1st time post

[jws1467]

I have been a member for awhile just reading everyone's threads thought I would give one a shot.

I have been climbing for around 5 - 6 years. Learned off a retired savey tree instructor. Lxt knows who he is.

My question is what do you guys do if a tree is covered in poison ivy. You charge extra to cover copy for steroid shot haha? Or just climb through it and take your chances.

Sure I will get alot of interesting responses.

Here are some pics of the one I did in front of the one with ivy if I can get them attached.

 

[VA-Sawyer]

My question is what do you guys do if a tree is covered in poison ivy.

I make the other guy climb it ! :msp_biggrin:

Actually, if it is really bad in PI, I will go by first chance, late in the day and pull as much of it as I can down off the tree. Then run home and take a very long soapy shower, scrubbing down from head to toes. This seems to keep the outbreaks down to a minimum. I also try to wait a couple of good rains before going back to climb the tree. So far, so good. I've had PI really bad before and the 'burst pack' of steroids was the only fix. Don't want to go through that again. Just mild outbreaks since I've started doing the shower thing quickly after exposure.

Rick

 

[jws1467]

View attachment 238941

 

[jws1467]

View attachment 238942

 

[no tree to big]

about 2 months ago we had to clear this 50'x100' fenced in area that was nothing but small saplings and poison ivy everywhere I was in that place for 8 hours that night every time I felt a tingle or had an itch I was like here comes the poison ivy well next morning nothing I had zero reaction to it. another guy on the other hand did not fare to well he got it BAD but never got the shots even though the co. would pay for it. he had it for nearly a month he even gave it to his girl. needless to say I'm the dedicated poison ivy guy so what do I do? I just laugh at all the other guys while I'm rolling around in it.

 

[jws1467]

no big tree you are lucky.

i have only got it a couple times so its hit and miss for me but when i do its bad.

 

[VA-Sawyer]

No tree too big,

The one REALLY bad time I had it, was my first time. Went 23 or 24 years playing around it with no problem, then BANG, had it in places best not mentioned and everywhere else.

Rick

 

[tree md]

First off welcome to the site.

I usually add a bill or so to the price of any tree covered in any type of Ivy.

I am like NTTB, I very rarely get it even when I roll in the stuff. Been that way my whole life. I've only had it a handfull of times. One thing I have noticed is that the times I have gotten it while working it has been when I have had to cut through the really thick vines of the stuff. I guess the chain throws a lot of the oil on your arms when you cut into the thick stuff. I have also learned that if I wash my arms off immediately after I get out of the tree I very rarely get it. In lieu of water I will rub my arms down with straight gas. That seems to stop it in it's tracks as well. I had my groundy do that after getting into it a couple of weeks ago and it worked for him... And he told me he was very allergic to it.

 

[keh10]

The key is to get the oils off of your skin as soon as possible. I've used tecnu with pretty good results. I'm pretty allergic to it and if I know what I'm up against, I'll deck myself out with long sleeve shirt, breath mask, eye goggles, and some atlas gloves. After the job is done, I'll take off all my clothes that were exposed, wash myself all over with tecnu and put on fresh clothes. Don't forget to wash all your gear, chainsaws, and clothes with tecnu as well. The oils can get you long after the job is over if you're not careful. I have one shirt right now that has given me a rash at least three separate times. The rash always comes a day or two after I wear the shirt, so I can't figure out which one it is and apparently my laundry detergent isn't cutting the mustard. I'm about to just wash all my work shirts in tecnu just to make sure.

Yeah, I freaking hate poison ivy.

 

[pdqdl]

I don't get it at all; never have, either.

I string trimmed a huge pile of it once while I was wearing shorts...covered my legs with the pulpy juices knowing that I didn't get it. I didn't get any blisters or red spots, but my legs sure itched like hell for a week.

I have had a bunch of guys become more or less immune to the stuff over the years. I recommend that people that are highly allergic take Rhus-Tox, or "poison ivy pills". It is nothing more than sugar pills with small doses of poison ivy that you swallow/dissolve every day. Eventually, most folks don't catch it at all. A lot of the guys report that they get over the allergic reaction quicker when they take the pills, too.

 

[HappyTreesLLC]

The key is to get the oils off of your skin as soon as possible. I've used tecnu with pretty good results. I'm pretty allergic to it and if I know what I'm up against, I'll deck myself out with long sleeve shirt, breath mask, eye goggles, and some atlas gloves. After the job is done, I'll take off all my clothes that were exposed, wash myself all over with tecnu and put on fresh clothes. Don't forget to wash all your gear, chainsaws, and clothes with tecnu as well. The oils can get you long after the job is over if you're not careful. I have one shirt right now that has given me a rash at least three separate times. The rash always comes a day or two after I wear the shirt, so I can't figure out which one it is and apparently my laundry detergent isn't cutting the mustard. I'm about to just wash all my work shirts in tecnu just to make sure.

Yeah, I freaking hate poison ivy.

+1
Also gas, diesel, rubbing alcohol, brake cleaner, Starting fluid, acetone etc. Any degreaser will work. Some good for skin some not, some you can use on equipment and clothing.

 

[Toddppm]

I use hand cleaner, its supposed to break down oils and grease and its not flammable
I've always been allergic but have been getting it less and less each year. If I can stand to not scratch it, it goes away pretty quick when I do get it..

 

[treemandan]

####ing tree guys. Here we go again. long sleeves, long pants, gloves. See? Now yer ready for work. Pi? Yeah. So?

 

[Mike Cantolina]

I eat the leaves. It's cheaper than the pills.

 

[Toddppm]

aww just smoke it.

 

[treevet]

about 40 feet up and still big p i last winter. just try to keep off the face and.....

View attachment 239252

 

[tree md]

Yes, those are the size vines I am talking about. The only times I have really gotten it is when I have been cutting through vines that size. They must be loaded with the oil. I never get it from just coming into contact with the leaves. Poison sumac is another matter. I am terribly allergic to that stuff.

 

[treevet]

Yes, those are the size vines I am talking about. The only times I have really gotten it is when I have been cutting through vines that size. They must be loaded with the oil. I never get it from just coming into contact with the leaves. Poison sumac is another matter. I am terribly allergic to that stuff.

yeah, I generally try to sever them with the top of the bar sending the sawdust away from ya. I get it real (hospital) bad. But nobody else is gonna get that work cause I won't do it and rather have no leaves in winter to do it. If I can be choosy I try to hire help that doesn't get it.

 

[mattfr12]

my local doctor usually hooks me up with the steroid pack with a refill on it because i come in so many times a year with it. those furry vines on trees are a week of horror and itchiness.

 

[ROPECLIMBER]

As a kid I went bare foot all summer most years, and must have got imune to poision Ivy, don't know about sumac, guess they figured I would out grow my shoes before school started again, lol
Paul