You look like you want to take a shit. But again kudos....
Just finished a climbing course over the weekend
- Thread starter Jorgon1022
- Start date
hseII
Participating member
- Location
- United States
This x 100. A handsaw is a bad Thing to slip with.
OP,
Get comfortable climbing without a saw first. It’s going to take a while.
I haven’t seen it mentioned in this thread:
Always Always Always make sure you are double tied before using any type of saw.
That’s a Standard for power saws, but as @Jehinten has already pointed out, just as necessary for handsaws.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Scratch
Participating member
- Location
- Hudson, WI
I have a problem with limbwalking too. It just doesn't "feel" right to me. I think I just need more instruction and time in the trees.
Sometimes ya just gotta get light and get ta fuck out there. Here is my apprentice getting out there...
That makes sense. Dave is a good guy and knows his stuff.
Jorgon1022
New member
- Location
- Boise
Yup.
That's what I was told. You can accidentally cut the rope with the saw. I'm almost thinking I should have my saw on my leg away from the top of the rope.
Jorgon1022
New member
- Location
- Boise
Yup. Can't say enough good things about Dave.
Even though they taught us the SRT and MRS, I think I'm gonna start with MRS. I was definitely more comfortable using that system.
Barc Buster
Branched out member
- Location
- The land shaped like a hand
Great idea. Take it a step further and make it your dominant hand side leg. You don't want to be cross drawing that saw as a greenhorn.
hseII
Participating member
- Location
- United States
Sawpod Pruning Saw Holder
The Sawpod is a unique leg strap which makes your pruning saw more easily accessible. It features anti-twist buckles and neoprene cushioning for a comfortable fit. Designed by Arborists in th
www.treestuff.com
Like @Barc Buster said,
Dominant Hand side, on calf.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Jorgon1022
New member
- Location
- Boise
Sawpod Pruning Saw Holder
The Sawpod is a unique leg strap which makes your pruning saw more easily accessible. It features anti-twist buckles and neoprene cushioning for a comfortable fit. Designed by Arborists in th
Like @Barc Buster said,
Dominant Hand side, on calf.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Question on cutting a tree. When bringing a tree down, do you start removing limbs from the ground up, or from the top to the bottom?
Common sense tells me that we should start from bottom to top because if you start from top to bottom, the branches you are cutting would be hitting the bottom branches. Isnt this correct?
hseII
Participating member
- Location
- United States
It depends: am I wraptoring up, roping up, or spiking up?
If I’m Wraptoring up, I’m establishing my TIP 1st & then coming back down to wherever I need to start based on the obstructions.
Of on spurs or rope,
On the way up good sir.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Jorgon1022
New member
- Location
- Boise
Correct. I should have been more clear. I was talking about a Moving Rope System where I am tied in at my highest point. I was thinking that I tie myself at a high point of a tree, come down, and work my way up to that high point.
Barc Buster
Branched out member
- Location
- The land shaped like a hand
Really depends for me too. What am I trying to do? Removal, deadwooding, reduction pruning, complex or simple rigging, etc. Basic removal spuring I would strip the tree on the way up. For other activities climb up and establish a solid canopy TIP. Or maybe it's a simple tree and I leave my basal anchor in place and rock it out quick that way.
The advice is good here, but you really need to beg, steal, or borrow some time with a good climber. I can tell you know that after your weekend course. And before you ask I'm not it.
Jorgon1022
New member
- Location
- Boise
I agree.
But how do I do that? How can I convince a climber to teach me how to climb? Or to do weekend work. I'd be willing to pay for that
Barc Buster
Branched out member
- Location
- The land shaped like a hand
That's the million dollar question isn't it.
I would but I live in Barbados.
GreenstoneVT
New member
- Location
- Londonderry
I think this was covered in your original post - go work for someone else for a year or two. In that time, keep the jobs you have currently won and find a contract climber to help you finish those on weekends. Keep trying to get more weekend work focusing first on no rigging jobs to get used to the saw in your hands in the tree. After a few months start some light rigging. Build your confidence and skills while still being able to ask questions of your mentor Monday morning.
RopeShield
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
You need months of on the ground cutting, learning about wood, species of trees you will be putting your life in, limbs, specific rot organisms, what to look for /defecencies, long long list of things to know. Your at a very high risk of getting killed by the things you don't know and now it is even greater if you start climbing and cutting. The things you learn about climbing is the easy part. That is why there is so much death and injury in this industry.
Training companies teaching climbing with out the fundamentals.
Walk before you run. Cut on the ground before you climb.
Breaks my heart the industry chooses death over diligence!
Profit over vocation.
Industry is a disgrace look after yourself
Training companies teaching climbing with out the fundamentals.
Walk before you run. Cut on the ground before you climb.
Breaks my heart the industry chooses death over diligence!
Profit over vocation.
Industry is a disgrace look after yourself
Re: cutting aloft. Get to it. Hand saws are dangerous. Chainsaws are dangerous. Just stay within your limits. Make sure to attain good work position before cutting. With the chainsaw, avoid dutchman cuts. Make each face cut perfect. When starting the saw, make sure the brake is on. Understand kickback - which quadrant of the tip is responsible and also how a long bar can get you into the next branch accidentally.
Re: bottom up cutting on removals. That is standard, but each situation calls for it's own solution. Some trees can be opened up like a slice of pie. Some pine tops can come out without wasting the time removing the bottom branches. Don't leave stubs. When popping rigged tops, see if you can leave a few branches attached below, to dampen the forces from popping the top. But, make sure the top will not get caught on them.
About those books... I'm a really bookish guy in some ways. I've read a ton of books for leisure, and primary peer reviewed journal articles for work. I haven't read a single book listed above. I'm sure they are great and very helpful, but I just read treebuzz (and the other three forums) and watched youtube. In part, books are problematic in technical disciplines because they (like all other literature) are outdated before they are published and much more so than periodicals. The fact that technical books are even published points to some substantial smoke and mirrors concerning this issue.
Wish you success.
Re: bottom up cutting on removals. That is standard, but each situation calls for it's own solution. Some trees can be opened up like a slice of pie. Some pine tops can come out without wasting the time removing the bottom branches. Don't leave stubs. When popping rigged tops, see if you can leave a few branches attached below, to dampen the forces from popping the top. But, make sure the top will not get caught on them.
About those books... I'm a really bookish guy in some ways. I've read a ton of books for leisure, and primary peer reviewed journal articles for work. I haven't read a single book listed above. I'm sure they are great and very helpful, but I just read treebuzz (and the other three forums) and watched youtube. In part, books are problematic in technical disciplines because they (like all other literature) are outdated before they are published and much more so than periodicals. The fact that technical books are even published points to some substantial smoke and mirrors concerning this issue.
Wish you success.
Speaking of which, how many of you have actually dropped a deuce in a tree? A raise of hands please.
When I was in my mid 20's we did a big dead old growth Fir removal. The tree was about 9ft DBH and a solid 225 ft-235 ft, This was before all the new gadgetry, so it was old-school, rolling a 7/8" flipline and spurring through big shaggy decomposing bark. Anyone who has climbed a big dead Fir knows how truly miserable and bloody a climb like this can be. I finally got to the top of this thing, set my rigging, bombed on down to the first limb, and we started working the tree. A few limbs in and I suddenly needed to poop. Not now but right now. I thought about bombing to the ground to relieve myself but there was no way I was spurring back up this fucking pig. I ask the boys to send up a paper bag and some TP, stood on top of a big 24" limb and pooped right there in the tree at 130 ft in the air, then threw the bag at them. Never seen Bruce the Moose move so fucking fast. The highlight of my less than stellar career!
Last edited:
