murphy4trees
Addicted to ArboristSite
OK,
Before I even start I have to make a disclaimer... I never would have even tried this guy out if there was the right money on this job... There is a great crane outfit which most of the tree guys in our area like to work with... he charges about 300 in travel time... For the past 5 years or so, he's the only crane company I have worked with. Now I originally had 3,800 on this split white oak in the backyard, but reduced it to a ridiculous price to match a low baller, because it was my turf and the builder who refered the customer is a good client..
So I get this guy to come in for 500 for 1/2 day including travel... in a '77 Grove, OMG... never again... Turns out the guy is effectively deaf, with the motor running right behind him, and partially blind in one eye (and wreckless).. Big John didn;t take his eyes off the guy as he was setting up...
Once we had the downed half out, we were deciding whether to pic the top or bomb it first, then pic off the ground... Tree had a backlean, but still very doable..
So I asked John if he wanted to ride the crane to pic the top... He said "I've got two kids... you only got one", made a balancing motion with his hands, and walked away... That was enough for me to make the call to pull the top over... So I rode the wire and bombed out what I could off the backside, then set two pull lines, got off the wire and dropped the top.. from just above the split...
It all worked out with the only pics made with the climber aloft were two pieces of trunk wood, that John cut pretty small... No damage... We took two full loads of chips with a 14' forestry body... and had to come back for the rakings..
Makes a good story... though I'd rather have gotten the 3,800 and paid for a real crane...
Before I even start I have to make a disclaimer... I never would have even tried this guy out if there was the right money on this job... There is a great crane outfit which most of the tree guys in our area like to work with... he charges about 300 in travel time... For the past 5 years or so, he's the only crane company I have worked with. Now I originally had 3,800 on this split white oak in the backyard, but reduced it to a ridiculous price to match a low baller, because it was my turf and the builder who refered the customer is a good client..
So I get this guy to come in for 500 for 1/2 day including travel... in a '77 Grove, OMG... never again... Turns out the guy is effectively deaf, with the motor running right behind him, and partially blind in one eye (and wreckless).. Big John didn;t take his eyes off the guy as he was setting up...
Once we had the downed half out, we were deciding whether to pic the top or bomb it first, then pic off the ground... Tree had a backlean, but still very doable..
So I asked John if he wanted to ride the crane to pic the top... He said "I've got two kids... you only got one", made a balancing motion with his hands, and walked away... That was enough for me to make the call to pull the top over... So I rode the wire and bombed out what I could off the backside, then set two pull lines, got off the wire and dropped the top.. from just above the split...
It all worked out with the only pics made with the climber aloft were two pieces of trunk wood, that John cut pretty small... No damage... We took two full loads of chips with a 14' forestry body... and had to come back for the rakings..
Makes a good story... though I'd rather have gotten the 3,800 and paid for a real crane...
