David (saltas)
Addicted to ArboristSite
Hey this will crack some of you up. An old winegrape grower I know asked me to have a look at a dead old gum tree in his backyard. He wants me to fall it but miss his water meter.
I had a look yesterday after work and stuff me it will take out his fence by about 3-4m. Without high lift capability there is no possible way of falling it without hitting the fence or powerlines on the other side.
I said "No way Joe, it will smash your fence".
His response was "That's OK Matt, I'll just straighten the tin out afterwards. It's only small branches that will hit it".
This argument went back and forth a bit and he is adamant he wants me to drop it regardless of any damage to his corrugated iron fence. There is no way we can dismantle the fence as he made it himself and it's this welded frame. The poor old buggar hasn't got much money and actually wants the wood for his fireplace so I feel a bit sorry for him. He's 73 years old and his wife left him a few years ago because "she finally found out she was a lesbian" (no sh*t!).
I'm going to knock it over tomorrow for free and am getting a workmate of mine to come along and video it - should be funny. There is only one way it can go and will have to swing it off a cable or chains from his tractor. I'll pack a heap of wood or bricks around the water meter just in case it doesn't go where I want (fair bit of side lean and the hinge may not hang on).
mat you still have those climbing spikes?
a fat bastard like me would have to use a rented trailer mount EWP just to trim it up a bit first.