I've come for help on how to approach the removal of an 80 foot pine that's standing roughly 15ft to the right of my house and on the other side of the tree, roughly 5ft, is a nice American wire fence that I'm trying to not destroy with branches. I recently purchased and have spent the last several days on spurs climbing and hand cutting(silky) the first 40 feet of limbs but I've encountered some larger limbs that require some blocking to remove cause they overhang the fence and would definitely destroy if I just cut it off. My main concern is that I've been working just on my steel core lanyard and gaffs and I'm starting to become uncomfortable- I'm very new to this!!! Above this last remaining solid branch the remaining 40 to 50 feet of tree is limbs are small and unsupportive for my climbing line and I really want to install a false crotch but am wondering if anybody has any better ideas of how to work on a safety line without my gaffing all the way up with 2 lanyards around 50+ **** branches to install the crotch?
Large pine removal advice
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ropensaddle
Feel Lucky
Seriously, You only have a wire core flip-line and spurs no experience and you are trying to climb 90 feet? You must first make sure your life insurance is paid and covers your family if you die. The reason pros are tied in with climbing rope is to allow escape from the tree if something bad happens and allow movement in the canopy. If you were to have some issue , heart attack,cut leg,broken arm how could you get down on a flipline? You must not fully understand the dangers and some jobs are not diy jobs.
ropensaddle
Feel Lucky
Look you are at least in the home owner section so your in the right place to ask home owner questions. I will recommend you tap the brakes twice, come to a complete stop. Start by buying the tree climbers companion and read it in its entirety before risking your life any further. Insurance for our profession is sky high for mostly this reason. Your wanting advice and you will get it but only if and when you do a total about face and realize the consequences of your actions are placing yourself and your family in a undesirable position. Climbing to heights above 15 feet is absolutely not home owner and certainly not home owner with no training and a flip-line scenario type setting. Trying to get a pro to encourage you to continue a reckless path to self destruction is not, nor should not, going to happen. Pause, hit rewind, buy the tree climbers companion,read it thorough and respect mine and others profession is training, "not a learn by mistake diy idea". This ain't building a shed, this is a mistake and your dead thing ,so please; if your dead set on doing this yourself, take the time to learn before attempting to further unnecessarily, "risk your life further".
JLG800aj gets you 80 foot plus reach Day $975,00
See I think we can help each other if you look past my inexperience and this is why—Tree climbers companion, Page 48/49 clearly states one of two methods of securing in when opting to use spurs- either Climb line or lanyard along with a nice picture showing a gentleman up a tree with no climbing line. However- as stated- I’m not comfortable with that past 40 feet and I’m interested in deploying a false crotch wrapped around the stem because I have no suitable branches above. Since I refuse to operate a chainsaw, due to not having my climbing line installed/secured which also goes WITH tree climbers companion advice, I was thinking about using my 2nd lanyard and going above the branch to install the false crotch per Page 27, Example 1 and then using my climbing line? This method seems unusual but the tree scenario is interesting all together and I don’t know anyone to talk this over with to make sure I’m on the “Best” path or maybe there’s a better way? I would really appreciate some advice other than safety “it is my priority” I’m just utilizing the resources available to make sense of the job?
ropensaddle
Feel Lucky
Ok so you have the tree climbers companion then correct ? Do you have a climbing rope or just a flip line your post really is not so understandable! Also; is this a white pine or ? How about picture of this tree.
ropensaddle
Feel Lucky
If your uncomfortable with one lanyard "and you should be" my suggestion is use two alternating to get past limbs always being lanyard by one until you reach tie in point then repel down to the limb ! Do you have a second line to lower the limb with ?
Ok- sooo- thank you for your attention and help
Attached are pics that is the best I can provide right now from my iPhone.
1. This is a white pine
2. Yes I’m using the tree climbers book as best as I can and trying to stay in the safe zone as much as possible per it’s recommendations
3. Currently only on a steel core flip line with only a hand saw
I did order a negative blocking kit to lower the larger limbs from hitting the fence with an end goal of chunking down the tree
The limb I need to cut is in question(see pics)- is it acceptable to install a false crotch around the tree above the branch, install my climbing line, secure the branch and then cut with the Stihl and keep working my way up the tree that way? The branches above the limb I need to cut are so small and there’s no natural crotches in the pine anywhere?
It’s like—- impossible to throw a line into anything from the ground? There’s absolutely no TIP’s? Really no other way that I can think of, besides what I’m doing, to get my climbing line installed so I can feel safer? Any ideas??
Attached are pics that is the best I can provide right now from my iPhone.
1. This is a white pine
2. Yes I’m using the tree climbers book as best as I can and trying to stay in the safe zone as much as possible per it’s recommendations
3. Currently only on a steel core flip line with only a hand saw
I did order a negative blocking kit to lower the larger limbs from hitting the fence with an end goal of chunking down the tree
The limb I need to cut is in question(see pics)- is it acceptable to install a false crotch around the tree above the branch, install my climbing line, secure the branch and then cut with the Stihl and keep working my way up the tree that way? The branches above the limb I need to cut are so small and there’s no natural crotches in the pine anywhere?
It’s like—- impossible to throw a line into anything from the ground? There’s absolutely no TIP’s? Really no other way that I can think of, besides what I’m doing, to get my climbing line installed so I can feel safer? Any ideas??
Attachments
Come-on Capetree's- I've not done anything wrong by the book just yet, at least how I'm understanding this process. I'm secured in with three points at all times and not using my chainsaw. All I'm looking for is opinions/assistance on the false crotch setup so I get my climb line up and running. Is there really no other way than gaffing up that ***** 60ft and manually installing it?? Gotta be a better way
Ryan'smilling
Addicted to ArboristSite
I see how you want help, but I'm not seeing how you're helping anyone in return. Don't take this personally, but it's not in anyone's interest to help you with this riddle, especially over the internet. You're attempting something super dangerous that should only be done by someone with training and experience. A professional should recognize that giving you any advice really only opens themselves up to potential liability exposure, especially if they do it in writing. A licensed electrician isn't gonna write out step by step instructions for some hack homeowner who wants to give it a go on their own. There's just no ostensible benefit. Nothing in it for them at all, only risk if the guy zaps himself and files suit against the electrician (or his survivers could...).
Not to mention the fact that instructing a homeowner in how to do their own removal doesn't exactly increase the amount of work available for tree care professionals.
What do you do for work? Any pointers for the rest of us?
I see how you want help, but I'm not seeing how you're helping anyone in return. Don't take this personally, but it's not in anyone's interest to help you with this riddle, especially over the internet. You're attempting something super dangerous that should only be done by someone with training and experience. A professional should recognize that giving you any advice really only opens themselves up to potential liability exposure, especially if they do it in writing. A licensed electrician isn't gonna write out step by step instructions for some hack homeowner who wants to give it a go on their own. There's just no ostensible benefit. Nothing in it for them at all, only risk if the guy zaps himself and files suit against the electrician (or his survivers could...).
Not to mention the fact that instructing a homeowner in how to do their own removal doesn't exactly increase the amount of work available for tree care professionals.
What do you do for work? Any pointers for the rest of us?
Hummmm- well said and fair enough!! I don't disagree- It's dangerous for sure! I think the liability thing is a bit childish however I'm not on here to point fingers just consult with more experienced operators/arborist as I'm obviously not one.
I've spent the last 15years maintaining several varieties of rotorcraft airframes- If you have any questions- I'd do my best for you- that's just how our crew works
I've always been taught to figure it out- I was thinking this forum could offer some help- maybe I was wrong on that one??
Everyone is sort off offering advice but not really-
Ryan- its really not that big of a deal and this isn't a riddle- BEST WAY TO GET MY CLIMBING LINE INSTALLED WITHOUT SPIKING ANOTHER 20FT DOING LIMB-OVERS ON A 2 IN 1 LANYARD?
Or is it safest to temporarily install my false crotch over the limb, cut the limb, and continue up the tree and just keep pushing my false crotch/safety line up the tree while flip-lining to maintain the safest climb?
Double_Diamond
ArboristSite Member
It sounds like you are very committed to climbing and removing the trees from the top down. You had mentioned the fence was one of the main reasons for doing this. Would it be easier and cheaper just to take a section of the fence down and drop the trees whole? I know that sometimes it is easy to get so focused on one course of action you may overlook another way of attacking a problem. From the photos it looked like an open field without any targets in it.
What he said.
Exactly. It may not be fun and adventurous but it looks safer than what you're proposing.
By the way, I meant nothing negative when I posted above. I was just watching the responses. I know what I would do with those trees but you don't have the skills to do it the way I would. I'm not super skilled, don't get me wrong, but from what it sounds, I have more skills than you.
Exactly. It may not be fun and adventurous but it looks safer than what you're proposing.
By the way, I meant nothing negative when I posted above. I was just watching the responses. I know what I would do with those trees but you don't have the skills to do it the way I would. I'm not super skilled, don't get me wrong, but from what it sounds, I have more skills than you.
You are not going to win with the safety police around here. I've been there and done that. Some times it's best to look for another approach. I do not climb trees and there's no chance I will. Why not drop the tree if you have cut the lower 50 feet? That's the wide part. I'm currently working on a crossbow for shooting lines way up into the tree so I can guide it down in tight spaces. Get a good rope on it and a come a long and guide it while you cut.
I'm like you just a home owner with a job that needs to get done. You can take the quick approach and get stuck in a dangerous place or re think it and ask for help and opinions. But it sounds like what you are doing is not advised by the actual tree people on here.
I'm like you just a home owner with a job that needs to get done. You can take the quick approach and get stuck in a dangerous place or re think it and ask for help and opinions. But it sounds like what you are doing is not advised by the actual tree people on here.
ropensaddle
Feel Lucky
Ok so you don't have a climb line to repel out of the tree ? From what I'm seeing here your not ready to do this job yet. You need to read more of that book and understand that internet advice on something this dangerous is not something a pro will risk his reputation on. Also; a better solution seems readily available in temporarily taking the fence down setting a pull rope and felling those trees. It is less dangerous and a heck of a lot easier, as well as faster assuming you have that skill set attained?
ropensaddle
Feel Lucky
When you ask opinions from pro's and they tell you to put on the brakes , rethink your actions, then maybe you might be in too deep!
ropensaddle
Feel Lucky
I bet your thinking jump cut as close to the fence as that tree is, I would set a rope get a good pull and jump it over that fence but then I know my skill set too!What he said.
Exactly. It may not be fun and adventurous but it looks safer than what you're proposing.
By the way, I meant nothing negative when I posted above. I was just watching the responses. I know what I would do with those trees but you don't have the skills to do it the way I would. I'm not super skilled, don't get me wrong, but from what it sounds, I have more skills than you.
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