spyder/bucket.v.climber

[ROLLACOSTA]

today we had a fairly large take down ..fagus sylvatica 70 feet +
the tree was in a
a typical back garden scenario ,walls ponds nice lawn ,shed ect
no room for a crane and not realy needed....the job went ok ..as they go ..now im not disrespecting my climber ..but man the day seemed too drag out ..plenty of rigging etc ...i couldnt help but wish i had one of those spyders/tracked cherry pickers call them what you want.. im sure we would have saved so much time and energy ..i even think one would be good for moral...iknow a good climbers skills will always be needed but ..i cant help thinking ..if only..............and yes one would have fitted lovely in the garden in various possitions......any comments??

 

[PRUNER 1]

we used a platform for deadwooding 19 80" limes in an avenue and it took just under two days. these trees were monsters and full of deadwood. it destroyed our souls as we had to look at them for months (last phase of a huge job). if we had climbed them it would have taken us a week and totally killed morale. a money saver yes, a morale booster on horrid jobs yes but not an everyday fix, we climbers need our aerial fix!!!

 

[xtremetrees]

Hooaa! heard that about the fix. I get juiced in the tree the moral boost is in climbing for me. Day in day out!
As a climber what lowers my moral is a bucket.

There is alot to be said about of team of folks pulling together and working as a team. The climber leads them. Ive had a harder time leading them and keepin moral up out of a bucket.Rigging is where its at for me its not about the destination but the journey.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

Originally posted by xtremetrees
Hooaa! heard that about the fix. I get juiced in the tree the moral boost is in climbing for me. Day in day out!
As a climber what lowers my moral is a bucket.

There is alot to be said about of team of folks pulling together and working as a team. The climber leads them. Ive had a harder time leading them and keepin moral up out of a bucket.Rigging is where its at for me its not about the destination but the journey.

forget adrenalin rushes ..for me its all about 1safety 2 a good job done well ...3 time and money...

no i do enjoy the buzz but sometimes i feel i can do without it

 

[PRUNER 1]

oh i agree entirely with you about the bucket and morale, i even left a job coz they used the platform so much i would go days without a climb, its just that for what i get paid, somedays, bustin my balls just aint worth it. i do generally need to climb everyday, unless ime knackered from the previous day!

 

[jamie]

work

as im a trainee climber im not climbing day in day out so a climb is a bit of a priviledge, but sometimes getting your head down and chipping can be just as much fun

jamie

 

[Lumberjack]

To me, trimming should be done climbing rather than in a bucket, because the climber, IMO, is more likely to do a better job if he is already out on the tips. Buckets inrease productivity, but rarely does anyone in a bucket take the time saved, and put it back in the tree.

As for removals, I think that a bucket is king. It is fun to climb, and have to think stuff out (at times) but on removals productivity is king there. Instead of having to gently rig out large dead branches, the bucket man can chunk up the limb, while it is still on the tree. Saving time on the ground, and in the air.

But climbing sure is fun when you have a good TIP.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

Originally posted by Lumberjack
To me, trimming should be done climbing rather than in a bucket, because the climber, IMO, is more likely to do a better job if he is already out on the tips. Buckets inrease productivity, but rarely does anyone in a bucket take the time saved, and put it back in the tree.

As for removals, I think that a bucket is king. It is fun to climb, and have to think stuff out (at times) but on removals productivity is king there. Instead of having to gently rig out large dead branches, the bucket man can chunk up the limb, while it is still on the tree. Saving time on the ground, and in the air.

But climbing sure is fun when you have a good TIP.

i think its all down too the individual regards the quality of work he does,personaly i think a crown reduction not crown thinning is better carried out in a bucket ..as we say in england its horses for courses

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by ROLLACOSTA
i think its all down too the individual regards the quality of work he does,personaly i think a crown reduction not crown thinning is better carried out in a bucket ..as we say in england its horses for courses

Crown reduction might be best from a bucket, because you can more easily get into position to make the best cuts possible.

I was sterotypin when I said that bucketeers weren't as concened with overall workmanship of the tree. I can think of may situations were the leaders/limbs would interfere with the booms movement, makeing the operator make compromises.

For most situations in tree care, the quality of the work is easy to tell. Weither or not the work was neccessary is sometimes a matter of opinion.

 

[NeTree]

It's easier to climb large trees for pruining because you have better access to the interior canopy without worrying about booms getting in the way and such.

On removals, I use the bucket whenever possible. It really does save alot of time, and productivity indeed makes money.

 

[treeman82]

Bucket trucks and cranes are some of the best ways to spoil a good climber. I am not saying that they don't each have their places. I am however saying that when they are using the crane and bucket 24/7 that they loose a lot of their rigging and climbing skills.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Like a pole saw, cahinsaw, or a ladder. Buckets are tools that can make a job more efficient, or allow someone to butcher a tree faster.

Buckets don't butcher trees, people do.

Int the hands of a skilled practitioner any too has it's place.

I've seen skilled bucket men bang out 3 trees from on location. If you can't get to the back, run the climber up to do that side.

I enjoy climbing and rigging, but this is a job. If pulling the tree over will amke it go faster for the same amount of money, that's what I'll do.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by John Paul Sanborn
Like a pole saw, cahinsaw, or a ladder. Buckets are tools that can make a job more efficient, or allow someone to butcher a tree faster.

Buckets don't butcher trees, people do.

Int the hands of a skilled practitioner any too has it's place.

I've seen skilled bucket men bang out 3 trees from on location. If you can't get to the back, run the climber up to do that side.

I enjoy climbing and rigging, but this is a job. If pulling the tree over will amke it go faster for the same amount of money, that's what I'll do.

EXCELLENT POST!!!

 

[wiley_p]

A few years ago I worked at a place that had 2 60' bucket trucks, and noone used them except occasionally. I started taking one with us every day. Used the truck 4 out of five days. Be it a rigging removal, using it as an elevator for slower climbers in big Firs, hedgerows, it didnt matter. It saved time and wear on myh climbing staff, plus made easier money safely. Nothing wrong with that, we get plenrty of chances to hang our butts on the line no sense going hard just to do it.,

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by netree
It's easier to climb large trees for pruining because you have better access to the interior canopy without worrying about booms getting in the way and such.

On removals, I use the bucket whenever possible. It really does save alot of time, and productivity indeed makes money.

Thaswhat I am sayin.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

in the uk it is recomended by the health and safety people /goverment department. that where ever possible tree contractors should use some form of platform..i get the feeling this may be made law in the future..ive heard this is law already in germany but i have looked on many german websites and have seen people in full climbing kit and some in trees climbing ..so is this a myth or is it true??

 

[Lumberjack]

Not all sites allow acess for a lift or platform, so there would have to be a provision for those situations.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Bucket trucks will never eliminate the climbing profession.

 

[PRUNER 1]

???? right. hopefully those idiots at hse will not bring legislation in stating that climbing should be a last resort. were is the fun in not climbing. its like trying to ban top handled saws for god sakes. has the man in charge of that useless titbit ever used a tophandle and a conventional in a tree at the tips?

 

[jamie]

HSE

ive been told that climbing may be tried to be outlawed.....that'll just mean more yeehaa operations i feel, some hack with a bucket could do more damage than some hack with a ladder,

i know a gardener who knows someone who dabbles with trees, he will climb his ladder and knock the top off at the top of the ladder, if the ladder isnt big enough, well there is a large top.....but they dont stick the saw in the soil, because the saw will kickbak in the soil

jamie