Cabling and bracing study material

[Chaplain242]

Pics?

Don’t have pics but have seen 5x5 wooden beam a-frames to box in branches so they can move. In Southern Europe (Dalmatian Coast) have also seen stone plinths (see Stonehenge) to support branches on large trees ... looks great if can afford it...

 

[Jemco]

What's that composite stuff they make docks n decks out of?

Jemco

 

[evo]

I am actually not worried about the cabling portion. It looks like a hub connecting the three primary leads will give me enough support and in the right directions.
This customer has a good budget to sustain this tree, and we will be visiting it regularly for the foreseeable future.

There are a few notable trees that are proper in Seattle. One has two 4” or 6” square tubes with a wide stance about 30-45* on the down side of the lean. They seem to be pocketed in, and through bolted inplace. From my memory they are above half the height but under the 2/3 mark. It looked weathered and I could see the callus about 10 years ago, tree and props are still there

 

[evo]

I’d go steel all the way. Heavy walled square tubing, or I beam with stiffners

 

[Daniel]

That's a huge project... Good luck with it... lot of trade offs.. Those crotches look nasty.

 

[SomethingWitty]

I'm going with wooden beams. I have some true 4x6 beams from a pergola that a buddy took down. I took today to lengthen a couple of them from 12' to about 16' and I am going to mount a 1/4" thick cap on the end with a piece of 1" round stock sticking off of it. The base will be about 18" square with holes for stakes to keep it set in place.
We're going to set them up to get our hole placement correct, drill a seat hole (about six inches deep) perpendicular to the lean, and put the point in before shoving the base towards the trunk until the load is shared and it is staked down.


At least that is what I am bringing the ingredients for tomorrow.

 

[Jemco]

I'd give serious thought on using pressure treated utility poles in a triangular configuration, and galvanized steel hardware attachment points,

A 50 year lifespan ain't bad.

A job worth doin........

Jemco

 

[Daniel]

GUy Meilleur talks about reduction pruning.

I'd get as much weight as possible out of the tips of those big leads with the bad crotches and of course, do your thing with the props and cables.

 

[cerviarborist]

One thing you may want to bear in mind while contemplating reduction pruning, is that reduction of the canopy spread may jeopardize the champion status of the tree. This may inform decisions to prop or cable certain branches rather than reduce them.

Arboriculture oftentimes comes down to the fine art of raising the bridge...and lowering the river.

 

[Jemco]

Why no distinguishing between primary, secondary and tertiary wood, particularly when discussing reduction pruning Daniel.

You and Guy talk as if trees'd just fall apart n die without BCMA's around to save em....

Jemco

 

[SomethingWitty]

Some reduction has been done, but the job is being split. We have the cabling almost done, and I think it is turning out quite well.
There is a lead shooting out into the center that we have two bolts with eyes on both sides tying the entire canopy together. The deflection is very small; the lead itself is seeing much smaller loads than it would without the back stays on both sides, which is good. The base of it is pretty contorted, and it is our tallest point.
We will be back in a few months with purpose built props for the ideal locations, and we have logs from 12 to 15 feet long as temporary resistance to the roots upsetting, but the long term solution will probably be a large U shaped end with a rod that goes through the branch on a heavy steel post.

I'm going to research layering, and I believe we are going to start rooting about a dozen tips in the spring and get the entire canopy established in the ground.

The last photo is the last lead to cable in the upper canopy. There are a few lower supports that are going in as well.

 

[SomethingWitty]

I almost forgot!
This spot is just about exactly over the center.

 

[Chaplain242]

If you have high end high pixel photographs of the whole project from start to finish you could publish a book (probably with support from whatever agency selects these trees). A friend has printed such booklets for exotic bridge construction and if done well would be a decent advertising medium.

 

[SomethingWitty]

If you have high end high pixel photographs of the whole project from start to finish you caídos publish a book (probably with support from whatever agency selects these trees). A friend has printed such booklets for exotic bridge construction and if done well would be a decent advertising medium.

I don't know what caídos is doing there.
I suppose I could use a few more things covered. I ignored most of the working part to focus on the tree. I have also been doing a lot of the work.
I got one with Kurt tightening a nut, but most of it has been realizing I should take pictures when I'm stepping back and looking at it.

 

[oldoakman]

Here are some photos of the jap maple on psu campus. Planted in 1900 so it is over 120 years old. Very impressive!

 

[SomethingWitty]

It's got a cool vibe to it. What is that padding stuff, and how well does it protect the tree from those lashings?
I do like it a lot.

 

[oldoakman]

Padding is shredded coconut hull and burlap. It is an awesome specimen.

 

[treegorilla]

Here are a few pictures I took of the temporary props after we set them but before we lashed them into place.

I also like the way they propped the maple pictured above.

 

[JD3000]

@oldoakman ...you once posted a pic of a huge Maclura for TFAD. Was it almost as big as this one?

 

[oldoakman]

@oldoakman ...you once posted a pic of a huge Maclura for TFAD. Was it almost as big as this one?

I never got close to measure that one but I think this one is much bigger. That one is in Champaign IL. Another Big 10 town.