You guys are probably gonna ream me but here goes nothing

justknapping · Dec 21, 2007

I'll try and keep this short but don't think i'll be able to and let me state in advance that yes i know this is a totally stupid idea.
so here goes nothing ....
I have approx 8 trees in the immediate vicinity of my home and I have had several guys look at them for removal. $$$:jawdrop: now I know that not just anyone can remove these trees or that it would not be easy. So here is the question that has been asked a million plus times but maybe i won't sound so stupid asking. Would I be out of my mind if I wanted to do it myself Not just to save $ but I always like to learn new stuff here are my thoughts on this.... tell me if i have a half #$% notion of going about this the right way or not.
I thought before I buy any equipment I would get the arbormaster training series and then maybe a book or two if I then felt a little more comfortable I might consider buying some climbing gear. and then if i was even more comfortable I was wondering if it would be possible for someone in my area to check out (for a fee) wether or not I'm a complete moron and then if all that lines up I can possibly do this if not then I'll have to work out a removal schedule with a company like one tree a year or something as the trees are rotting my roof and I HATE to pick up sticks from the poplars.

anyway sorry so long I'll post some pics of the trees either tonight or tomorrow and I can't wait to hear replys good bad and the ugly.

appalachianarbo · Dec 21, 2007

Removal? Sounds like the trees need a good deadwooding and a thinning and/or crown raise to get them off your roof and let some more sun in.

Everyone needs to start somewhere, and it sounds like you have a good plan, but are you sure you want your first removals to be over your house?

newb · Dec 21, 2007

Wow, sounds like you have given it the right thought. As long as the trees can stand for another year while you learn the "ropes", go for it. Climb slow and low. Pete

TDunk · Dec 21, 2007

At least your not rushing into things, witch is good. The best experience IMO is hands on. Books will give you a world of knowlegde, but hands on is the best way to learn. If you can find a retired climber/utility worker, they can teach you a bundle. Anything from what knots to use to what equipment to buy. good luck.

PA Plumber · Dec 21, 2007

Good luck and be careful. I like to try to do things myself also and can appreciate your point of view.

I would practice somewhere not over your house first.

Keep us posted and pictures would be great.

hornett22 · Dec 21, 2007

climbing is more than throwing on a saddle and gaffs.

buy the time you buy all the correct equipment and the class,you'll be well on the way to paying a professional to do it.i'd check and make sure your homeowners covers your learning session.

you have to build muscles up you didn't know you had for climbing plus the wind is different up there.do you know how to recognize a dangerous section in the tree before you climb past it? no matter how much it costs to get it down by someone else,i promise you'll gladly pay it after it's too late and you're messed up the rest of your life.

if you have a few years to wait for these trees to come down.and practice,i'd say go for it.

if you're in a hurry,i'd hire it out.

Log Splitter · Dec 21, 2007

You didn't say how much experience you have running a saw. I'm not a pro, just a firewood cutter, and I've been running a saw on the ground for 40 years. That said, I have no desire to run one if I'm 70 feet up in a tree.

My best advice to you would be to arrange for the pros to come out and handle the takedowns, then you take care of the cleanup and hauling off the slash once the trees are on the ground. You save some $$$$ that way, and you might just save your a$$ as well.

yooper · Dec 21, 2007

Log Splitter said:
You didn't say how much experience you have running a saw. I'm not a pro, just a firewood cutter, and I've been running a saw on the ground for 40 years. That said, I have no desire to run one if I'm 70 feet up in a tree.

My best advice to you would be to arrange for the pros to come out and handle the takedowns, then you take care of the cleanup and hauling off the slash once the trees are on the ground. You save some $$$$ that way, and you might just save your a$$ as well.

Excelent advice log splitter.

justknapping · Dec 21, 2007

Thanks for all the replies and I really appreciate the advice. Sorry i didn't get pictures tonight i'll try and get it tomorrow we are moving our church and i spent all night machining lumber for trim etc tomorrow. As for experience I have been running a chainsaw for about 7 1\2 years not real long I know. I think though I am at least able to run it without dismemebering myself at least on the ground I'm sure i'm gonna have to get a smaller saw cuz all I have right now is a husky 455.

Like I said at the beginning though I may decide after watching my first round of arbormaster videos that I don't want to try and do it. I know that by the time I buy equipment I'll be able to have probably the front two or three trees removed. On the other hand if I learn how to do something then I have another skill that could or could not come in handy for (insert situation)
Seriously I had one guy come and give me a quote for the three poplars in my front yard and he said $1,200 or $1,300 straight time no chopping up just dropping them btw the front they are approx 60 + feet they are not dying or gonnna fall on the house tomorrow.

I know I know that this may not be the best idea but like i said I have several other trees that need to come down but they all have to be topped and dropped in pieces because of the house and how power lines lay the power lines are close but at least on the front three they shouldn't pose a problem who knows like i said I'll pose pics soon and that will really help people give an accurate assement of my stupidty.
Thanks again for the consideration and replies and hopefully this can be a good thread and people will learn and make wise decisions from it like I hope I will.

roy clarke · Dec 22, 2007

Post some pictures of your house and trees, would be interesting. I went on some felling courses, but never up a tree. Some people can do it, but it is still a risk I would pay someone else to take, after all it's only money. Gravity has never been less than 100% wherever I've been.
youtube has some examples, but you may have seen them already.

Dadatwins · Dec 22, 2007

appalachianarbo said:
Removal? Sounds like the trees need a good deadwooding and a thinning and/or crown raise to get them off your roof and let some more sun in.

Everyone needs to start somewhere, and it sounds like you have a good plan, but are you sure you want your first removals to be over your house?

Good post, while getting these $$$ quotes did you ask any of the tree people if the trees can be saved and pruned? Pics would help but if you are only calling tree removal specialist that is all they can do. Call someone who can actually evaluate the trees and offer a plan. It is usually cheaper to prune than remove. If they do have to be removed the cheapest/ safest way is to hire someone to put them on the ground and you handle the cleanup.

Themadd1 · Dec 22, 2007

You will find the equipment needed to do this type of work is in the thousands.

A good saddle 150.00 minimum
two ropes 250.00
chainsaw 400.00
xtras 200.00

I would suggest calling around any reputable company will come out for free to look at your trees.

On the other hand, Tree Climbers Companion is a good book to pick up for knots, techniques, and general information on how to climb. Felling techniques are usually in the chainsaw manual when you buy one. Your best bet for the money might be to search through craigslist or other online source to find a climber not a tree company. Let them do the climbing and you do their ground work. Save you a bundle. You can also do all the cleanup which saves time.

ropensaddle · Dec 22, 2007

justknapping said:
Thanks for all the replies and I really appreciate the advice. Sorry i didn't get pictures tonight i'll try and get it tomorrow we are moving our church and i spent all night machining lumber for trim etc tomorrow. As for experience I have been running a chainsaw for about 7 1\2 years not real long I know. I think though I am at least able to run it without dismemebering myself at least on the ground I'm sure i'm gonna have to get a smaller saw cuz all I have right now is a husky 455.

Like I said at the beginning though I may decide after watching my first round of arbormaster videos that I don't want to try and do it. I know that by the time I buy equipment I'll be able to have probably the front two or three trees removed. On the other hand if I learn how to do something then I have another skill that could or could not come in handy for (insert situation)
Seriously I had one guy come and give me a quote for the three poplars in my front yard and he said $1,200 or $1,300 straight time no chopping up just dropping them btw the front they are approx 60 + feet they are not dying or gonnna fall on the house tomorrow.

I know I know that this may not be the best idea but like i said I have several other trees that need to come down but they all have to be topped and dropped in pieces because of the house and how power lines lay the power lines are close but at least on the front three they shouldn't pose a problem who knows like i said I'll pose pics soon and that will really help people give an accurate assement of my stupidty.
Thanks again for the consideration and replies and hopefully this can be a good thread and people will learn and make wise decisions from it like I hope I will.

Strong suggestion on the trees near the powerlines call
your power company and tell them you plan to cut the trees
yourself and you are concerned about the lines.
They may at no cost send a crew out to top the ones that
could get in the lines. If they are within ten feet it is illegal
for anyone other than line clearance professionals to climb
them.

M.D. Vaden · Dec 22, 2007

ropensaddle said:
Strong suggestion on the trees near the powerlines call
your power company and tell them you plan to cut the trees
yourself and you are concerned about the lines.
They may at no cost send a crew out to top the ones that
could get in the lines. If they are within ten feet it is illegal
for anyone other than line clearance professionals to climb
them.

How much and how far away will line clearance tree workers usually clear-away the limbs no cost?

Themadd1 · Dec 22, 2007

I thought they just topped it to a few feet under the wire. (sarcasm)

A few years ago i went back to my parents house and found that the electric company had come through and asked them whether they wanted their beech tree which was three feet in diameter pruned or taken down because it was growing too close to the power lines, maybe ten feet away at the trunk.

They said prune it back.

When they came home from work they had cut the entire tree down to a 15 foot stump, with a one inch diameter branch growing away from the lines.

I must say I about S%*T, i couldnt believe how bad it looked and how bad they hacked it. I mean come on, how hard would it have been to take down one or two limbs growing into the f'ing wires.

Least to say I took the butt down and made some boards. :jawdrop:

I think this is the reason I have such a problem with "line clearance" :greenchainsaw:

ropensaddle · Dec 22, 2007

M.D. Vaden said:
How much and how far away will line clearance tree workers usually clear-away the limbs no cost?

Well it can be utility specific but I have downed many that
were close for their customers at no charge.
Like I said if they know you are not trained and are
going to fell it yourself to save money many don't
want the liability or to have to come out and put them
back up. Law plainly makes them as it is not legal
for unqualified to get closer than ten feet so hold
them to it and be safe.

hornett22 · Dec 22, 2007

where the hell do you buy your rope?

Themadd1 said:
You will find the equipment needed to do this type of work is in the thousands.

A good saddle 150.00 minimum
two ropes 250.00
chainsaw 400.00
xtras 200.00

I would suggest calling around any reputable company will come out for free to look at your trees.

On the other hand, Tree Climbers Companion is a good book to pick up for knots, techniques, and general information on how to climb. Felling techniques are usually in the chainsaw manual when you buy one. Your best bet for the money might be to search through craigslist or other online source to find a climber not a tree company. Let them do the climbing and you do their ground work. Save you a bundle. You can also do all the cleanup which saves time.

that is a good price!

ropensaddle · Dec 22, 2007

hornett22 said:
that is a good price!

Yes it is the going price check out Baileys at the top of this site they have them and sponsor the site.

Themadd1 · Dec 23, 2007

Those prices I listed are for low end stuff. No sense in going with the really good stuff until you know if you really want to do this bus long term. I think the last time I set up a trainee it cost between $800-$1000 not including a climbing saw. Also, no special equipment. Good old blakes hitch, rope, clip, a few *******, a saddle, hand saw, a few slings, and some odds and ends.

It makes me want to look out in my equipment shed and see how much my arsenal is worth. I cant imagine that I have less than $5000.00 in climbing gear alone. I must have at least $1000.00 in different ropes alone.

maybe I should have a yard sale. Drum up some new climbers. :monkey:

newb · Dec 23, 2007

MD, In Wisconsin I believe its 15', if there is a contract to remove the tree. Pete

You guys are probably gonna ream me but here goes nothing

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