Backed out

[Climbing mike]

Stumper, Having been there and seen the tree that you walk away from, Do you have any Idea how the tree can be cut safely? Will the home owner need to hire someone with a crane or bucket truck or what. I know some trees are extreemly dangerous and cant be climbed but we are tree care proffesionals and when a difficult tree comes even if you cant do it dont you still think of a way that it can be done safely? I have looked at jobs in the past and if they were above my expertise I would lay awake at night untill I could find away to do it, sure some ways can be costly, but if tree care profesenols cant do it then what? I would love to hear your thoughts...

Mike

 

[dbeck]

think of your life first. then consider if there are other was to get the tree down. I agree there is alway a way to get a tree down, but is there always a custormer willing to pay the price?
What do you do then?

 

[Stumper]

Climbing Mike, The tree probably could be removed by climbing and roping it off on itself-but I don't think that would be prudent. It can be handled pretty easily from a bucket-cutting small pieces and pitching them down. I had actually tied the leaders together and run a sling around the split and offered to leave that stuff on until the tree could be removed but the owner said to take it off. Stuff like that helps but "probably will hold" isn't good enough when I'm hanging on it. A crane would certainly work but would really be overkill.
The owner's son-in law actually has access to a bucket and will wind up doing the job. He had been planning on it for the fall when the bucket will be available to him but father in lawwas going to save the hassle and get the job done by a pro-his pro backed out so he is back to plan A --I guess.

 

[tjk]

When we come upon a hazardous removal cost is always our last concern. It is not my fault the tree came to this condition. We find the absolut safest way, that my require removing fences, bushes or what ever. If the tree most be rigged we put plenty of time on the job so we are not pressed for time and we can do right. We do not always get the job but thats ok with us. As level of risk goes up so does the cost. We need to get paid for our skills, expertise, and experience.

 

[kevinz]

Keep the saw running to cut line?

This thread reminded me of something I read. I hope it's not too far off topic.

I read an article once by Sebastion Junger, the author of The Perfect Storm, on his work as a hazardous tree worker (my words to describe him, not his). This was in an airline magazine, I think, certainly not a professional journal. If I remember correctly, he talked about cutting limbs or maybe the spar, and keeping the chairsaw running in case he needed to cut his lifeline or lanyard if the tree started to go down.

Is this common practice? Would it help much? Reminds me of not wearing a seat belt, so that you can be thrown clear of a crash to survive.

He also talked about rigging a trolley line between two tall trees that he could traverse and lower himself down to a shorter, hazardous tree between them to work. I thought that this was amazingly clever, until I started reading posts here and realized this was just another tool or technique in most professional arborist's bag of tricks.

-Kevin

 

[TREETX]

Originally posted by tjk
When we come upon a hazardous removal cost is always our last concern. It is not my fault the tree came to this condition.

Amen to that.

When bidding removals and I can tell they are opting for nothing now or wait and see if resurrection happens, I always mention that when the bark starts coming off, the price starts going up.

There is a cost associated when someone's action (or lack there of) makes my job more difficult. Just like there is a cost associated with removing the tree now, there is also a cost associated with letting it stand.....a liability too.

.02

 

[MasterBlaster]

I read that book, and his bio. He said he quit when he cut himself - now I see why! I don't think too many Climbers leave their saws running, at least that I've seen. I sure as heck don't!

Ingenius rigging is cool to see - limited only by your imagination, and physical constraints!

 

[TREETX]

Re: Keep the saw running to cut line?

Originally posted by kevinz
chairsaw running in case he needed to cut his lifeline or lanyard if the tree started to go down.

Is this common practice? Would it help much? Reminds me of not wearing a seat belt, so that you can be thrown clear of a crash to survive.

Puuuhhleeezzz!!! I keep gunning the saw so I can stick it directly into my jugular if the whole tree starts going down with me tied to it. That or I take smaller pieces.

When thrown from a car, you are 5 times more likely to die. In my younger years, I spent countless manhours in defensive driving

 

[kevinz]

Not advocating not wearing seatbelts

Treex, sorry my message wasn't clear. I wasn't advocating not wearing seatbelts. I'm old enough to remember when seatbelts were first mandated. This was one of the cries of protest, "I'm safer if I get thrown clear." Yeah, right...

Keep your saw out of your neck.

-Kevin

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Re: Keep the saw running to cut line?

Originally posted by kevinz
I read an article once by Sebastion Junger, the author of The Perfect Storm,

I've heard about it too, if you actually thought about how many jobs he has heald, you will figure out he was a drifter who took any job he could and was given minimal training.