This would be better posted in Arborist 101 or Commercial tree care & Climbing forums...
BUT, I'll pitch in.
Are you pruning or doing a removal?
If you're pruning, it is NOT recommended to use spikes, too much damage to the tree, debated ad nauseum on other forums. Get your climbing rope set nice and high and you can access the tree much better, get good support, and use your lanyard to help steady yourself.
If its a removal, go for it, spikes, the lot, just get it down safely. Climbing spikes are designed specially to penetrate and carry your weight without "gaffing out' when you stand up. Making your own could pose problems if you don't get the curve of the gaff right.
Its your safety, how much is it worth to you? I would think $200 was a fair price.
Thanks, everybody, for replying. Yeah, I know it shoulda been in another forum.... my reasoning was that everybody I have gotten to know on this site would be here checking out chainsaw stuff.
I know to never use spikes on a trim/prune/weight reduction. Tough on trees, nice openings for bugs and such. I was on a removal, managed to do it safely, never climb unroped.
I will not attempt to make a set of tree gaffs. It was just that they looked so simple, and were so expensive. I think the cheapest ones I saw were 269.00. I know, I know, I wouldnt think twice about spending that much on another chainsaw, (which I need like I need Ebola), I'm just trying to manage money a bit better. Though its hard to manage it if you cant make it, sitting in a body cast......
I am a saw enthusiast who likes to climb. I sometimes do this stuff fer my friends for free or just to cover gas and oil, because I enjoy it so much. I will get some proper spikes, and I will use them responsibly.
Good folks of sound mind here on AS, yessir.
:greenchainsaw: