*Why* are ladders contraindicated for pruning?

[Mr. Purple]

I hear this regurgitated very often. I am not arguing either way, but I am curious.
So, tell me: "why aren't ladders to be used for pruning"?

Thanks!

 

[Mr. Purple]

Because so many people who don't know what they are doing use them in unsafe ways.

So, to be clear, it seems that you are saying it is the lack of safe technique, rather than the actual tool, which is dangerous.

 

[Tree Pig]

It is not always the fact that they are using a ladder its usually "who" is using a ladder. But ladders are unstable and that makes them dangerous when cutting trees with powerful saws.

[video=youtube;R0CvOx0LTtg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0CvOx0LTtg[/video]

 

[Tree Pig]

[video=youtube;AjnWRV-Xz9s]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjnWRV-Xz9s[/video]

 

[Tree Pig]

[video=youtube;RUIGBS7B7WY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUIGBS7B7WY[/video]

 

[Tree Pig]

[video=youtube;2oTeE3hyo4E]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oTeE3hyo4E[/video]

 

[ckliff]

So, to be clear, it seems that you are saying it is the lack of safe technique, rather than the actual tool, which is dangerous.

YEP!

I will use a ladder to gain initial access to the canopy at which point I tie in. Even better is to shoot your climbing line first, so you are tied in even while climbing the ladder.

An orchard ladder is a great tool too, but again, usually it is best to tie in.

 

[SquirrelMan]

YEP!

I will use a ladder to gain initial access to the canopy at which point I tie in. Even better is to shoot your climbing line first, so you are tied in even while climbing the ladder.

An orchard ladder is a great tool too, but again, usually it is best to tie in.

The tree climber's companion covers ladder usage. As long as you are properly tied in, and no where near power lines, it is acceptable.

 

[BCbound]

A ladder is just another quality tool, when used properly. There are just as many dumb chainsaw videos on the tube as ladder ones.

 

[treemandan]

When I saw the title to this thread I knew The Pig was gonna do what he did.

 

[treemandan]

Well yeah maybe and as the ladder with the person on it is falling it tears off some limbs leaving improper cuts.

Nobody ever called Pablo Piccasso an ass hole either... and he was too.

 

[treemandan]

[video=youtube;2oTeE3hyo4E]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oTeE3hyo4E[/video]

Didn't see that coming.

 

[treemandan]

It is not always the fact that they are using a ladder its usually "who" is using a ladder. But ladders are unstable and that makes them dangerous when cutting trees with powerful saws.

[video=youtube;R0CvOx0LTtg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0CvOx0LTtg[/video]

Yeah, Piccaso was a saint compared to this ass hole who don't even stop filming when his buddy takes a header.

 

[tomtrees58]

[video=youtube_share;RUIGBS7B7WY]http://youtu.be/RUIGBS7B7WY[/video]ouch

 

[B Harrison]

Thanks Pig, the first one is great.

Ladders can be very safe, but you generally end up having to rig the ladder as well as the limbs/ tree so it's not a great time saver if you can climb.


Doh!!

 

[Tree Pig]

Thanks Pig, the first one is great.

Ladders can be very safe, but you generally end up having to rig the ladder as well as the limbs/ tree so it's not a great time saver if you can climb.


Doh!!

I would not say ladders are ever very safe in a tree while cutting, but they can be safe enough. Thats safe enough for someone like a tree climber who already knows how to work in a tree, how the tree is going to react and how to ensure a limb is going to go the way he or she wants it to.

How many stories have we all heard of the homeowner or handyman that puts the ladder up against the limb thats being cut. After the cut the limb in half they dont understand why the remaining part shot up a foot leaving the 6 inches of ladder they had against the limb in mid air. Resulting in a tree limb, ladder, chainsaw and homeowner pile in the middle of the lawn.

 

[R2D]

I have used large extension ladders BUT I had my saddle on and was tied in for saftey.

 

[danbirch]

A lot of good info and entertaining posts here, this is a simple yet safer way to use a ladder, available from http://levelock.com ... There is a leveling leg at the botom (which is very important, as the slightest variation in ground will make the ladder unstable). The bottom strap is placed on before you even start climbing, and wenches the ladder tight to the tree. A 2nd strap at top, along with your gear and TIP, and you can push off the top wrung, with no movement from the ladder.
View attachment 262607View attachment 262610

 

[Stayalert]

I put those levellok things on my 32 foot extension ladder

they are AWESOME!!!!!

Ladders are great tools.

 

[Carburetorless]

I used a 24' extension ladder once, just to see if it made the job go faster. When I was done I thought "If I hadn't used this ladder I would have been done 30 minutes sooner, and I wouldn't have to load the ladder back up".

The only way I would use one now is if I was trying to gain access to a limb over a house where I could use the ladder to get on the roof. Other than that I think it's just as fast or faster to ascend a rope, since you already have the rope set, and by the time you set up the ladder you could already be in the tree if you climbed the rope.