the surgery, down from 198 lbs to about 186 lbs, but during my hospital stay I went down to 173 lbs. (Funny note, Dr. Rosen and his son are avid fans of Ask This Old House and had seen my episode on felling trees recently. Small world....)

I recuperated at home the next few weeks with the best care a human could have from my loving wife Laura, family and friends. They took great care of me as I lived in a recliner for several weeks.

Dr. Rosen then connected me with Dr. Goldsweig at the Georgia Cancer Specialists clinic at Cobb Hospital. We found out he also had an office and chemotherapy facility not but two miles from our house. He was there two days a week.

July 7th, 2008 I began a regiment of chemotherapy called Folfox 5. It was given intravenously. The first dose combination I took on every other Monday for about five hours then they attached a pump that gave me another chemo slow dosed until Wednesday and then a shot of a bone marrow stimulator when they removed the pump. Thursday's I died to the world! It took everything I could do to just stand up and you had to often, as the next two days, you spent very close to a restroom. The stuff also makes you think you are swallowing broken glass chips if you forget and drink anything cool and especially cold. It also will cause tingling to a level of almost pain if you pick up anything cold. Its amazing how these chemicals do this. You soon learn not to aggravate the situation though. Everything you put in your mouth must be room temperature or warmer. This regiment continued every other week until mid-October.

Still today, two years later, I have little feeling in my finger tips and the ball's of my feet and toes. It does change from day to day. Its a reminder of the work the chemotherapy did but is very bearable compared to the alternative.

In August 2008 we had to get back to some training to keep a roof over us so we started traveling and training every other week I was off the chemo. Let me say this also, Husqvarna, Cary Shepherd and David Breeden, kept FAT going with Laura orchestrating the days even through my time away. Thanks so much to them for all they did to keep everything going! There was a lot of interest in training programs at the time and if it wasn't for them, many classes could not have been completed.

You can't imagine all the friends and co-workers I have had the pleasure to know over the past thirty-six years in this business. Yes, It's been a long and fantastic time in this industry of Outdoor Power Equipment. You know, most all of it has been because of those great acquaintances that I was able to make it through the industry forest, as well as survive the cancer. Thoughts and the prayers of these special people have kept me going.

Dave Zerfoss, at that time the president of Husqvarna USA, called weekly. Dave has been a great friend and influence in my life. His integrity and charisma has given me direction and desire to achieve more and more.

I didn't speak to them every time others called to check on me, Laura took most calls, but so many business associates like Dave Z. kept in constant contact. Just to name a few Mike Bolin, Jeff Cathcart, David Perkins, Bill Fyfe, Robert Albritton, Kathy Burns, Juli from HI LTAP, Cary Shepherd, David Breeden, and many, many others. I know I am missing some important friends and recollections so, Thank you all! These people were brought to my side mostly by Wood Chip's over the years.

I am so blessed when I recall all the good times and relationships that have been afforded me in Life from family, Church, cutting wood and making Wood Chips during training classes all over the country. You know, since the cancer, we haven't slowed much. The groups are smaller but the days are as many as ever. Over 2500 participants, in mostly hands on training, since that Memorial Day Weekend surgery 2008.

God has always had a strong influence and hold on my Life. He has allowed me through many experiences to survive and always prosper in my endeavors. I know one day He will take me home, and I'm ready when He is, but it seems Wood Chip's are the reason I'm still around. Good Sawing Everyone!

Written over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, Maui, Hawaii 2010. A training project for Hawaii LTAP. Tim Ard is president of Forest Applications Training, Inc. Http://www.ForestApps.com

Good Sawing!
Tim Ard

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Before Wood Chips

I was reading an article this week from the OPEI and it was talking about a company Ariens just purchased. It has set a new lawnmower land speed record of like 86 mph.

A few years before I started working with chainsaw training, actually my first full time job repairing lawnmowers and chainsaws, I worked for a Snapper Dealership in Hiram, Ga. Ben and Benny Strickland were the owners (1976).

Bob Vincent from AMED, the Snapper distributor, had a Snapper that had been adapted to ride around on its back wheels and roller doing wheel stands. Bob used it to draw a crowd along the highway and parking lots of open houses. Can you imagine how that worked on a busy Saturday? Bob was a real salesman! He later arranged for me to take a job working the parts and warehouse at AMED. Anyway, the story has more...

Before I left Strickland's, Benny Strickand and I built one to do the same. Then I came up with a way to make it go fast. I reversed the chain drive in the gearbox, using all original Snapper parts and that thing would almost fly. We had our local law enforcement contact his friend and we had it clocked by the GA State Patrol Radar at 52 mph.

We thought since we had this thing we would put out a challenge to other shops. We soon got a taker on the race proposition. I believe his name was Mike from the shop at Stovall and Co. Now Mike had used some older Snapper gearing combinations that offered the ability to not only run fast but get there quickly. He met us for a drag race at Southeastern Dragway in Dallas GA. I won, mike blew a tire. He was OK, just scratched up a bit but he was done with racing he said and it gave me the win. Mike definitely had a better gear ratio setup and since he was retiring from the sport early, he openly divulged his secrets. I now had the fastest machine worldwide, I thought...

Benny and Bob Vincent had told the Snapper factory in McDonough, GA about our machine. A few months later Snapper challenged us to a race and wanted to film it. Their slogan at that time was Snapper Fast. We set up the grudge match back at Southeastern Dragway. Benny had us all decked out in Red shirts with Strickland's Snapper on them. We were not only fast we were cool!

Well, Snapper did show up with the machine and five of their engineers. They had a new 28" HiVac with a 13hp? Briggs engine. They backed that thing off the trailer and was doing burnouts with it, literally. A true Funny Mower bracket lawnmower. This thing was sharp! I got beat bad that nght at the Dragway. They turned 62 MPH. Blew the grass right off our mower. Snapper left with a great commercial video that they later decided not to use. I was told at that time that I had the first fast Snapper riding mower that they knew of - but it wasn't the fastest any longer.

Well, that's faster than this old guy wants to cut grass now! But it was a fun time in this old Wood Chips past!


Good Sawing!
Tim Ard

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Maui, Hawaii

Taking in the beautiful beach scenery from our room in Maui. We have the Memorial Day weekend off and what a place to enjoy it. The area is a little more busy with people than Hilo but it is still a peaceful place. Absolutely Amazing!



It also brings back memories of the first trip Laura and I made to Maui to work on the Kaha' Olawe project in February 2002. You can see the island from our room here in Maui. I flew over to the island everyday to train saw operators removing trees so unexploded bombs and shells could be removed from the island which will effectually become a park for Hawaii. It was tough work for the crews! They had to deal with rough terrain, high winds and a lot of dull saw chains. The island was used as a bombing range and practice field for the military until about 1988 when it was turned over to Hawaii for the restoration project. We were privileged to be part of such a project. The island was used to train many a pilot and soldier for protection of our country. Now the land is being restored for our free nation to enjoy.

Next week we will be training State of Hawaii Department of Transportation workers on Maui to cover saw operations for storm preparedness.

Have a Blessed and Safe Memorial Day with your friends and family. Remember those who served and are serving to make it all possible.

Good Sawing!
Tim Ard

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Ironwood and the hinge...

Today's training had the first group on the Kona side of the big island up in the hills and cutting Ironwood trees hanging over an old road bed that will be used for material storage for repaving the highway running near.

The wind howls to the tune of about 45 mph over this old road and it doesn't stop. The area trees are blown at this rate most of the year so the saw operators are somewhat used to the added excitement.

The group did very well with the trees and the hinge is definitely your friend as you steer these leaners to the ground. The escape routes are limited as the road sides are almost vertical banks and it requires working from the bad, leaning side, of the tree in most plans.

I had to keep highlighting the fact of the stance and position you must take when cutting to establish the hinge. Most of the trees were less than 14" with side leans of 4' or more so having a correct hinge, properly placed, to be an important prerequisite to safety and control. You have to stay in a position to see the face notch.

Everything you do, once the face notch is complete, must line up parallel to the notch. If you do not put yourself where you can see this you will do one of two things. One- leave too much hinge wood. Two- cut too much off. A loss of control can be experienced with either of those scenarios but the second with heavy leans is definitely the most undesired. For those that are not familiar- the hinge should be 10% of the diameter in width and 80% of the diameter in length. A ten inch tree would have hinge of one inch wide (a max) by eight inches long (a min). The hinge is your friend...

Good sawing!
Tim Ard


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Ironwood

Today I began the first training session on the Kona side of the Big Island. The wind is much higher here, about 30 to 50 mph gusts across the top of the ridge road. We held the classroom in Waimea at about 2500 ft and then went up on the ridge above, about 3500 ft to cut the trees on an old road bed they plan to use for material storage for the upcoming repaving project.

The trees are Hawaiian Ironwood. A tree that looks like pine with needles but is a very dense hardwood. The cutting site is going to be interesting with these trees growing off the road banks and heavy lean, not to mention again the tops whipping around at high wind gusts.

This however is a common working condition for these crews. The majority of regular tree work is done from bucket truck but we are concentrating from the ground for the initial training. Focusing the planning from a storm perspective we are working from the ground and discussing bucket truck planning and techniques along the way.

Gonna be great! Good Sawing! Tim Ard

Top Five...

Top Five...
By Tim Ard, Forest Applications Training, Inc.


In training workshops over the years there are many of the same issues and thought processes that come up in questions and statements as I go through the presentations. I decided to write about the top five, not in a ranked order, but to let others, including to remind myself, of some of the common conceptions and misconceptions about chainsaw operations.

I was told years ago that experience is the best teacher! I was also reminded that there are two types of experiences- good ones and bad ones. So with these top five listed, maybe you don't have to go through experiencing some of the bad ones...

Hinges
Holding wood or hinge as we call it, is the wood fiber that is left attaching the stump to the falling stem when cutting a tree. A hinge can be used in felling, but also in bucking (cutting up a fallen tree) or in limb removal situations. A hinge gives us reaction time and control in many sawing scenarios. So often saw operators think the hinge should not be left and they should stay with the tree until all fiber is cut and the tree or limb reaches the ground. This thought and action puts the operator in jeopardy, as many of the incidents, fatalities and injuries happen when saw operators stay with the tree, cut the hinge off and stand beside it too long as it falls. In addition to the thought- the hinge can't work if the notch is not cut properly or has a bypassed notch corner.

Escape Routes
Escape routes, or planned retreat paths are thought to be the act of cleaning around the tree so you can get away. The get away part is correct, but too many saw operators forget to plan their steps before beginning the felling or working cuts. You should have a clear plan in your head of what you are going to do; if the tree goes right and if the tree were to go wrong. It's not a process of cleaning brush only, it is the position you plan to be in as soon as the tree or limb starts to move. Struck by injuries and fatalities are often because saw operators or onlookers are not away from the stump of the tree when objects are falling. Plan your retreat path thoroughly, clean it - the path and around the tree and most of all use it.

Sighting
Few saw operators know how to use the felling sights on the chainsaw. A line ninety degrees (perpendicular) to the guide bar. This sight can be used to place the tree, given your side lean calculation and the strength of the hinge, where you want it. You must stand behind the sight line, much as you would with a rifle site, to aim the tree. Aim the tree toward the target/lay area before you start the face notch cut. Really, you do this aiming of the sight during the cutting of the face notch. If you don't, you will most likely be sending the tree or limb in the wrong direction. The sighting however, doesn't take away the importance of planning the forward to back lean either. Remember, the sighting and hinge techniques work on the ground but they also work just as well in the tree or from a bucket work position.


The Saw
I very seldom find saw chain that is ready to cut when the group provides a saw for me. In looking over the whole group, if they do not have a new chain on the saw they bring to class, their chain is usually slightly damaged or just plain dull. I hear something to the effect that someone else used the saw yesterday.... Well, whatever, the important thing is that you get it into a state of sharp before you begin your work with it. Dull saw chain means more work - pushing and often pulling on a saw to get the task accomplished. You fatigue, your productivity is reduced and most of all safety sometimes compromised. Make sure to check your saw chain before heading to work.

Second in this section - the run of the saw is not understood. You should know how to check your saw to make sure it will work with you to complete your task. If the saw runs away, won't idle without the chain turning and constantly dies every time you move it or depress the throttle- it's time to get your saw adjusted or repaired.

I know sometimes the group is using my saw or they may bring a spare saw or one that someone else uses most of the time; they just are unfamiliar with it's switches and operations. However, I wonder if that is the usual case on the work site too. I see too many times that a saw operator doesn't know how to approach starting and running the saw they have. They put the switches or choke in the wrong position and cause their saw not to start and complain about the equipment because of it. Air or drop starts also complicate the situation and compromise safety.

Personal Protective Equipment
I never use it! We don't have it! I've never been hurt and I've been cutting for 15 years! These are all common statements I hear in class. From supervisors or organizations a common one is added - the rules don't apply to us. They are for other.....?

Important facts are - I find most saw operators don't know the rules and they really do not understand why we need these important safety items to reduce the chances of injury should an unplanned event occur (accident).




Summary....
I am in no way complaining about these above areas of concern. Going over and over with saw operators every day about these very things and more is how I make a living. I am simply reassuring you and myself, as to why training is so, so important. Not just on the front side but also repeating and repeating the issues that plague a chain saw operation. Training and retraining have to happen.

Storms, hurricanes, and common tree maintenance happen! Every day, somewhere, someone finds a chainsaw to be the tool of choice to handle a task - cutting some type of wood material.

If you or your crew is going to use equipment, it is so important to train with it. Just think what would happen if our police or military didn't train with their firearm tools. If the fire department didn't constantly go over the operation of and check the readiness of their equipment. Is a chain saw operator less professional or skilled?

Read your equipment operators manual and know what the tool is designed to do and what safety issues or PPE items are recommended for use with its operation.

Good sawing!

The author is president of Forest Applications Training, Inc. and has a been working with chain saw training and applications for over 30 years. For more information on Tim Ard and his training programs visit www.ForestApps.com .
(c) copyright 2010 Forest Applications Training, Inc.


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Next week...

Drove up today to Waimea, HI to find the meeting room and the cutting site for next weeks training workshops. Our hotel is at sea level, the classroom at 2500ft and the cutting site is at almost 3500ft. The trees are Hawaiian Pine along the road right of way. You can see forever up there. The trees seem to be getting a lot of damage and I am sure causing some road problems along the highway. They do need thinning a little.

The tough duty is going to be the 50 mph trade winds blowing the trees. It's going to be interesting ... Hopefully the trades are a little less active on Monday.

Good sawing,
Tim Ard

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Location:Waimea, HI

Small Saw and Storm Work

I have come to a conclusion today that it is much harder to keep from getting stuck in logs and limbs under pressures and twist with a small narrow saw bar and chain.

Small saws, with narrow chain, really make it easier to get a saw stuck when cutting and limbing. The wider kerf cuts of .325" pitch and .375" (3/8") pitch saw chain seem to stay out of binds much better.

Is it the width of the kerf? Relationally the pressure that is applied when the kerf closes under force? Is the wider kerf affording more reaction time? Those shouldn't be the cause or relief of the situation.

I know something played a roll today. I am accustomed to a larger, more powerful saw and wider chain kerf. Using a small saw today I don't think I could make a cut without binding.

Maybe I have just gotten spoiled to power.... The weight of the saw is more and that has a negative effect on the operator and long term operation, but the power I think is what keeps the chain spinning and reduces the pinches.

What do you think?

It could be my planning process... I was off somewhere!

Good Sawing,

Tim Ard

Networking

One thing networking with Facebook has done for me is to reconnect with some folks that have made my life and career what it is today.

This morning I received a message from someone whom I haven't heard from in years. My auto shop teacher from high school, "Doc" Lamb. Doc was a great instructor and mentor. I wanted to have a career in auto repair, especially racing, and Doc kept me interested and focused.

One summer he asked if I would like to work on the bus maintenance program. He used to have all the county school buses, that needed cleanup, repaint and tune-ups, brought over to the shop at the high school and he would handle the work. He'd have selected students come in and work for a summer job. I was one of those.

The summer of 1974 I worked on the buses and we finished a little early. Doc had been contacted by several businesses wanting to find summer help and future employees from his students at the school. One of those companies was Henningsgard Equipment in Marietta, GA. Doc suggested me for the job to finish out the summer there. That was my first time working with small engines other than a couple lawnmowers and a chain saws at home with my Dad. I fell into the work, enjoyed it and soon took another job working on mowers and saws in Hiram, GA after I graduated in 1975.

So you could say that Doc Lamb was the one that got me started in all this ChainSaw Stuff! Thanks Doc for doing that - it has been a good road to travel!

You know, teachers and instructors do a lot to mold and develop futures... few too many times they are thanked and recognized for that.

Good Sawing!

Japanese Gardens

One of the most beautiful and restful places we visited over the weekend was the Japanese Garden on Banyon Drive in Hilo, Hawaii. This garden was built in or before the 1930's and has been maintained to a T. The sculptured lawns and ponds are all framed by an assortment of huge trees of several species. Absolutely gorgeous!

If you are blessed with the opportunity to vista Hilo take a day and visit this park and garden.

Good sawing!


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Location:Hilo Hawaii

How Should Your Saw Run?

Run Check

By Tim Ard, Forest Applications Training, Inc.

How should a saw perform once it is started? What do you look for to make sure it is going to run and do the Job you need it to?

Five areas to check out to make sure the saw is performing as it is designed:

1. Clean Air Filter - you must make sure the chainsaw nose (filter) is breathing properly.    If the filter is restricted the airflow for proper adjustment will be low and cause smoking, low power and poor running results.

2. High Speed Levels to Flutter - let the saw warm to running temperature before attempting to determine if high-speed settings are correct. This will take a couple minutes or so after starting to accomplish. Then hold the saw at wide-open throttle for a few seconds. The rpm should come up to a full throttle position and then level off. It sounds kind of like a flutter or a slight blubbering tone. The flutter sound must be in any two cycle high speed run to make sure you have sufficient lubrication and fuel for the engine. A digital tachometer can be used to check if the run is set to design parameters suggested by the manufacturer. A tachometer will only tell you when an engine is in adjustment - it won't however tell you when it's out of adjustment. An engine can show within the design a maximum RPM setting that’s within specification but can have an air leak or other engine problem and can still be running in a lean state. That's where the operator must understand a two-cycle flutter and make sure the saw at top end is fluttering. If not major damage to the engine can and most likely will take place. The high-speed setting is done with the H screw on the carburetor.

3. Chain Stops at Idle - now bring the engine back to idle for the next observation. We want to make sure that the engine is at idle for a couple reasons. The first is   safety because you do not want to be walking around with a chainsaw where the chain doesn't stop turning at idle. This also indicates that the engine is idling low enough, if the saw chain stops, to disengage the clutch mechanism and let the low speed fuel circuits in the carburetor take over. When the chain turns at idle you adjust the T or LA screw to raise or lower the RPM to disengage the clutch.

4. Idles In All Positions - now that the chain is stopped and the saw is at idle, the saw should idle in all positions until it runs out of fuel. If the saw is getting too much fuel at idle it will puddle up in the crankcase area and as soon as you roll it over it will flood the port and the engine will stall. The L screw on the carburetor adjusts this scenario. In this case you would close the screw slightly clockwise to reduce the fuel flow.

5. Accelerates Without Hesitation - next the acceleration should be checked. Open the throttle quickly and the RPM should come up without hesitation. If the engine hesitates before quickly rising to wide-open throttle, the L screw on the carburetor should be opened counter-clockwise to allow more fuel flow. It takes fuel to create the power to rotate the engine.

You should remember that you could damage the saw engine quickly if you do not run it properly adjusted. I hear often that supervisors and shops do not want the operator to have access to a screwdriver, nor to adjust the screws. They state that they don't want the saw blown-up from someone who doesn't know how to properly adjust the screws. I agree, but I have said for years that I think I see as many saws and trimmers blown up from lack of adjustment as I have adjustment. If the operator doesn't know when it is out of adjustment they just run it. You do not have to have a screwdriver yourself however to adjust the saw. If you know when it is out of adjustment you can simply take it to someone who does.

Think about - anytime you turn a carburetor screw to the right, clockwise, you take a chance of causing engine damage. You remove fuel and lubrication with a clockwise turn of the screw.

Operators should all be aware of how to check the run of any two-cycle piece of equipment. If they are going to work safely and productively with the machine it must be in tune...

More information on carburetor adjustment can be found in our ForestApps eBook available from www.BarnesandNoble.com and from the eStore at www.ForestApps.com.

Check out the articles on carburetion and fuel under the info/articles link on the homepage.    Good Sawing...

AutoTune

  Auto Tune….

By Tim Ard, Forest Applications Training, Inc.

Manufacturers have been talking about it for a while but it might be just in time to help curb some (not all) of the fuel issues with ethanol base gasoline. Husqvarna has introduced a new version of the 576xp saw with a new Auto Tune carburetor. It’s not really a fuel injection system but it is a smart carburetor that’s a very close twin. No manual adjustments, the carburetor makes automatic adjustments of the fuel and air ration going into the engine with an electronic control system. It also compensates for air filter obstruction to help minimize rich runs and loss of power.

This Auto Tune system should help some with the issues around ethanol fuel supplies. Ethanol added fuels have a larger molecule to transport and also attracts moisture (water) at the molecule so it in effect requires a larger hole (carburetor jetting) to offer enough fuel to maintain power and RPM control of your saw. Some carburetors today do not have sufficient adjustment capabilities to handle the larger ethanol fuel structure.

Take for example if you have a saw adjusted to spec, at less say 13,000 rpm. The engine is running great and you have plenty of lubrication taking place because you have a proper oil to gas mix ratio adjusting in. It’s all good….

Now you buy fresh gas at a local station and mix in your oil to requirements. The new fuel you purchased however has 10% or more ethanol in its formulation. If you do not change the carburetor adjustments of air and fuel entering your engine you have most likely leaned out the run of the saw because of the added fuel flow requirement of the ethanol, which you are not getting, and also your lubrication is minimized because of this fuel restriction. Leaning the lubrication and over speeding the design. Not good….

The Auto Tune carburetor will now step in to do its job. It allows more fuel in to properly mix with the air through the filter and voila – proper running engine. The only thing to consider now with the ethanol fuel is the water accumulation and the deteriorating effects on your saws rubber and internal parts. Which these effects are somewhat minimal to the seizure costs.

I hope we see many more of these techno changes in the near future and even some upgrade carburetors available for existing equipment – that would be nice. This would correct a great deal of the run problems showing up in the field. Until then – seek out a source for TruFuel or a gas without ethanol to do your mixing… or I recon you could just buy a new Husqvarna 576xp.

Good Sawing,

Tim Ard

http://www.husqvarna.com/us/homeowner/products/chainsaws/576-xp-w-autotune/

eVideo Shoot

Last Saturday at the Rugged Quarter in Trussville, AL, Rob Lagerstrom, Bill Fyfe and I worked on the completion of the RDT eVideo and the Storm Damage eVideo.

We had previously shot most of the RDT video. We only had to add an intro and then a few defining shots and shoot the Run Check outline and discuss a bit about fuel. It went quickly and I think its up to Rob on the edit table to have it ready to go.

We then went out to the field to shoot a large broken Hickory Tree that had fallen, broken over the motorcycle trail below the entrance road. This thing is about 25ft to the break point and then bent over back to the ground with lots of weight. We took info on it and I thought I had a plan. It was working until one of the hinges in the top held too well. I had it in the wrong position and too thick. Not a safety issue, just had to go to plan B. But the effect for the eVideo was over for that scenario. You will like this one...

We then hung up a tree and planned the takedown. Looked at SpringPole's and a few limbing cuts. All the rest went well.

I think you are going to be impressed with these eVideos when they are ready.

Thanks Rob and Bill for a great day and future AWESOME eVideo training tool.

Good Sawing,

Tim Ard

Barnes and Noble...

On this weeks ChainPoint I mistakenly left off a link to Barnes and Noble eBooks. If you don’t have a copy of the Forest Applications eBook now is the time to order it while on sale at B&N. The version doesn’t have the video clips but has everything else... You can go to our website and order the eVideo Intro DVD and have the video information in High Definition DVD to go with the eBook.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Complete-Guide-to-Chain-Saw-Safety-and-Directional-Felling/Tim-Ard/e/9780615319230/?itm=1&USRI=tim+ard?tabname=custreview



One of the best gifts you can give you Mom for Mother’s Day is your chain saw safety.... Order your copies today.


Good Sawing,

Tim Ard
Forest Applications Training, Inc.

Blandford, MA...

The first of the week we have a three day class with Batstate Roads. The third day will be an awesome day of storm damage. Mark at Blandford has set up some storm situations for us to work on. It looks tough... we will see.

 

Good Sawing,

Tim