is it practical to use just hand tools up high?

[sgreanbeans]

I'm certain I can learn anything from a book.

Not this. I am a big fan of books, have lots of them, none of them ever went up the tree with me and went over why I should run my rope this way instead of that way. Books are great, and they are necessary. So is a mentor. No book can teach you the tricks of the trade. Books wont yell at you for doing something crazy or unsafe, old cranky climbers do.............. AND MOST CERTAINLY WILL!
Be safe man. Get a mentor.

 

[jandh@amtelecom]

No chainsaws?

Jusley: I'm fairly new at this as well, and see that you're either one that can't work with authority figures, or have had run ins in the past and dislike authority, whatever. But as far as not seeing the need for chainsaws? I really question your motives in getting into this tree work industry. What are your ambitions, drives, motives? I'm really curious! Getting the proper tools for the job would be step one after proper climbing, rigging gear, get the Tree Climbers Guide at least and again get someone to train you properly.
Regards,
Jake

 

[Jusley]

I don't work for anyone else anymore because people never pay me. I can't even begin to describe how many times this has happened. And I have this effect on people where employers where they really like me a little too much, I'm a remarkably good listener and insightful with people. They start to rely on my attention and then turn on me when I don't make them the center of their universe and they don't pay me. It's something about me and I should definitely work alone. I'm forty years old and have been through this too many times.

I think it's logical to work slowly, take jobs that are within my limited knowledge and small trees to start and hand tools work for that. Eventually I'll graduate to larger trees and more powerful tools

 

[Jusley]

There's more to the story but I doubt you want to hear about that part.

Ultimately, I don't really want to do technical tree removal close to.structures. I'd rather fell trees, quarter them and make things out of them but it comes with the job so I have to learn to do it.

 

[VA-Sawyer]

I've said this before and I will say it again.... trying to learn treework from books and/or videos is dumber than trying to learn flying on your own. Remember, 3 of the Astronauts died in Apollo 1 on the ground and we almost lost 3 more in Apollo 13. The only reason they survived was having a fantastic ground crew and a fair amount of luck. We lost even more in the Shuttle program. Those guys had the best training and equipment we could dream up to help them, and still some died. You have no training or support, so I think your odds of success are damn poor.
Rick

 

[Jusley]

Yep, definitely no support.

 

[Carburetorless]

I think it's logical to work slowly, take jobs that are within my limited knowledge and small trees to start and hand tools work for that. Eventually I'll graduate to larger trees and more powerful tools

Working fast in a tree is difficult and dangerous, yet at the same time not making progress is going to hurt your chances of getting more work.

So you have to become more efficient, a small chainsaw is worth it's weight in gold when you have to remove branches that are too big to take off with just a few strokes of your pruning saw, just make sure you handle it like you would a snapping turtle.

 

[beastmaster]

You should be a little afraid of a chainsaw up in a tree. Most of us I would think were trained to do certain with the saw and not do certain things with the saw. A slip of the bar and you can cut your rope. Kick back can cut you. A branch hanging up on another branch can cause the saw to fall in a direction you didn't want it to. We've had little safety precautions trained into us, lots of little things that help keep you safe, and if some loud mean old veteran climber wasn't yelling at you from the ground, you wouldn't think of. You can't get that from a book.
Silky makes a really big hand saw that would work to a certain point, but after a few cuts of wood bigger then 8in. you'll want a chainsaw.

 

[lostcoastland]

Is it practical to climb up high and work without a rope..nah

Hey heres an idea why don't you get a climb line so your not up in the tree with one tie in point. theres no way to advance your self in a tree unless you have two tie in points without unattaching your self..Climbline is a must thats number one...You should not even be attempting to scale a tree without a rope..a 2-in one or another prussik rope lanyard will only get you higher up in the tree and in a more dangerous situation without means of escape..You don't need a handsaw if you don't have a rope because if you don't have a rope you shouldn't be in a tree...

 

[peacmar]

a mentor should be the only way

Well this is my first post ever but I've been lurking for a couple years. I'm new to this also, climbing especially. But I've been a part time groundie in training for better than 3 years and was just recently told I display enough knowledge to go buy my own saddle and roap/ equipment. Trust me when I say you can only learn so much from books and videos. I have studied them all. And after another year on the ground did I finally get the ok to climb. Your friends and family will thank you many years from now if you do things the right way.

Be safe