Duckbill anchors---any experiences?

[Tom Dunlap]

Has anyone used Duckbills for anchoring or guying?

What about seeing them in use?

Duck Bill earth anchors



they seem like a dependable way to anchor. There are a couple of leaning trees that will need to be straightened. They are larger than what a T-post could support. In the past I've use screw-in earth anchors. In rocky soil it is a real challenge to set them deep enough.

 

[theXman]

I use them al the time.they are great. Write more later Immm on phone

 

[zale]

They work as advertised. The soil in our area is mainly clay so driving them in is not to hard provided soil moisture is good. How large a tree are you trying to guy?

 

[JeffL]

With xman on this. They kind of suck in loose, sandy soils is the only downfall. I've only had a few pull out on me, but setting them is easy enough its not a big deal. I've also used them as temporary directional anchors on straightening jobs where there's nothing else to anchor to.

 

[ArborCut]

Anchors work very well especially handy for pegging things down you dont want moved(park benches,garbage cans).

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Can a piece of rebar be used for the driver?

I realize that the metal in a drive is tougher and less likely to bend. Sometimes going MacGuyver is false economy.

 

[theXman]

rebar might be too soft, just buy the driver rod for them.

I've used several sizes over the years, but completely use the D88 size now.

holds way more than they say.

you gotta set the anchor though, by pulling on cable after you drive it, or else system will get slacked. we wrap cable around a digging bar and two men pry it to set the anchor.

I tried to get one out once, by pulling it reverse with truck, it would not come out.

I've used one for a speedline anchor too, when no anchor around. worked great, just cut off cable below grade when done and leave it.

I used 3 one time to hold a large 18" DBH weeping willow that was falling over, was at almost a 45 degree. pulled tree back with large truck, put in anchors, added cable. told customer to leave on for 2 years, then slack the turnbuckles and leave another year, then cut them off.

That was 5 or 6 years ago, i saw them somewhere and they said they did as instructed and tree stands vertical today and rooted well.

awesome tool to use, fast install too.

 

[arboristandy]

I've used some for anchoring a 20+ foot Christmas tree every year. Last year had a problem with the cable rusting through and they broke. When everything is in good working order they work great. Tall tree, open space, lots of winter wind= failure in this case. I guess I should have expected the cables to rust through at some point. They were in the ground for eight or more years. Hope it helps.

 

[NeTree]

They work great on the smaller trees I've used them for. Little suckers really hold well.

Spend the money for the driver; it's a higher carbon/harder steel than rebar, and worth the extra bucks.

 

[RopeShield]

Ripped a 24"DBH Norway with girdling roots, stump and all out of the ground with two of the larger duckbills and the Goods.
They creeped mb a foot and then stayed firm.
It was easy enough to dig them back out. Cheap bastid I am!
Best to drive them in the direction they are being loaded.

 

[DonaldRobertson]

For the reviews I have read about them, they seem to work good with animal trappers but not sure how they would work in the tree care business.

 

[JeffL]

Luckily this entire thread is full of personal experiences with them relating to the tree care industry.