davidwyby
Branched out member
- Location
- PNW to SoCal
Cleaned up a bunch of broken/down stuff today. Also more blocking.
This one is next.
This one is next.
Today....
- Thread starter Mark Chisholm
- Start date
Last week we got through 70% of a small leyland removal job only to come across this crows nest and have to put it on hold till they fly away. I've never interacted with baby crows before actually, and it was pretty amazing how they weren't one bit scared of me, up in their tree just two feet away from them.
They look hungry! I’m sure mama would’ve been a bit less happy to see you.
Well I did it, I got the AWAH Z3-Fire drill powered ascender.
We've talked about them here on the form a few times since it was first developed and shown by hownot2 a year or two back, and I was interested then but held off because it wasn't a certified device yet. I wasn't worried about it honestly, but I wanted something I felt legally covered to let employees use if I was going to spend $2,500 on the device. Well just the other day they shared a video saying it had been officially certified and if you were one of the first like, 20 people, you'd get a FREE 300' 11mm Task Line rope which it is rated to use and would otherwise be over $400. Decided to get a dedicated drill to keep in the truck with it as well. I hit checkout within minutes, and it came like 4 days later, today.
I've only had a few minutes to check it out with @False Hemlock on our lunch break, and then at the shop this evening, but it looks and feels extremely high quality. Ascent feels very good with the Milwaukee brushless drill they recommended (and I use the same battery system for the Milwaukee polesaw I keep in the truck, as well as other tools in my shop) and descent was a little choppy on my first few tries, but I'm sure I can smooth it out with more experience. So far seems like a great tool and much better than a noisy gas Wraptor, Ronin that's apparently known for shredding ropes or the $5,000 Husky one that isn't even PPE certified.... I don't expect to use it a TON, mostly for large/tall removals where I want to take a break without worrying about the effort of spuring back up 100', or maybe.... even.... shooting a high line, powering up to the low limbs the customer wants off, and just decending back down on the device itself? Time will tell.
We've talked about them here on the form a few times since it was first developed and shown by hownot2 a year or two back, and I was interested then but held off because it wasn't a certified device yet. I wasn't worried about it honestly, but I wanted something I felt legally covered to let employees use if I was going to spend $2,500 on the device. Well just the other day they shared a video saying it had been officially certified and if you were one of the first like, 20 people, you'd get a FREE 300' 11mm Task Line rope which it is rated to use and would otherwise be over $400. Decided to get a dedicated drill to keep in the truck with it as well. I hit checkout within minutes, and it came like 4 days later, today.
I've only had a few minutes to check it out with @False Hemlock on our lunch break, and then at the shop this evening, but it looks and feels extremely high quality. Ascent feels very good with the Milwaukee brushless drill they recommended (and I use the same battery system for the Milwaukee polesaw I keep in the truck, as well as other tools in my shop) and descent was a little choppy on my first few tries, but I'm sure I can smooth it out with more experience. So far seems like a great tool and much better than a noisy gas Wraptor, Ronin that's apparently known for shredding ropes or the $5,000 Husky one that isn't even PPE certified.... I don't expect to use it a TON, mostly for large/tall removals where I want to take a break without worrying about the effort of spuring back up 100', or maybe.... even.... shooting a high line, powering up to the low limbs the customer wants off, and just decending back down on the device itself? Time will tell.
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southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
I bet you'll love it,
Dan Thornton
Participating member
- Location
- Smithsburg
This job was far more complicated than I expected. I felt like a tree ninja, putting the lift through openings between limbs. Could speed line only a few pieces. Everything else needed to be controlled. I went simple - figure 8 to control descent, groundsman pulling the piece away from the house. That's me wearing blue.
southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
Is that your spider?
Dan Thornton
Participating member
- Location
- Smithsburg
I wish!! That would be sweet!
No, it's a rental.
Finally found a place that has a 92' Spider to rent (Platform Basket brand). Solid piece of machinery!!!
southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
I wonder if I can rent a Spider. It would be helpful.
