What temprature do you stay home

[fireman]

I was wondering at what temperature do you stay home.the main concern is the wear and tear on equipment.Temps on equipment never reach the operating temp and start blowing motors hydraulic lines crack bearings in the feed rollers snap.Just wondering what temps do you call it quits.

 

[TDunk]

When i can feel my facial hair starting to freeze. Usually i call it quits at about 15 degrees. But that's only if i can. I've been out working in -5 temps. before, if i have alot of work lined up and can't afford to take the day off, then i'll work in it. Other wise i take an L.I. day (lack of interest)

 

[Themadd1]

Lowest I worked was -11 in 30ft white pines and hemlocks. Gotta love brittle branches, high winds, and cold cold temperatures.

I look at it like this, if you work hard, you stay warm, wear the proper gear, and man up....

The only thing keeping me out of trees is heavy rain, snow, and ice. I am not the postman and I dont work when the weather, not the temperature, is hazardous.

:greenchainsaw:

 

[teamtree]

Well we worked today at around 10 and tomorrow it will be in the single digits.

We try to take advantage of the really cold days when the ground is froze like a rock. So if it gets down in single digits we are out there trying to get something done.

The pace is a bit slower and we tend not to work as long.

 

[treeman82]

I've looked at a few jobs before where I said to the customer or contractor we need a COLD day in order to do the job. Didn't get the jobs, but those were the types where the teens would be good. Lakeside jobs where you need to be out on the ice to work, or ROTTEN trees over the septic system... bomb them right on there whole, no problems... soft ground though you're gonna pay.

If I have to work, I'll go out regardless of temps, just bundle up. If I don't have to, I won't, and will wait for better days.

 

[Wortown Mick]

I dislike working when its over 90-95 with high humidity.
Of course, I still work but I hate every moment. Plenty of leaf blower cooldowns.. I say shoving the nozzle up your pant leg when your sweating rivers with a major case of swamparse is incentive to keep trucking.

As far as cold.. theres no set quit temperature for me. I guess when stuff doesnt work & starts breaking its time to go home.

Frozen ground is the only reason some projects get done IE golf courses..
Lakesides another good example, though when I was working for bartlett we had a lakeside job we were using a canoe on.. right up untill swimming proved to be the better idea.

 

[John464]

a good worker is one who can endure the extremes of hot and cold weather. If it's too cold, dress apropriately. if its too hot, dress appropriately and drink plenty of fluids while pacing yourself.


I will hold off when there is lightning, a hurricane or a tornado until it passes. We work in the rain in temps 55 degrees and above, unless it happens with only an hour or two left on that particular job. Light sprinkle, the show goes on in all temps. Rain gear is must in all trucks. High winds can be worked in with the correct adjustment of speed/caution.

Weather related issues you learn to adapt to and if you can't, tree work may not be the right job for you.

 

[fireman]

cold weather

my concern is the equipment. ive noticed equipment breaking down when its 10 degrees or less.do you have the same problem or is it just a problem we are having.all equipment greased cleaned additives in diesel.lift kept in heated shop the lift is the only equipment we dont have problems with.

 

[John464]

As far as machinery. For instance the past few weeks Im warming everything up an hour before the guys are due in. The bucket truck and the spider lift still do start out slow, but better slow than sitting home. Stump machines, saws, skid loader, chipper, seem to work like usual just a little cold start symptoms.

 

[fireman]

thanks john are biggest problem is the chipper, like you said we let it run for about an hour before we use it on a job.I would much rather work in this weather 10 degres than 90.

 

[Kansas]

I was wondering at what temperature do you stay home.the main concern is the wear and tear on equipment.Temps on equipment never reach the operating temp and start blowing motors hydraulic lines crack bearings in the feed rollers snap.Just wondering what temps do you call it quits.

Coldest I have cut firewood and split it (that I remember)was 13 degrees it was last year, I was OUT of wood and had no choice but freeze or turn the overhead heaters on (D'oh). I nearly had a heart attack getting the splitter started even with 10-30 oil in it, my oil and saws were in the truck on the drive out so they started. We cut and split 2 full pickup loads and came back and unloaded and stacked them and I went home and got in my outdoor 105 degree hot tub man was that nice!!! I would do it all over any day...not.

 

[mattfr12]

we where out on saturday and it was like 7 degrees but after butt thrusting up that tree i just had underarmor and a long sleeve shirt on. still foggin up the saftey glasses.

 

[John464]

thanks john are biggest problem is the chipper, like you said we let it run for about an hour before we use it on a job.I would much rather work in this weather 10 degres than 90.

hmm what model chipper is it and did these things happen all on the same day?

 

[mckeetree]

thanks john are biggest problem is the chipper, like you said we let it run for about an hour before we use it on a job.I would much rather work in this weather 10 degres than 90.

Not me- we haved have worked in 105 degree weather but when it gets below 20 (or 32 if the wind is pretty stiff) that is it for us.

 

[hornett22]

i'll work in any temp.

i'm not real keen on 90 and above or much humidity but i'll still work.i'll take the cold over the extreme heat any day.i also prefer frozen ground to work on.my only complaint with the cold is waiting on hydraulics.

 

[TheKid]

chipper woes

so far in 08, our vermeer 935 (i think its a 1997) has puked out due to different fuel probs. yesterday, it was gelled biodiesel. this was biodiesel b50=50% dinodiesel and 50% bio. supposed working temp of 10-15deg. it has only been down to 20 or so here. it probably doesn't help that we have minor cracks in the fuel tank. i think the fuel is taking on water there. but to answer original post, it doesn't get too cold here not to work, but if it snows much, we stay home. the city has not the infrastructure to deal with the white stuff.

 

[Bigus Termitius]

I suppose I'll work in any weather and temp, the only thing that stops me is if/when the crew calls in for it.

Of course if it's pouring all day, then we can't go, but that's about it save the givens like hurricanes, tornados, and sever thunderstorms with lightning.

Being involved with line clearance/storm response demands the ability and willingness to brave the worst nature can throw at you.

How cold?

I'm a polar bear. I love the teens we've been getting. If you unleash that inner fire and actually work then it is ideal!!

Even so, don't forget to drink plenty of liquids then too! I was pounding down ice cold water today like it was July.

 

[fireman]

equipment

john i have an older vermeer 1250 its seems every day there is another problem.maintance is done every day we use diesel stop for addative in fuel, grease every other day in the cold weather.I cant afford a new one yet but what chipper would you go with.In warmer weather we have no problems.we only feed it 6-8 inch limbs in this weather.we just worked threw the tornados in northern il south wisconsin it was un believable, trying to get pics up but having problem.we work threw anything but it is the equipment we are having problems with last year we were doing a clear cut had deadline we worked solid week in -10 with out wind chill.like you guys said harder you work the warmer you stay.

 

[Magnum783]

so far in 08, our vermeer 935 (i think its a 1997) has puked out due to different fuel probs. yesterday, it was gelled biodiesel. this was biodiesel b50=50% dinodiesel and 50% bio. supposed working temp of 10-15deg. it has only been down to 20 or so here. it probably doesn't help that we have minor cracks in the fuel tank. i think the fuel is taking on water there. but to answer original post, it doesn't get too cold here not to work, but if it snows much, we stay home. the city has not the infrastructure to deal with the white stuff.

Howes Lubercator man it is the greatest stuff for bio diesel. I run it in my pickup and it has helped a ton. I buy it at almost any truck stop. Give it a try it work wonders.
Jared

 

[Mikecutstrees]

I just got a magnetic heater for the oil pan on my BC 1000. It works great. Starts right up now. The only thing that slows me down is snow, I don't like to risk my equipment on the roads with the idiots that are out there. Also being pushed by a 5000 lb chipper in slick roads isn't my idea of fun.