My "good ol boy" inlaws

[Piranhamonkey]

I joined this forum to ask for some advice. I am not a tree care professional but I have read Jeff Jepson's books and realize that they are not a substitution for proper training. I have also read as much as I could about proper tree care, pruning, felling, and rigging just so I can get a feel for how not to do things.

This leads me to my problem. I have a few Uncles (in-law) that are... for the lack of a better word, reckless. They have a large piece of property and needed to do some clearing. Keep in mind there are no structures in the way of these trees and most of them are diseased or damaged from past storms. Which does not make it any better.

When I came down to visit and "help" the first thing I saw was how little they had been prepared for this adventure. They were trying to cut off a limb (about 6-8in) that was the lowest haning branch and was hanging over an access road. They had gotten not 1, but 3 saws stuck in the tree...(2 chainsaws, and a chainsaw pole pruner) they were cutting from below while standing on a ladder in the back of a pick up truck (I could not make this stuff up) they had no concept of why the limb was pinching the blades, or the fact they should cut the bottom 1st just a little then finish from the top. Not only was this dangerous but also VERY DANGEROUS.

They REFUSED to listen to me, there was no PPE, no rigging, no anything. I eventually gave up trying to help after about 45 minutes and just went back to the house.

I think I will buy them all a copy of "To Fell a Tree" "Tree Climbers Companion" and a book on rigging.

What suggestions do you have to try and turn "Good ol boys" into less than reckless morons.

 

[Downer]

I think I will buy them all a copy of "To Fell a Tree" "Tree Climbers Companion" and a book on rigging.

What suggestions do you have to try and turn "Good ol boys" into less than reckless morons.

Don't waste your money. I think the saying is "good money after bad".
I once watched my cousins in Mass put a ladder up and cut off a heavy branch which then lifted the main branch up leaving nothing supporting the ladder, about 15 fall on to the ladder. I was about 10 at the time and knew something didn't quite make sense. You just can't fix stupid.

 

[ROOTSXROCKS]

What suggestions do you have to try and turn "Good ol boys" into less than reckless morons.

clear the area of innocents
give um a chain saw
Film for youtube
Let Darwin sort out the rest

 

[treemandan]

clear the area of innocents
give um a chain saw
Film for youtube
Let Darwin sort out the rest

That's about all you can do but I think someone should dial 9-1- and keep his finger poised ready to complete the call.

 

[Carburetorless]

Instead of books on tree feeling buy them beer, before they try to cut the trees.

That way they'll get drunk and forget about the trees, and you can fire up your chainsaw and cut the trees while they're all hung over.

 

[Saw Dust Smoken]

morons

A great U-Tube oppertunity.

 

[Zale]

They will not listen to you. You are not really family. Stay clear and say a prayer.

 

[derwoodii]

Never easy perhaps send them this forum & threads http://www.arboristsite.com/arboricultural-injuries-fatalities/

or provide them the estimated $ price of a trip to ER by chopper with long stay of mirco surgery.

 

[Tree Pig]

I joined this forum to ask for some advice. I am not a tree care professional but I have read Jeff Jepson's books and realize that they are not a substitution for proper training. I have also read as much as I could about proper tree care, pruning, felling, and rigging just so I can get a feel for how not to do things.

This leads me to my problem. I have a few Uncles (in-law) that are... for the lack of a better word, reckless. They have a large piece of property and needed to do some clearing. Keep in mind there are no structures in the way of these trees and most of them are diseased or damaged from past storms. Which does not make it any better.

When I came down to visit and "help" the first thing I saw was how little they had been prepared for this adventure. They were trying to cut off a limb (about 6-8in) that was the lowest haning branch and was hanging over an access road. They had gotten not 1, but 3 saws stuck in the tree...(2 chainsaws, and a chainsaw pole pruner) they were cutting from below while standing on a ladder in the back of a pick up truck (I could not make this stuff up) they had no concept of why the limb was pinching the blades, or the fact they should cut the bottom 1st just a little then finish from the top. Not only was this dangerous but also VERY DANGEROUS.

They REFUSED to listen to me, there was no PPE, no rigging, no anything. I eventually gave up trying to help after about 45 minutes and just went back to the house.

I think I will buy them all a copy of "To Fell a Tree" "Tree Climbers Companion" and a book on rigging.

What suggestions do you have to try and turn "Good ol boys" into less than reckless morons.

Now dont get offended because I am having trouble following one thing... How do you get a uncle (in-law) is that one of them southern things were you marry your cousin so now your uncle is now also an inlaw? Because I thought that #### only went on in West Virginia up in the backwoods now.

 

[Blakesmaster]

They aren't gonna listen to you because "good ol' boys" don't put much stock in #### you've read on the internet or in a book. The only thing that matters to them is experience and you don't have it. Take down some more difficult trees on your own property to show them you know what's up, then they'll start listening to your ideas.

 

[ROOTSXROCKS]

Now dont get offended because I am having trouble following one thing... How do you get a uncle (in-law) is that one of them southern things were you marry your cousin so now your uncle is now also an inlaw? Because I thought that #### only went on in West Virginia up in the backwoods now.

Wife's, Mamma and daddy's siblings geesh it's not like my half step uncle from mammies second husband, I like to put as much genetic distance as I can from those crazy bstrds.

 

[Carburetorless]

Now dont get offended because I am having trouble following one thing... How do you get a uncle (in-law) is that one of them southern things were you marry your cousin so now your uncle is now also an inlaw? Because I thought that #### only went on in West Virginia up in the backwoods now.

That #### never happened before you damn yankies invaded.

 

[Tree Pig]

That #### never happened before you damn yankies invaded.

Thats because your ansestors were too busy having slave babies and hiding them from society, once we helped free the slaves that left "YOU'LL" with each other.

 

[Carburetorless]

Thats because your ansestors were too busy having slave babies and hiding them from society, once we helped free the slaves that left "YOU'LL" with each other.

It's Y'all, not You'll.

Example: I'm not even going to comment on the other part, cause I don't believe in slavery and oppression anymore than Y'all do.

 

[Tree Pig]

It's Y'all, not You'll.

Example: I'm not even going to comment on the other part, cause I don't believe in slavery and oppression anymore than Y'all do.

ah man I just having fun with ya... anyone that really knows US history knows the Civil War had almost nothing to do with slavery, other then that being the excuse they used to start the war.

 

[Downer]

ah man I just having fun with ya... anyone that really knows US history knows the Civil War had almost nothing to do with slavery, other then that being the excuse they used to start the war.

y'all mean the "the war of northern aggression":msp_rolleyes:
(coming from a yank)

 

[Tree Pig]

y'all mean the "the war of northern aggression":msp_rolleyes:
(coming from a yank)

So admit to northern aggression if you can tell me what the war was really over?

 

[tree md]

ah man I just having fun with ya... anyone that really knows US history knows the Civil War had almost nothing to do with slavery, other then that being the excuse they used to start the war.

Not the only war that was started for monetary reasons using a noble cause to garner support...

It's always about the money no matter what excuse they use to manipulate people's emotions.

To the OP; I enlisted the help of one of my family members to work the ground for me onetime... He managed to get a 192, a 260 and then a handsaw pinched in the same limb I had lowered... I never went that route again.

 

[Carburetorless]

So admit to northern aggression if you can tell me what the war was really over?

Considering the time, if I had to guess I'd say GOLD.

Salt and Crops were also valuable commodities, but they passed up the salt and burned the crops. The shipping ports and the fishing would be worth going after.

Unification? No that was Vietnam.

The sunshine and muggy weather, hurricanes, tornadoes, fire ants, killer bees, snapping turtles, alligators, crocodiles, kamen(sp?), copper heads, rattle snakes, water moccasins, armadillos, swamp rabbits, mosquitoes, and quick sand?

Or maybe it was just the orange juice?

 

[formationrx]

...

I joined this forum to ask for some advice. I am not a tree care professional but I have read Jeff Jepson's books and realize that they are not a substitution for proper training. I have also read as much as I could about proper tree care, pruning, felling, and rigging just so I can get a feel for how not to do things.

This leads me to my problem. I have a few Uncles (in-law) that are... for the lack of a better word, reckless. They have a large piece of property and needed to do some clearing. Keep in mind there are no structures in the way of these trees and most of them are diseased or damaged from past storms. Which does not make it any better.

When I came down to visit and "help" the first thing I saw was how little they had been prepared for this adventure. They were trying to cut off a limb (about 6-8in) that was the lowest haning branch and was hanging over an access road. They had gotten not 1, but 3 saws stuck in the tree...(2 chainsaws, and a chainsaw pole pruner) they were cutting from below while standing on a ladder in the back of a pick up truck (I could not make this stuff up) they had no concept of why the limb was pinching the blades, or the fact they should cut the bottom 1st just a little then finish from the top. Not only was this dangerous but also VERY DANGEROUS.

They REFUSED to listen to me, there was no PPE, no rigging, no anything. I eventually gave up trying to help after about 45 minutes and just went back to the house.

I think I will buy them all a copy of "To Fell a Tree" "Tree Climbers Companion" and a book on rigging.

What suggestions do you have to try and turn "Good ol boys" into less than reckless morons.

put simply... you cant....they gotta want it on their own...sounds like they would not read any book you got'em.... hows the saying go?... you cant fix stupid... they'll probably have to hurt themselves a couple times... that might make them start to think...