Spur length

[Goober]

Don't listen to the clown who doesn't know the right way to sharpen gaffs.
Quote the fool from the land of fruits and nuts, " Only file the outside and not underneath the gaff- ONLY THE OUTSIDE! Jeff"
Posted on another forum over a year ago!!!!!!!
Poor advice from someone with all that suppossed experience.
What a NOOB, Jeffy.

 

[tomtrees58]

i used 3 sets pole 50% stringers brooks 2" tree gaffs and 3" some times but they kill me

 

[beav700]

Pole spurs is the only way to go unless you're living in NorthWest. I bought my fist spurs on Ebay with picture showing long tree gaffs. Pole gaffs arrived. I used them for a while and then thinking I was missing something, I bought actual long tree gaffs. That was waste of money. The comfort is horrible. Same brand (buckingham), same pads, world of difference. Because the tree gaffs are longer and stick out further away from you leg, it puts at least double the pressure on the pad and forces your legs outwards. When you get off the tree, you walk like a cowboy. I can walk with my pole gaffs on the ground and I don't have to worry so much about gaffing my self. Sure, every once in the while my gaff will come out on the way down from the tree, but to me, the comfort is worth few slips.

 

[tree MDS]

Don't listen to the clown who doesn't know the right way to sharpen gaffs.
Quote the fool from the land of fruits and nuts, " Only file the outside and not underneath the gaff- ONLY THE OUTSIDE! Jeff"
Posted on another forum over a year ago!!!!!!!
Poor advice from someone with all that suppossed experience.
What a NOOB, Jeffy.

Hey Jeff, looks like you made an actual real Goober friend to call Goober now! lol.

What's up with the spike sharpening deal, any truth to this? I always learned to sharpen only the underside.. maybe just hit the sides ever so lightly, to take off any burrs and dress, or whatever..

 

[TreeClimber57]

I always learned to sharpen only the underside.. maybe just hit the sides ever so lightly, to take off any burrs and dress, or whatever..

That IS the right way to do it. And you should finish with a stone, in fact if you keep on top of your gaff sharpening you likely will ONLY ever need a stone. 90% of my sharpening for almost 40 years has been with a stone.

 

[tree MDS]

That IS the right way to do it. And you should finish with a stone, in fact if you keep on top of your gaff sharpening you likely will ONLY ever need a stone. 90% of my sharpening for almost 40 years has been with a stone.

I use a file.. but I can see where that removes quite a bit of metal, even if you're careful. By stone, you mean like a knife sharpening stone, I assume? Interesting.

 

[killahnewton]

Pole-piks for me and I prefer a little dull. I think the topic is a little off track here. Comfort is critical. I once believed an uncomfortable leg iron was incentive to get the job done quicker. Long duration climbs in hardwood with "gaffs" is uncomfortable. Lately I have limited my spike use in take-downs. Good climbs are comfy climbs. Go Short! Keep some spare 2 3/4s in the tool box for the punk and cork or to impress the homeowner with your massive talons.:hmm3grin2orange: