Finally got that massive oak limb down without hitting the fence

Last weekend in Waukesha, I took down a 14 inch limb that was hanging right over a homeowner's vinyl fence. I used a portawrap and a lowering line for the first time on a real job, and it landed exactly where I wanted. The homeowner came out and said she thought I was just going to let it crash. Has anyone else had that nerve-wracking moment where a simple rigging setup saves your butt?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_linda17d ago

Ray, that harbor freight rope comment hit a little too close to home. I've got a coil of that same cheap stuff sitting in my garage right now, and every time I look at it I swear it gives me the side-eye. I keep telling myself it's fine for "light duty" but deep down I know that's just denial dressed up as frugality. My portawrap setup worked this time, but I'm pretty sure the universe is just saving up that rope snap moment for when I'm feeling real cocky.

king.robin17d ago

Two fence panels? That's wild.

ray_miller8417d ago

Buddy of mine tried the same thing with a maple limb over his neighbor's shed, used a cheap harbor freight rope and it snapped halfway through the cut. Made a hell of a mess and took out two fence panels.