Worst mistake you've made?

[david1332]

So what's the worst mistake/ dumbest thing you've done/ damage made? Everyone's done something I'm assuming, especially when learning

Let's hear the stories boys!


For me it was a few weeks back, took a big 30 foot lead out of a black oak in one shot ( about 5 feet too long). And the wind took the end and brushed it down the power lines, knocked out the power for a block lol. No harm to anyone or downed wires. PSEG came out and was done in 30 min. But that's about it, scared the **** out of my ground guy though!

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

We ripped the neutral wire down while unloading the feller bunches 2 weeks ago.

Power companies fault, lines are supposed to be 16ft tall. Buncher on trailer was only 14ft.

 

[scheffa]

Not a big mistake but a silly one, removing a small tree in a backyard, mostly pole saw work, managed dismantle the tree above the concrete bird bath without damage, walk back past there and bump above bird bath with my hip and smashed into a million pieces right in front of the client

 

[ropensaddle]

I once cut the wrong tree down

 

[david1332]

I once cut the wrong tree down

Ha!
Did that the other day! Not my fault though!
I bid a job to remove 2 trees ( black oak and silver maple) and trim up two other black oaks and a sycamore.
The lady tells me last minute that she wants to trim rather than remove he silver maple( which I thought was weird since it had a horrible looking growth pattern and had been butchered already by said homeowner) nonetheless I obliged and said no problem. Turns out she doesn't know tree species all to well lmao.
Buy the time she got outside I was blocking down the spar! Oh well.

 

[BuckmasterStumpGrinding]

My guys were supposed to cut down a pear tree and a peach tree. I got to the job and there was a peach tree and a persimmon tree removed. The homeowner got a kick out of it and said he was thinking about getting rid of the persimmon anyway. Needless to say I refused payment on that job.

 

[BuckmasterStumpGrinding]

My father dropped a small cedar on a house while I was out front talking to a prospective customer that had seen us working. Needless to say I didn't get the job. The tree was small enough to land on the gutter and not even leave a dent but I still had to fire my dad. (awkward) Looking back on it I can't help but laugh at the image of my dad trying to push the tree over the right direction hollering and screaming for help.

 

[anlrolfe]

I asked my Dad if I could give the sledge and wedge a go..... STUPID, just F'ing Stupid

 

[treebilly]

I'm guessing you became the firewood splitter after that. If so you're not alone. I did it too.

 

[lone wolf]

Letting my Dodge Challenger 440 SE go!

 

[BC WetCoast]

Becoming a tree guy and not a sleazy stock broker.

 

[ATH]

First time I was using a mini-excavator (to plant trees). Never used a tracked hoe before. Was re-positioning the whole machine moving the tracks, not pivoting the top. Looking at the back of the tracks and back of the machine...forgetting the boom was sticking out front. Went through a window. Fortunately, just the glass: it did not hit the frame, brick or trim, etc... That would have been more costly.

This was a Friday afternoon. I called the glass shop. They showed up within an hour or 2, took the sash out, had it back in by the end of the day

Lucky for me, they didn't have the house alarm on. Nobody was home. I called the lady of the house who is the only one I had ever met. She was on her way home anyhow... Her husband is a big executive for a large company. Not that that makes it any worse or better, maybe just more embarrassing. They were very understanding and have had me back (but not planting more trees ). The promptness of the glass company certainly helped.

 

[AGoodSteward]

I worked for two days straight with a boom truck removing two huge (72" bases)cottonwoods in a tight backyard. Couldn't get the truck in but parked it in the alley and did most of the limbs. Dropped into the crown and swung the limbs over the house down with the rope brake to finish the 2nd day (Friday). Just came back Saturday morning to pull down 80' crowns. Slipped on spikes and fliplined up. Tied off a big top and asked the ground guy if we were good. He said it looked tight but OK. Notched it and watched it swing gracefully down and through the neighbors fence. Turns out it was a FIBERGLASS fence not vinyl. Five times more expensive and the neighbor insisted on having HER fence guys redo it. To make it worse her little dog started coming across constantly to yip at us.

 

[northmanlogging]

took out part of a drain feild with the skidder... shoving brushout out of their yard fergot about one of the inspection caps... and i managed to miss everything when dumping the trees too

everything else i was just part of the crew not actually doing the cutting... power lines houses crossing roads

 

[Groundman One]

Nearly blew up a gas station about ten-years ago when we dropped the top of an elm and it hit and ripped down the power line going to the gas station, which then touched the tin roof and caused a massive shower of sparks and flames to shoot out both ends of the tin roof.

It was quite exciting.

 

[lone wolf]

Nearly blew up a gas station about ten-years ago when we dropped the top of an elm and it hit and ripped down the power line going to the gas station, which then touched the tin roof and caused a massive shower of sparks and flames to shoot out both ends of the tin roof.

It was quite exciting.

Did it make the news?

 

[backhoelover]

Ripped out 52 in main water feed from water plant. Old excavator faults. Controls would get Hung up. Took it to the shop weeks before said it was fixed few days later called to tell them it had same problem. Shops said to keep driving till it stops working. Boss man gave me the go ahead 4 hrs later oh ****

 

[backhoelover]

I'll have to see if I can find the pics

 

[david1332]

Nearly blew up a gas station about ten-years ago when we dropped the top of an elm and it hit and ripped down the power line going to the gas station, which then touched the tin roof and caused a massive shower of sparks and flames to shoot out both ends of the tin roof.

It was quite exciting.

Alright you win lmfao

 

[Groundman One]

Did it make the news?

Had the gas station exploded, I'm sure it would have.