You Know It's Bad When You Walk Away From A Freebe

Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Fr

The other TIPs are much lower than I would need to go and very small in diameter at that height. I've found Tulip Poplars to be pretty weak with the small branches. I wouldnt consider that due to the diameter.

As for guying, geez thats an idea but there just isnt any room for it. Such a small lot.
 
Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Fr

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This is definitely one that should have been inspected prior to his purchasing the house! Could've negotiated a condition to have the tree removed.

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Buyer beware!

Hire a crane.
 
Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Freebe

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I went to do it today and had to tell my own employee he needs to call another tree service because I just can't do it. Pretty Bad huh?

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No, not bad at all arborcare, you 100% did the right thing.

The tree is in a terrible state.

This is not a climbing job, I would use a bucket truck, cut and throw everything. If you have never used a bucket truck then pass this job on to another company. Even with a bucket truck this job has the potential to go wrong.

It is a great example of why trees should never be topped.

I once arrived at an almost identical situation a few years back(Sugar Maple)
Same size of tree, same type of house, same street, same power lines. We were going through a very busy period. I was tired.

I set my line in the tree using a throwbag, maybe only 45ft up the tree. I sat back to test the branch and heard a huge crack, I ran,the whole lead I was tied into crashed out onto the lawn took out the side of the porch.

The old lady came out her house and just stared at me, dumbstruck. Luckily none of the groundies were fuelling up saws under the tree.

I never carried out a proper pre climb inspection as I was working for a large 'reputable' company at the time and the salesman/arbo had priced the job and not noticed the hellish decay in the stem where the leads grew from. I stupidly trusted him to check the tree for hazards then tell me about them.
We distmantled the rest of the tree by bucket truck.

Is there no other experienced guys in your area who you are friendly with?

Maybe they could help you to do this job. It would be a shame to walk away from it, seeing as it belongs to one of your employees.

Its just a matter of having the right equipment and an experienced climbing arborist to talk you through the job.

If you decide not to do it, make sure you are around to see how it is done.

Forget about climbing it.
 
Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Freebe

Arborcare1, I looked at that first picture and thought 'doesnt seem so bad, whats he talking about', by the time I got to the last shots I was cowering under my desk!! That truly is a scabby tree my friend and you were right to not let your personal pride cloud your judgement and gut feeling. For my 10 cents, I think that if there IS a safe option i.e a crane, but it is not being considered for financial reasons by the client, then I put lives over costs every time and let the client re-consider. Its difficult when you're deaperately trying to do someone a favour but you have to still be level headed!! He is going to be far poorer AND probably mentally tortured for life if you (his Employer and financial supporter) did have a spill up there and did'nt make it home that night.
At the end of the day, theres a lot to be said for gut instinct, I've tried to ignore it before and its hurt!!!
ahhhhh.gif
 
Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Fr

Great documentation of the tree...it looks like a wreck. I concur, you did right in backing away from that...that's what intelligent, trained instincts are all about. Follow them.

No loss of pride in realizing something is too dangerous.

A possible loss of life in NOT realizing something is too dangerous.
 
Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Fr

Definately a good call, it hurts the pride a little for sure.

Certainly see if Hydro will do something about, it's worth a shot.

Maybe there are some "Buzzers" around that could lend a helping hand?

Good luck!

WP
 
Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Fr

Thanks to evrybody. The problem is i've never done crane work and i'm not so sure if this is the one to start with!
 
Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Fr

I know what you mean about it being bad. A friend of mine bought a house last year and he had no money at the time. Still has no money, but that's another story. I helped him out on a ROTTEN clump of red maple / red oak which was next to his house. For a client I would have told them to get somebody else, or would have socked them for one heck of a bill.

It's interesting... when it's for a client or potential client we either want a big sum of money, or don't want the job. When it's for a friend / family / etc. it's not a matter of $, it's just about getting the job done, no matter how nasty.
 
Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Fr

I agree, this was a good one to walk away from. I'm not sure if I would have. However it isn't very often anyone expects to climb something like that.

I would definately go with a crane. It's pretty straight forward and safe with the crane. You'll do fine. Just remember to be prepared to move, watch the wood and respond to how it is reacting and keep on cutting. The only reason I say that is if you tend to pause or stop it can give the crane operator a false sense that it is ready to be picked. Be sure to set a signal for him for when to pick. I hate it when people try to pick a piece before it is ready to come off. Like I said you'll do fine.
 
Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Fr

Thats an ugly looking tree . I've done some real ugly Poplars and was amazed how strong they were . You got it all there , house , wires , sidewalks . It's ok to walk away , but someone better get that tree down before it gets uglier . How do people let trees get so bad ? There is an ad in the local paper today reads ; offering 4k to remove dead oak in back yard . I wonder what that tree looks like , and what the bids were before that ad .
 
Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Freebe

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I never carried out a proper pre climb inspection as I was working for a large 'reputable' company at the time and the salesman/arbo had priced the job and not noticed the hellish decay in the stem where the leads grew from. I stupidly trusted him to check the tree for hazards then tell me about them.


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I didn't know we both work(ed)
crazy.gif
at the same place LOL!
 
Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Freebe

Arborcare,

a crane most likley wont work regardless because you are too close to the lines.

Definatly NOT a climbable tree.

that much rot is WAY dangerous.

The lines are what mess this job up mostly.

No doubt, its a bucke job.

it would be hard to get the city to bring the lines down.

Good choice BTW for not climbing.

DanielSon
 
Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Fr

The city won't drop the lines but they might send their crew out with their buckets to top it out below the lines and leave the rest.
That's what they do in the city here.
 
Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Fr

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First choice would be to ask the power company.

Second choice if refused would be to contact your town council rep to get the power to do it.

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Good idea there, worth a try.
 
Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Fr

A tree as bad as the one in this thread can be quite a hazzard even to a bucket truck operator. The operator must be careful about moving into areas where if the tree does fail it would catch the boom.

I hate to think about shock loading any part of that tree......even the parts that look sound..... the vibrations created still travel throughtout the tree and that tree looks ready to fail any minute.

I hate doing trees like this one because if something does fail and damage results it ends up as a claim on the tree companys insurance. The tree company did not create this hazard and this tree may fail at the trucks are pulling into the yard. I believe a "not held liable for damage" clause needs to be written into the contract.
 
Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Fr

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Point1 - "this tree may fail at the trucks are pulling into the yard."

Point 2 - "I believe a "not held liable for damage" clause needs to be written into the contract."

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Point 1 - Happened to me once, arrived at a house to clear up a storm damaged 30ft tall heavily branched Bradford Pear - During the night it had split in half with one half falling onto the lawn and the other half still upright leaning over the driveway which the owner had left their Jeep under for some strange reason. It was a calm beautiful sunny day.

Anyway I leave the groundies sitting in the cab discussing last night's TV and go to knock on the door.......I rang the doorbell, the woman comes to the door....CRACK!!!!SLAM!!..what was left of the Bradford crashed onto her Jeep.

She says, "Did you do that?
I check to see that the groundies(totally oblivious to whats going on around them as usual) are still yapping away in the cab and say back, "No"
Her, "Well who did then?"
Me, "No one, sometimes these things just happen"
The Jeep just had a few minor dents and small scratches, it was a weird scene though, I'll never forget it. Bradford Pears = Satan's trees

Point 2 - I don't think this is the right approach as it makes you seem irresponsible and reckless even though I know you are not, it just sends out the wrong message.
 
Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Fr

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Point1 - "this tree may fail at the trucks are pulling into the yard."


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Does any one remember this story?

I believe it was in Ga about 7 years ago. A tree svc owner named John ?????? went to estimate a dead oak in a customers yard. As he was standing in the yard looking the tree over, it fell and killed him.
 
Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Fr

Hey Glenn what's the phone number I could use some money. It can't be that bad??
 
Re: You Know It\'s Bad When You Walk Away From A Fr

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Arborcare,

a crane most likley wont work regardless because you are too close to the lines.


DanielSon

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I work around utility lines all day. If a tree is close to wires generally the utility will at LEAST come out and insulate the wires against accidental contact, so the crane is able to work in some hairy situations. Good call not doing the job if you aren't comfortable with it. I wouldn't toch that tree without a bucket at the least, and even that depends on where I could position the truck.
 
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