Wish me luck

johnmeiszner

johnmeiszner

On a landscape job 3 months ago I advised a client to remove a rotting tree w. dead top. Obstacles include a house, shed, service drop, & fences.
He thought I was just trying to make a sale, when I was actually afraid to stand under it! He said, "we know someone with a bucket truck".
I was like "I don't think a bucket will reach that, but good luck with that. I just want you to know we can do it!"
Well, he called me over this morning and hired us for next week. I guess the bucket didn't reach.
What makes it so sweet is that earlier this week I got called out to give an estimate in bu** fu** Egypt, and the couple told me real nasty like, "you need a bucket truck! I can't believe you climb up there? That's nuts!!!"
I'm thinkin', "what the flip did you call me out here for you mean old hag?" They knew I was a climber.

Crane would be best, but I'm not there yet. I know I could do it, but I don't have enough crane knowledge to make up for the other guys' lack there of.( I need to go to Mark's class. What's the schedule?) I think zip line would be best alternative, but I don't know how /forum/images/graemlins/laughing.gif. Could 1/2" climbing line and climbing carabiners work?
I'm definitely gonna have a photo shoot. Could use the consrtuctive criticism. Its small, but a fun challenge for me. Thanks, John
 
John, I attended the ACRT Arborist II class just this June. We did both a crane removal and a removal using a zip line. See this thread for more:

http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=26038&an=0&page=1#26038

If you're going to retire your old climbing lines and carabiners and use them solely for lowering limbs and/or trunks, that's fine. Just don't intermix any equipment used for climbing and personal life support (including pulleys, web straps, slings, etc.) with equipment used in zip lines/ bull lines for removing/lowering wood.

Also, depending on the weight involved, you're climbing lines and climbing carabiners may not be adequate. For example, I use 50kN carabiners in my lowering system, but only 27-30kN carabiners for my climbing equipment; my climbing line is about 1/3 the max strength of my bull line.

I know there are people here with infinitely more experience than me, so hopefully they will jump in soon.

It just scared me to think that you might interchange some of your equipment in a very dangerous manner.

Good luck,
Jim
 
Thanks Jim. I have lots of old gear, and I'm pretty good at dealing with the weight.
How do you make the line tight, and doesn't it have to be a static line?
Maybe I'll hold off on the zip line.
 
First of all - try it out in a safe environment before putting it to work. It don´t have to be a static line but a static line works better. I usually tighten the system with my rope winch for heavy pieces, MA and hand for smaller pieces and branches. Once you learn how to use it and how not to use it - zip line is a wonderful tool that saves you a lot of work.
Svein
www.hogstogrydding.no
 

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John,
Be sure the tree can with stand the forces being applied before you climb and/or lower from it. If a slide line is used, it puts an extreme amount of force on the anchor. Any chance you can take some pics and post them before you climb/rig it? What is the species?
 
John, Like Norm said, speed line puts a ton of side pull on the anchor. I have never speed lined a dead tree. Pics Pics Pics.
 
see spydey's website for a speedline force calculator. It is not something you would take on site but play with some numbers until you go "WOW, I did not know those kind of forces were involved" If you are working a dead / hollow tree that you did not want to stand under, it is probably not a good candidate for a zip.

http://www.mytreelessons.com/Pages/Rope%20Angle%20Leverage%20Calculator.htm

how did you price the job if you are not sure how you are going to do it?
 
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remove a rotting tree w. dead top.

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John, Like Norm said, speed line puts a ton of side pull on the anchor. I have never speed lined a dead tree. Pics Pics Pics.

[/ QUOTE ]

A speed line puts more force on the base of the tree being removed than the anchor tree the zipline is stretched in-between.

If it is rotting, is there a chance this tree might not take the stress?
 
I hear ya. I'm not afraid to say no to a job that's too dangerous, but I always have been slightly on the risky side, so I will put that tree off until I get those pics up. (Early next week). Thanks guys.
 
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Here it is.

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I am not the pro that lots of these guys are...learned in the 70's and do occasional jobs throughout the year.

But my first response to even climbing this tree is "Whoa...."

Be careful, for sure...wish there were at least 2 bigger trees nearby.
 
John,

There could be ways of doing the tree safely but they would be much more than what could be shared via the keyboard. This is a tree that a person would grow into. By the time a person was capable of doing this job they would have learned all of the small tricks that need to be combined for a graduation project.

The ground targets are a big issue. If the tree is sound, you could go up with a long polesaw and nibble away, let the pieces fly. Silky makse a good one that telescopes to 20'. This is also a great place for a chainsaw on a stick. You could also jump cut the pieces. You can set pull lines with a throwline or the pole saw. Have your groundie tension the piece just a little and then pull it towards the dropzone at the right time. A good groundie can pull just the right amount to get it clear of the climber and obstacles.

Having multiple tie in points is good too. It spreads the load of the climber around.

Guy the leads together with ropes, it's that tensegrity again guys :) Tension integrity like a spider web.

Do you have a buddy or friendly competitor that could handle the job? Working as the groundie would be a good education.
 
The only reason that tree is in that condition and still standing is money . Tell the homeowner to speed line a check out of their savings and get that thing on the ground. Just do it ! Don't fall , Don't break anything and get paid , doesn't have to be in that order .
 
How deep is the hole in the trunk at the ground? How much sound wood is there at the base? This tree is either high or critical risk.
Is there enough room to notch & drop? Is there a place to anchor the tag line out in the yard? What are the targets if a notch & drop is done?
Before climbing, find out how much sound wood there is at the base. Drill it to find out.
Is it a silver maple?
 
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