Bracing an oak

[Norm_Hall]

We had to brace this oak. The split went almost to the ground. We installed 4 steel support cables and 3 bracing rods. The branch union was too wide to put any bracing above the union. We used a 5 foot drill bit below the split.

 

[Norm_Hall]

Pic of bracing rod placement.

 

[Norm_Hall]

Another showing a different view.

 

[Norm_Hall]

This 1 shows the length of the split on one side. The other side wasn't quite as bad.

 

[Norm_Hall]

This 1 shows the significance of this tree.

 

[allmark]

What assurance does the client ask for and what do you give when looking at a job like this. Im often asked what to do but dont want to leave myself liable. I know key trees are worth it and have done this often but am always leary of liability down the road.

 

[Colin]

The bolt looks too small for the job it's being asked to do.

 

[NickfromWI]

I appreciate that they took steps to get more years out of the tree, rather than sending it straight to the chipper.

Looks like nice work (based on my extensive experience bracing trees! )

love
nick

 

[flying_kiwiman]

[ QUOTE ]
The bolt looks too small for the job it's being asked to do.

[/ QUOTE ]

They do look small, and the o rings you used on the end also look small....is that enough service area to stop the rods from pulling into the wood??

Norm did you prune any weight out of the crown? it looks very heavy.

Jelte

 

[tod_k]

The cabling is usually easy, the bracing can often be a pita.

 

[Norm_Hall]

The rods are 3/4". The tree was pruned prior to support cable installation.
We can't guarantee anything we do. We tell the client the truth. We have had extremely good luck when reducing weight, installing support cables and bracing in a scenario like this.

 

[Colin]

It sounds like you did everything possible to help the tree! Good on ya!

 

[Mangoes]

Must've taken some time to run a 3/4" bit 5 feet. Nice work Norm.

 

[R_Schra]

ø 2inch and 3feet long drill. (us engineers, from army surplus) That goes like a knive trough hot butter (in watered and a year dried Douglas fir!). Only you need to drill in one go without stopping /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

It looks that the bracing has relative small rings to me. Did you the pruning climbing? asking because you braced after pruning. If climbed pruned did you stabilize the trunk?

Ronald

 

[Mark Chisholm]

Nice work Norm. I had to put two 5' rods in a Mulberry (of all trees) last month. :Lots of pruning and two support cables as well. The rods took the longest. /forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Mahk_Adams]

Nice work Norm. What kind of oak is that?

What size and type cable and end hardware did you use?

Were the rods lag thread or machine/coarse thread? If they were lag thread how did you turn them through the tree? I've seen and used several methods.

 

[Norm_Hall]

The pruning was done with a bucket. The cable was 5/16" EHS steel, 1/2" eye bolts for the anchors and coarse threaded rod for the bracing. The hole size was 11/16".
I was not in on the pruning. I was called to help install the bracing, the support cables were already installed. The question was, how to install above the branch union. In my opinion, the bracing would provide the best support if installed below the split.