By request, I think this one is a slow dance . . .
Take it away, Mr. R.J. Schneider!
Two Lath - The Basic Technique
Easiest way to do this is keeping the top of two lath at equal height with the butt end, in the palm on one side, and bottom knuckles on the other side, on either side of the prism pole. Depending on the feature you're tying, you may or may not need the bracing.
For the simple features that don't require the bracing the laths can be just set out with a flick of the fingers, and not used.
Features that require the stability are best approached by flicking the laths out before you reach the iron, traverse point (etc), let them rest out aways, set the point of your pole and raise your pole and lath until you are somewhere within the circle. You can then plumb with a few small movements of the one hand the butt ends are braced in.
Most of this is done with a few hand and knuckle movements and the right light touch is all thats needed to brace.
Shot taken, you simply raise the pole on your way to the next shot, with the ends of the laths in the same grasp, and simply collapse the lath with the pole.
If this is really what you're wanting to know we can do "Spinners" next. 😀
Nicely explained R.J. We always referred to them as Outriggers or Training Wheels, but things are different here south of the 45th parallel. When running the prism I still feel a lot more comfortable with two lath rather than a bi-pod. Mark off 1 foot and 0.1’ increments on the lath wiht a marks-a-lot in case you need to boot it for topo shots, measure a pipe diameter or tree DBH. Sort of a surveyor’s version of a timber cruiser’s Biltmore stick.
"When running the prism I still feel a lot more comfortable with two lath rather than a bi-pod."
And try tying a spinner accurately with a bi-pod, Man! It's a lot less hassle to "two lath" the center.
Lath can be used to fend off the small yappy dogs, quickly defoliate a chain link, brace a sapling off line, two lath can "T" brace a bush off line, weave it through limbs to brace them off line, reach through a chain link with the cloth tape, brace a fence gate open, two lath; a cloth tape, and a plumb bob will get you some decent storm inverts, quick chaining pin, two lath for a quick offset alignment..I know theres more out there.
Discontinue use of TWO LATH if any of the following occurs:
Itching
Vertigo
Dizziness
Tingling in the extremities
Slurred speech
Tempoary blindness
Profuse sweating
Heart palpitations
Do not taunt TWO LATH.
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Good God!
I've been seeing multiple iron rods lately. Then there's that burning feeling when standing in fire ants. Do you think if I add a third lath it would help?
> Mark off 1 foot and 0.1’ increments on the lath with a marks-a-lot in case you need to boot it for topo shots, measure a pipe diameter or tree DBH. Sort of a surveyor’s version of a timber cruiser’s Biltmore stick.
I did that for quite a few years, but the lath always ended up splintering after awhile, so I made a more durable version:
I mostly use only the one stick, but if it's windy I'll bring a lath along, too.
Jim that is downright ingenious. Handle grips, 0.01 increments, plumb bob point. At night when they slept, that’s what my lath dreamed of becoming.
