Olympia, WA, various needs.

[Matias]

Or charge what it’s worth.. just a bunch of $499 tasks in the same tree

Ssshhhhhhhh. Nobody's talking about how to skirt the law here.

But yea, I am pretty sure the way the law is worded, that I gotta do them on separate days to avoid any legal issues. Which I can assure you I have never ever done

 

[Matias]

My groundie always bills separately too

 

[SeanRuel]

Hey @southsoundtree an acquaintance of mine said he maybe reached out to you on here, LMK if you heard from a guy named Ari- can put you in touch if not.

 

[southsoundtree]

I heard from Ari.

Been meaning to get back to him, more than a quick email.
We had a wind storm recently, and been responding to some urgent calls.

 

[Treetopflyer]

I heard from Ari.

Been meaning to get back to him, more than a quick email.
We had a wind storm recently, and been responding to some urgent calls.

Sounds like some help could be useful

 

[Sprucinator]

Dang, all those "no cleanup" jobs sound pretty awesome haha. If I wasn't already locked in and settled with OTC I'd jump on that. It'd be nice to work with somebody new for a change. I would offer a hand on some weekends but it sounds like you're looking for someone with you full time. Good luck!

 

[southsoundtree]

How long have you been tree working/ climbing, @Sprucinator ?






Right now, on top of other things, I have 8 EHS/ wedge-grips and rods to install.

Going to see a customer in a bit that had 2 trees fall in the storm needing an evaluation.

 

[Sprucinator]

I've been doing tree work for a little over 3 years and climbing for 2. I climbed a lot before that but just for fun.
Storm jobs are always exciting haha

 

[southsoundtree]

I've got a few tricks up my sleeve to teach.

Today's tree involved more "lazy, boring tree work". "Lazy" jokingly meaning least effort... I'd rather think my way around working than work my way around thinking. "Boring" meaning no surprises and things going just as expected.

This was another put-on-ground-only job, by referral.

I've used this prop trick on three trees on buildings that I can think of, this being the smallest.

I cut a portion of the failed tree into a prop, situated perpendicular to the log, secured together with a ratchet strap, angled downward and slightly away from where I wanted it to fall, allowing gravity to move the trunk into the drop zone, guided by a directional face-cut at a point above the wire fence, once I cut the supporting portion near the roof.

I didn't capture the whole sequence well, as I knocked this out quickly this afternoon at the time of the bid.

Luckily, no damage to vents or skylights, only slight damage to the eave/ fascia and one shingle.


Customer's trailer.

 

[SeanRuel]

That's clever

 

[southsoundtree]

The prop can be notched into a cradle, if needed. A flat-topped prop can be used to support head-to-tail stacked wedges to gain some lift/ tighten the prop, if needed.

 

[SeanRuel]

Might have to use that tomorrow, going to tackle tree on roof with no good rigging points

 

[southsoundtree]

Bring some supplies if you can't create what you need onsite.

That was a 3,333# breaking strength sling. Trucker straps are a good thing to consider, as well as through- bolts or lags.

Get pics!


You could also use a strap between the prop (middle or bottom, and the failed trunk, in one or both directions, independently. This will create a triangle... hope you follow me.

 

[SeanRuel]

Set up using mech advantage, 5:1 pulling a 5:1 pulling a 2:1- didn't budge the log at all! Placed a 6' tall log as a prop, tapped it to snug up and the log lifted like 4 feet off the roof!

Best i can tell The bad pull angle was fighting a branch spiked thru the roof, and a tiny bit of upward force from the prop was enough to pop it loose

 

[Vicente]

Or charge what it’s worth.. just a bunch of $499 tasks in the same tree

Legally it's not even allowed to be for the same client in a year even if it's different properties, the cslb is a joke all they care about is making getting a license hard and going after people who don't have it.
A friend of mine got screwed by a licensed hvac contractor last year who they later found outs license was suspended but when they contacted the cslb they were told sorry you'll have to get your own lawyer and file a civil suit. If that would've been a non licensed person the cslb would've sued them and fined and possibly jail time on top of that.

 

[southsoundtree]

Had a couple good conversations, so far.

Been on vacation, then a mild case of Covid, despite being careful.

Used the contagious isolation time to do some milling and planing.

Going to prune some of my fruit trees now, before some canopy raises this afternoon for a regular customer, who always sends me home with fresh eggs and frequently homemade jam or dried fruit.

Going to rebuild a prop for the apple tree that topped over 10 years ago.

Bid some climbing removals without good crane access.
First one is ganoderma infected, half-failed, and feet from the Glen-Don septic mound. Second is 40" dbh run of the mill, over the house and fence. Third is the biggest, by the house and concrete driveway, but run of the mill. No pic.

I'll get a kboom-dump truck for hauling logs.

 

[southsoundtree]

From pruning fruit trees today, to heading out to a builder's site for a dead as a doornail, sapwood rotting multi- lead doug- fir fell/ buck into a couple sections/ leave job.

Thankfully it was pushing against the fence, and covered in ivy! I spotted the nail right where I was going for the back cut. Used his ladder, standing on top, with saddle and flip line to set the pull rope (virtually always use a throw line, 1.5-2 years ago, I climbed a tree to set a pull line) and trucker's ratchet- strapped the leads together.
I faced it a hair too close to the patio, so put a chunk of wood in the face cut, on the house side, and laid it between the patio and shop.

When I clear a lot, or some trees from a lot for him, it's no clean up!

 

[TimBr]

Set up using mech advantage, 5:1 pulling a 5:1 pulling a 2:1- didn't budge the log at all! Placed a 6' tall log as a prop, tapped it to snug up and the log lifted like 4 feet off the roof!

Best i can tell The bad pull angle was fighting a branch spiked thru the roof, and a tiny bit of upward force from the prop was enough to pop it loose

View attachment 85389

View attachment 85390

This is about the coolest rigging success story I've personally ever seen! Amazing result. Two guys talking on an internet forum across the country from each other, sharing knowledge that almost immediately gets used to pull off a tough job.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. I love this forum! TimBr.

 

[southsoundtree]

That circle door is fantastic. As is the tiny “cottage”.

A traditional Tea House

 

[southsoundtree]

Another new, no cleanup customer by referral.

A mental health counselor work a retreat center, 2-3 miles from the shop.

Need someone to manage hazard trees in the property for the long term. She was tickled by the way the fruit trees turned out, and the training lesson I gave her for a half dozen new espalier fruit trees around the garden fence.


Currently looking for a camper for transitional/ longterm housing onsite.

A good fit will also mean access to shop tools (mechanic and woodworking) and sawmill. I'm getting a nice coop and chicken run from a customer, so some eggs will be around. I'm aiming for an organic garden, with space available...I know a guy with boards for raised beds. Aiming to get some biochar and hugelculture going, in time, near my expanding orchard.


I am spoiled... seeing and hearing bald eagles is somewhat regular.
Hiking today at a local nature trail (drive past the Elk Crossing signs on the way) we saw a beaver. Once, my ground worker says he saw a mountain lion. Recently. A black bear was spotted on The Evergreen State College campus, nearby.