How to tie knots when pulling trees?

frank29 · Mar 12, 2008

I'm in the process of cutting down several dozen trees lining a gravel drive before I concrete the drive. I am using a cable come along winch and rope on the larger trees to avoid having them fall into dense woods and getting hung up.

The problem I am having is loosing the knot after the tree falls. Is there a type of knot that would be easy to undo after being under substantial pressure?

Is there a better method to connect both ends of the rope other than knots?

Thanks for any help.

RonMar · Mar 12, 2008

Well you could tie a loop into the end of the line using a Bowline knot(rabit comes out of the hole, over the log, around the tree, back over the log and back down the hole). This not can usually be undone fairly easilly, even if strained(bend thetree back over the log, and slid the rabbits path around the tree up and over to loosen). But if you use it to make a small loop, you can join it back to the main line with a shackle or snap clip. That way you don't have to do any more tying, just use the shackle or shap clip to do the connections around the tree. The shackle will also allow the end to slide like a noose and tighten around the tree.

As when using any line for this type work, watch out for snap-back. A line can store a tremendous ammount of energy when stretched. If something should let go, it is never a good idea to be near the lines path, especialy if htere is a heavy metal fitting on the end of that line. I know that is hard to do when using a comealong, but something as simple as a coat layed across the middle of the line under tension, can dampen and re-direct the line's recoil into the ground if something should let go.

AlanB · Mar 12, 2008

Bowline

The Bowline

Best knot site I have found, There are lots of other knots on there, but really the Bowline is the one to use.

Reg · Mar 12, 2008

Get a half decent cable choker.
I wouldn't mess with "rope", it too elastic and DOES break under the sort of forces that you need to use to pursued trees to move.

J.Walker · Mar 12, 2008

When tieing your knot just put a stick in it. Take out the stick and you should be able to on tie your knot.

browns40 · Mar 12, 2008

Hi Frank,

The bowline is a pretty utilitarian knot, and doesn't ordinarily bind, but cuts the breaking strength of your rope by something like 40%... the Timber Killick is one that will come untied very easily and will ensure a directional pull on your logs, keeping them from turning or dancing around as much...

My favorite knot is a modified midshipman's hitch (with turns opposing traditional tying), which is a "slide and grip" knot which will form a dogleg on your rope to bind at whichever length you slide it to. It is great for any sort of tensioning you need to do, is very easy to tie, and to date has never bound up on me thanks to the extra wrap in the line.

To join two lines without binding: a rigger's bend, a zeppelin bend, or a sliding figure of eight bend will all allow untying, be secure, and maintain most of the line's strength.

Geoffrey Budworth would be a name you could Google to get a ton of ideas... those 3 would be my choices for your need.

Have fun!

TwinWillows · Mar 13, 2008

If you have to use a rope instead of a chain or cable the knot I'd recommend is called a timber hitch. It's not hardly a knot in the truest sense as the "dead" end of the rope is just looped back & then wrapped around it's self several times. The friction of the rope wrap on the bark will hold it in place.

Timber hitch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This shows how to tie it.

frank29 · Mar 13, 2008

Thanks to all! Maybe my rope will stop getting shorter; about every other tree, I've been getting frustrated and just cutting right at the knot.

Thanks again.

Highbeam · Mar 13, 2008

I would use one of my big clevises and tie off to that. The clevis can be opened and accept the loop of rope for a choker. Undone to move to the next tree.