to the OP
I am a homeowner that has done some work in total removals..I didn't care to spike a tree..it was dead if I knocked it down or someone else did it. The consensus here is that you are injecting a burl every step you take up and down in your tree that you are trying to save. I should clarify. Not just a burl..an injury to the tree that is subject to infection whether it be from bugs or birds or just rot. Have you ever run spikes? they project in and down which would hold water..standing water in a tree makes mold. mold leads to rot. it will leave if nothing more, blemishes in your tree. instead of buying spikes or spurs. buy a big shot to shoot a line high up in the limbs and foot ascenders and make a prusik knot and walk your way up. IF YOU take small steps it isn't much harder than spiking and a lot easier on your upper body if you have someone on the ground to keep you from swinging. But I have to agree with one of the posts here. There is a reason the woodpeckers got into your DEAD CEDAR and the nail hole..that was the first place a bug found an unpainted way into the good wood under it. I have 2 blue spruces in my back yard and both have pecker tracks in a circular pattern all the way up them. lucky for me..they're only for the bugs and I live in sand and the trees are thriving. if not I would spray the trees first for bugs ..let it stand for a year and then figure another option. I am not for someone that has pride and wants to do it themselves. pm me and I will send you a book on the knots you need to climb without spikes. but people here are in the business..maybe a pine tree that you have seen grow so good they don't worry about spike marks..do that in a mature tree and it will leave a void. look at any telephone pole in town..every spike mark from when it was set is still there..the more spike marks the shorter it lasts. oh yeah..I work for the phone company. even in dead treated telephone poles there is a rhyme to the reason. If you can spike..you can rope climb. I would recommend it on a standing tree as much of the people on here would..Burls in finished wood can be pretty but keep that in mind..the only time your see the beauty is when they are made into furniture. I hope this helps