Page 25 - Moving the Earth_ The Workbook of Excavation

LAND CLEARING AND CONTROLS

LAND CLEARING AND CONTROLS 1.25

FIGURE 1.18 Grabhook uses, and stump choker.

Grabhooks are used to anchor a chain to a
tree that is to be saved. The lack of sliding pres-
sure makes it possible to protect the bark by
pads and sticks placed on the side receiving the
pull. The grabhook may also be used to make a
ring which can be used to make up a choker.
Figure 1.19A shows three ways of fastening
a line to a stump. In each case, the stump is shown
to be grooved by an axe at the back. This cut is
quickly made, and will prevent the chain from
squeezing off during the pull and delay its slip-
ping off as the stump leans. Part (A) is the easiest
and most usual method, pulling at the center;
(B) is a side pull, a little harder to arrange, but it
puts less of a kink in the line, so that it can be used
with cable as well as chain, and gives the advan-
tage of a twist on the stump; and (C) is the
overhead method, which requires an inverted T
notch. This gives the greatest leverage but is
more likely to slip off than the others.
Care should be exercised not to put loads on a
chain that is twisted or kinked, as it will be broken
or damaged. It can be readily checked for straight-
ness, as the links which are in one plane should FIGURE 1.19A Fastening line to stump.
lie in an almost-straight line.