Do it yourself Homeowners

[Climbing mike]

Last year i was doing a job and down the road about a block I could see a extension ladder up in a white pine tree. I watched and the was a father and son working. The son was around 15. He would come off the ladder tell his dad he was scared his dad would talk him into going back up, he would cut about 2 limbs then back down. He was carrying a medium chain saw with a 20" bar running while he is going up and down the ladder. He was cutting above his head trying not to fall of the ladder, I had just finish my job and I stopped by on my way out. Asked If they needed help. They were there cutting the dead pine tree for his mom and grandmother who had no money but the tree had to come down. The tree was about 65 ft tall about 8 ft from the road. I told them that someone was going to get hurt and if they could come up with $20 (to cover my help) I would put the tree on the ground with no clean up. well needless to say a 20 bill appeared faster than a blink of an eye. I put it on the ground and left. On the way home my help said you only charged $20 I said yep, I didn't cut it for free. I would have had a hard time if I left and later heard that on of them was hurt or killed. Sometime its not about the money.


Mike

 

[Sizzle-Chest]

Sometime its not about the money.
Mike

Then why'd you charge em 20$? Just kidding, that was down-right decent of you!

 

[pantheraba]

I told them that someone was going to get hurt and if they could come up with $20 (to cover my help) I would put the tree on the ground with no clean up. well needless to say a 20 bill appeared faster than a blink of an eye. I put it on the ground and left. Mike

I agree with Sizzle...good job. If somebody is very possibly going to get hurt, I think if you have the skills to help out you make the offer...especially if kids are involved that may not realize what the dangers really are. If adults want to be idiots, no problem. If they are endangering kids it is time to get involved. They can certainly refuse your help; at least you tried.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

Nice one MIKE i've done the same thing a few times over the years,it's those folk with the huge house and new car but no money for tree work that pee me off..again nice one Mike, i'd of hated myself if anything had happend to the kid who was going up the tree and was scared, chit i'd have been scared with no climbing gear big saw and no idea what to do .

 

[J_Ashley]

That's awesome man. I know a lot of guys who would have driven off and laughed at something like that. That was incredibly benevolent on your part, and I'm sure that guy will tell others about what you did. I could forsee some buisness, and a strong reputation coming from things like this...

Justin

 

[GlennG]

Last year my wife and I were going out for dinner. We drove past a three old fellows prepairing to drop a 70' white pine that was near the road.I sorta cringed and got an uncofortable feeling when I saw what they were up to. They were all wearing nice clothing and dress shoes. It was easy to see they were not accustomed to outdoor work. These guys looked to be in their 70`s. The tree appeared straight with no lean. The drop zone was big enough but there were high voltage power lines along the road and if the tree went towards the road it would go directly into the power lines.

On our return trip from dinner the local police had the road closed and we had to take a detour. The officer said there was an accident and the tree and power lines were in the road.

I read in the paper the next day that the homeowner and one of his friends were recovering in the hospital from electrical burns.

This story has always bugged me because in hindsight I may have been able to help. The reason I did not stop was I did not want to appear as a nosey di*khead. I think if I ever run across a situation again I`ll stop by say hello and offer a minimal price to safley drop the tree. I hate seeing people get hurt even if it is their own fault.

Stupid Hurts

Glenn

 

[fpyontek]

...Last year i was doing a job and down the road about a block I could see a extension ladder up in a white pine tree. I watched and the was a father and son working. The son was around 15. He would come off the ladder tell his dad he was scared his dad would talk him into going back up, he would cut about 2 limbs then back down. He was carrying a medium chain saw with a 20" bar running while he is going up and down the ladder. He was cutting above his head trying not to fall of the ladder, ...

You quite possibly may have saved that kid's life. You have to wonder what the hel! that father was thinking.

Fred

 

[fmueller]

Man, you can't spank your kid in the store without having some yuppie call social services on ya but you can send him up a tree with a running saw. What an eejit.

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

I would have had a hard time if I left and later heard that on of them was hurt or killed. Sometime its not about the money.

Good for you, Mike.



So what was wrong with Pop that he had is SON doing the dangerous work?!?!?

 

[fmueller]

Nothing wrong with Pop having son doing dangerous work if he was shown how to do it safely with PPE. I bet the ladder or the boy weren't tied in, nobody was properly trained to use the saw, etc., etc., etc.. I've had my son running a chipper but he was trained and had full PPE when he did it. If this kid was scared and repeatedly coming back down the ladder he had no business up there. Mikes da man!

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

Nothing wrong with Pop having son doing dangerous work if he was shown how to do it safely with PPE.

Agreed! But that's not how this went down.

 

[Climbing mike]

Thanks to all for your kind words, I know if any of you were there and was seeing what I was you would have done the same. I have always been told not to work for free that is why I charged $20. I don't think it would have meant the same if I had done it for free.


Mike

 

[fpyontek]

I think if the father declined your $20.00 offer you would have done it for free. When a child is involved it changes everything. This kid had more sense than the old man! If its an adult doing something stupid you figure its Natural Selection at work...oops thats another thread.

Fred