smallest thing you've climbed on spikes?

[imagineero]

How far dare you take it? ;-) Let's hear it for species and diameter. Mostly pines in my area and I've not dared to go down much smaller than about 6". I'll climb up to about 3" of there are branches to stand on, but not on spikes. Ever gone to far and had the tree snap?

Shaun

 

[tree md]

I've gone as small as 3 or 4 inch wood up high when I was younger and trimmer. I'll still go down to around 4" wood when I have to but I usually like to have a remote tie in when I can these days. I use my ropes to climb with a lot more these days. Even on removals.

 

[sgreanbeans]

The light pole across the street from my house!

 

[TreEmergencyB]

as small as i will tie into, im only 150 ive spike small enough that the insides of my pads rub together depending on species that is. Oak ill go real small 2-3 inches White ash more like 5" depending on other factors as well, i work witha guy who wont climb anything smaller than his waist. What goob right? he spikes his prunes too so it doesnt matter he sucks

 

[ipkyss]

You guys will climb 2-3"? with spikes? Look at a tape and see how small that really is. Is that normal? I guess I stay on the really safe side. I dont even like tying into 2-3" when trimming small low trees and I try to keep my weight off the TIP.

 

[tree md]

As has been mentioned it is dependent on the species. There are ways to get out and reach what you need to without placing yourself in danger. You can double crotch if you have overhead TIP's or can make a good redirect above you. You can also tie into a remote tree if you have one above the work zone. I have tied into remote trees and pieced out dead trees below that looked like a piece of driftwood and are barley supporting their own weight. Spiking 3" wood can be very risky if all you are using is a personal lanyard. You always need to use good judgment and common sense. A good rule of thumb that I was taught was not to spike anything smaller than your calf. That would be around 5 or 6" for me these days but I'll get out on something smaller if I'm feeling it. After you've been doing it awhile you can pretty much just feel what will support you and what not. At least you hope you can or you won't be doing it for very long.

 

[TreeClimber57]

as small as i will tie into, im only 150 ive spike small enough that the insides of my pads rub together depending on species that is. Oak ill go real small 2-3 inches White ash more like 5" depending on other factors as well, i work witha guy who wont climb anything smaller than his waist. What goob right? he spikes his prunes too so it doesnt matter he sucks

If you climb a 2" tree - then you a better man than me on spurs .. that is not much bigger than the handle on my pole pruner.

I have done 4".. but doubt much smaller.

 

[TreeAce]

I am not sure how small I have ever spured but I do know that it would be VERY rare to ever NEED to go on anything all that small . With a good pole to set ropes for rigging it would almost never be necessary to climb on anything all that small . Atleast around my neck of the woods . So..unless you are just asking for the sake of conversation (which is cool with me) then I would say that you can generally find a better way than spuring up little leads.

 

[TreeClimber57]

I am not sure how small I have ever spured but I do know that it would be VERY rare to ever NEED to go on anything all that small . With a good pole to set ropes for rigging it would almost never be necessary to climb on anything all that small . Atleast around my neck of the woods . So..unless you are just asking for the sake of conversation (which is cool with me) then I would say that you can generally find a better way than spuring up little leads.

I tend to agree. There are not many times you can not find a way to do something that small other than climbing... I can think of a couple over the years but in our case few and far between.. and even then not necessary to go smaller than maybe 4 or 5 inches unless you want to do it to see how small you can go.

I know years ago there used to be some private poles that were maybe six inches maximum.. (class 9) no idea why or how they were ever permitted. Never see them on anything anylonger.. but they used to be occasionally around - mostly on cottages.