Where do you buy an air spade?

[ForTheArborist]

After doing my research online for inoculation and seeing what the roofers use to blow off shingles, am I right to assume we all use the same air spade?

The tool looks like a simple air hose attachment that shouldn't cost too much. How much did one run you, and where are the places to get one?

 

[TreeW?rx]

Wesspur or Sherrill tree. They both have them and can tell you what the requirements to run them are.

 

[treeseer]

Search Air Knife.

also search the archives here for pages about this.

 

[ForTheArborist]

I see that they need alot for the air spade on those sites.

It looks like I can get into one of those air knives for a lot less. Then again how am I going to cut up the dirt with it? I assume I'd purchase a air pipe that is bent properly to attach to the knife. Then I could grab the pipe like a handle to handle the work.

Any comments?

 

[treeclimber101]

Just buy a spade with a wooden handle there much cheaper and easy to use ..

 

[ATH]

They cost more than you think they would... I think the cost is because of the engineering to make the nozel and valve and because of "economy of scale" (I doubt they sell 10,000 of these per year...). Then you have to find a compressor to run it, and it really costs more than you thought. The tool just became the cheap part of the operation!

I bought an AirKnife from Dave Leonard out of Lexington, KY. He even let me spend a day with him learning some ways to use it...

I had handled both a little in the field before buying and liked the Air Knife ergonomics better.

 

[ForTheArborist]

They cost more than you think they would... I think the cost is because of the engineering to make the nozel and valve and because of "economy of scale" (I doubt they sell 10,000 of these per year...). Then you have to find a compressor to run it, and it really costs more than you thought. The tool just became the cheap part of the operation!

I bought an AirKnife from Dave Leonard out of Lexington, KY. He even let me spend a day with him learning some ways to use it...

I had handled both a little in the field before buying and liked the Air Knife ergonomics better.

...and it just doesn't get any better.

Air Knife by Dave Leonard:

Model Compressor Price Includes
X-LT 185 CFM $1250.00 Light-weight aluminum barrel and valve.
X-LT travel kit 185 CFM $1550.00 X-LT with additional barrel. Includes briefcase and 25' (1" diameter) light-weight air hose.
X-ST 185 CFM $1850.00 Heavy-duty stainless steel barrel and brass valve.
X-HFA 375 CFM $2600.00 Larger diameter, light-weight aluminium barrel and valve.
Vac-H 185 CFM $2200.00 Vacuum unit, includes light-weight aluminium barrel and valve. Discharge barrel is aluminium and connects to (included) 8' discharge hose.

 

[ForTheArborist]

These guys seem like they provide a better product than the air spade:

http://www.supersonicairknife.com/

 

[NCTREE]

I've been thinking about purcahsing an air spade, it seems exspensive though. These Air knifes seem much more reasonable in price. Does anyone use the airknife products?

 

[ForTheArborist]

I can definitely use one of these tools. The work with it is not tough, and for me it would be easy to sell. My area is all urban for miles and miles around, so all of these trees are meant as decorations, and not a single one is anything else. On top of that, this area is not even meant to grow trees. The trees here would just die without people's assistance. Put these two together, and you get a bunch of witherers that can definitely use some "microbial motivation" around their root systems.

ARBORICULTURE APPLICATIONS
Area Decompaction
Grade Remediation
Grounding Rod Installation
Increasing Soil Organics
Irrigation Installation and Maintenance
Remediate Construction Damage
Radial Trenching
Relocation (Root Ball & Bare Root)
Root Crown Excavation
Root Delineation
Root Trimming
Utility Installation
Area Mulching
Vertical Mulching

 

[ForTheArborist]

The thing is that in places where the trees are common, there is a great soil for trees. Unless the things need the soil to be decompacted, I'd just be a scam selling this service in those areas. There the whole earth is compost, and here the whole area is border line desert.

 

[jefflovstrom]

I can definitely use one of these tools. The work with it is not tough, and for me it would be easy to sell. My area is all urban for miles and miles around, so all of these trees are meant as decorations, and not a single one is anything else. On top of that, this area is not even meant to grow trees. The trees here would just die without people's assistance. Put these two together, and you get a bunch of witherers that can definitely use some "microbial motivation" around their root systems.

ARBORICULTURE APPLICATIONS
Area Decompaction
Grade Remediation
Grounding Rod Installation
Increasing Soil Organics
Irrigation Installation and Maintenance
Remediate Construction Damage
Radial Trenching
Relocation (Root Ball & Bare Root)
Root Crown Excavation
Root Delineation
Root Trimming
Utility Installation
Area Mulching
Vertical Mulching

Your area? Dude, I wish you the best, but you be lacking alot!
Jeff

 

[ForTheArborist]

Your area? Dude, I wish you the best, but you be lacking alot!
Jeff

:censored:

 

[jefflovstrom]

Good one, FTA.
Jeff

 

[ForTheArborist]

You working hard, JL? I suppose it's the same ol', same ole your way. I'm still trying to land my ad campaign just right. It sucks a lot of my time up here lately. Otherwise I'm booked into next month. I understand you are probably booked into the next generation, so how I make my living looks like meager pickings to you. BTW, how far up is your crew booked? I bet on next year.

 

[ForTheArborist]

Good one, FTA.
Jeff

:blob5:

 

[ATH]

I've been thinking about purcahsing an air spade, it seems exspensive though. These Air knifes seem much more reasonable in price. Does anyone use the airknife products?

I have used both, and like the AirKnife is a little more ergonomic in my opinion. The Air Spade looks like it would be with the angles, but I find it easier to just stand over the area you are working. No question the AirKnife is better if you are doing vertical mulching.

Like I said above though...once you start compressor shopping, the tool suddenly becomes the cheap part so my advice would be to buy the one you are more confortable with if you are able to try them out.

 

[jefflovstrom]

Yeah FTA, I am booked for the next three years, but that means nothing when you ask where to buy an air spade. I dont want to argue with you, but when you get in over your your head, it seems you resent the replies. I wish you all the best, but dont get on me for talking straight.
Jeff
You may have seen me around--urban tree care
All is good?

 

[ForTheArborist]

Yeah FTA, I am booked for the next three years, but that means nothing when you ask where to buy an air spade. I dont want to argue with you, but when you get in over your your head, it seems you resent the replies. I wish you all the best, but dont get on me for talking straight.
Jeff
You may have seen me around--urban tree care
All is good?

Yeah, 3 years. All should be dandy!

I like where I'm at for right now. I still have a lot of plans I want to complete, and I have a lot of people willing to contribute to them. Nothing or no one is stopping me from anything at the time being. I'd still be a lot farther back in the woods without AS too.

 

[jefflovstrom]

Like I said, good for you and I wish you all the best, we are in different markets, just dont resent some replies.
Jeff
BTW, I have been here over 30 years and seen them all, in San Diego.
All good?