Sharpening spikes

[Bigus Termitius]

Biggy, lineman school is where I learned to sharpen gaffs. I am surprised to hear your buddy didn't learn this. Oh well, at least he can climb. You're right about trees not being poles, they are different. They teach you in lineman school to look up as you climb, not always a good practice in trees due to the imperfections in the limbs. Poles are easy as pie to climb, just use shorter gaffs, a different belt, and a belt like scarestrap.

Ahh, the days of lineschool, takes me back.

I don't think he knows too much about them, though he has a nice setup. I expected shorter gaffs, but his are identical to mine. We carry his lineman's belt, and leather strap with us, just in case we "need" them.

I'm not really sure how far he got into the school. It's one of the best he says, up in northwest Iowa.

He still wants to be a lineman, but I'm trying to convert him. Misery loves company.

Did you ever go on to be a lineman?

What made you change your mind?

We had the local Coop install a pole on the backside of the homestead to keep the legs in shape cause we haven't done a lot of climbing on the job lately. We are in alot of open farm country for now. This fall, however we are going to an area full of opportunity.

 

[JeffL]

It's the side away from the tree. The one you are saying not to sharpen.
Yep, that's the one to sharpen.

Ok, so I was mistaken.

 

[treemandan]

With using the practice you have all refered to I have found , after time, the whole thing is not on center anymore. definatley not near what it was.
Now the gauge , like I said, is just a little thing maybe a buck or two and the sharpening service is nominal. I am talking 10 bucks in with a bunch of chipper blades. Keep in mind, I cut my own hair cause I don't want to pony up the dough for that.
No, I wasn't really able to "sculpt" my gaffs freehand very well, one thing that didn't help was that the leg brace really interfered with the file angle. I guess that's when I ask the guy if he could quickly sharpen my spikes he looked at me like I was nuts and said," You have to take them off the leg brace".
To be honest in the time I spent with this I could have gotten up, got that gauge and filed 16 sets of gaffs.

 

[Nailsbeats]

I don't think he knows too much about them, though he has a nice setup. I expected shorter gaffs, but his are identical to mine. We carry his lineman's belt, and leather strap with us, just in case we "need" them.

I'm not really sure how far he got into the school. It's one of the best he says, up in northwest Iowa.

He still wants to be a lineman, but I'm trying to convert him. Misery loves company.

Did you ever go on to be a lineman?

What made you change your mind?

We had the local Coop install a pole on the backside of the homestead to keep the legs in shape cause we haven't done a lot of climbing on the job lately. We are in alot of open farm country for now. This fall, however we are going to an area full of opportunity.

Yes, I was a lineman for 6 months, summer help deal. Then I went to work for my dad (fabricating) between jobs, and decided to stay cause I upped the company production bigtime, felt like I couldn't leave them hanging. I never thought about owning my own business, but liked the fact that you get out of it what you put in, instead of just being another company number trying to buck the lazy old guys. Right now I am pretty much my own boss, can't beat that. The Co-op pace was too slow for me, not to mention all the union whining crap.

I still have my degree and a great resume, so I could always go back. For now the chance has payed off big. We are now a 3 million dollar a year company, not bad for small business. It has opened my eyes to things I wouldn't have grasped for a long time as a lineman.

 

[Nailsbeats]

Good one Nails, lol.

That one kinda just worked out on it's own.

 

[JeffL]

That one kinda just worked out on it's own.

 

[Bigus Termitius]

Yes, I was a lineman for 6 months, summer help deal. Then I went to work for my dad (fabricating) between jobs, and decided to stay cause I upped the company production bigtime, felt like I couldn't leave them hanging. I never thought about owning my own business, but liked the fact that you get out of it what you put in, instead of just being another company number trying to buck the lazy old guys. Right now I am pretty much my own boss, can't beat that. The Co-op pace was too slow for me, not to mention all the union whining crap.

I still have my degree and a great resume, so I could always go back. For now the chance has payed off big. We are now a 3 million dollar a year company, not bad for small business. It has opened my eyes to things I wouldn't have grasped for a long time as a lineman.

Congrats Nails. I'm heading into my own eventually and somewhat in tandem with the current job on the weekends. I'm getting rather booked lately.

I'm just glad neither my company nor the Coop is union. I don't think I'd fit in...in fact I know I wouldn't, the mentality will flat suck the life blood out of you.

 

[tree MDS]

Dan, all jokes aside, if you read my post on how to sharpen em I think I explained it pretty well, just do as I say!! :monkey:

 

[utilityman]

Sharpening gaffs

Hello guys:

Buckingham sells a sharpening kit for tree or pole gaffs. Included is, a file, hone and sharpening gauge with instruction on how to properly maintain them.

 

[tree MDS]

Good info utility- however, sharpening kit? lol. Any treeguy worth his salt ought to know how to sharpen his own spikes-I'm sorry its just a fact. I've seen "treeguys" who take thier chains to a sharpening service, again lol. Dan, yer not one of them are you??

 

[treemandan]

Good info utility- however, sharpening kit? lol. Any treeguy worth his salt ought to know how to sharpen his own spikes-I'm sorry its just a fact. I've seen "treeguys" who take thier chains to a sharpening service, again lol. Dan, yer not one of them are you??

That is what I have said all along you piece of filthy tree scum. #1 your method does NOT achieve the original "panther" like action of a freshly honed gaff AND #2 You bet I don't waste my time messing around with no long chains cause I've bigger fish to fry.
One piece of my gear starts to lack and I am on it. I tend to really want to do things as best as possible to whatever extent... sometimes and mostly.
Now tell us, dear brother, how did you make out running that truck down? Didn't see it coming huh? E- brake was it?
Well I'll tell you and you can ask anybody, I don't roll with no E- brake you putz. and I really get annoyed when I am up against a dead hard one and my #### ain't sharp... enough.
You are now the Barney Fife of the tree industry and congradufukinlations to you! You know the whole thing is your fault don't you? Out of everybody involved who knew the E-brake didn't work?
The more I hear about you and your organization the more it reminds of sheer slapstick like an out of control and loud ice cream truck. do dit da do dit do. BarneyFNFife, i love your work!

 

[treemandan]

Dan, all jokes aside, if you read my post on how to sharpen em I think I explained it pretty well, just do as I say!! :monkey:

I think if I did what you told me to do I would be dead or worse by now.

 

[treemandan]

Hello guys:

Buckingham sells a sharpening kit for tree or pole gaffs. Included is, a file, hone and sharpening gauge with instruction on how to properly maintain them.

The kit has a gauge that allows for proper diameter as well as the other 2 angles needed. It looks like a pain.

 

[Treetom]

Gaff sharpening instructions

Here's a link to instructions that come with the Klein sharpening kit. Good luck.

http://www.kleintools.com/kleinlit/pdf/139184_Gaff_Instructions.pdf

 

[rbtree]

There ya go, Dan. Get that kit.

I've been sharpening my gaffs for 35 years, without the kit, and seem to be doing alright.

One other thing....I doubt seriously if your knife sharpening service has experience with gaff sharpening....

 

[tree MDS]

The kit has a gauge that allows for proper diameter as well as the other 2 angles needed. It looks like a pain.

Everything looks like a pain if yer too stupid to learn it you moron.

 

[tree MDS]

Here's a link to instructions that come with the Klein sharpening kit. Good luck.

http://www.kleintools.com/kleinlit/pdf/139184_Gaff_Instructions.pdf

Yeah, there you go Pam, lol.

 

[Nailsbeats]

the mentality will flat suck the life blood out of you.

I like this quote a lot. I remember telling my dad about this life sucking mentality, almost word for word. I used to feel sorry for them, but that's the system and that's life, they got it made and they know it.

Maybe someday I will learn to slow down, but not right now, I don't have time, lol.

 

[treemandan]

There ya go, Dan. Get that kit.

I've been sharpening my gaffs for 35 years, without the kit, and seem to be doing alright.

One other thing....I doubt seriously if your knife sharpening service has experience with gaff sharpening....

I seriously doubt you would know anything about who sharpens my stuff but in any case your wrong buddy, I don't know how you would feel comfortable making a statement like that.

 

[tree MDS]

I seriously doubt you would know anything about who sharpens my stuff but in any case your wrong buddy, I don't know how you would feel comfortable making a statement like that.

"Sharpens yer stuff", lol. .....B, the only letter comes to mind...... lol.