imagineero
Addicted to ArboristSite
Looking at getting a wraptor since I seem to be turning down trimming work on big trees quite a bit lately, plus I'm getting fat. I used to take these sort of jobs on, but I find they just suck up way too much time. We get these sorts of jobs where there may be 4 or 5 trees on the same property over 100' tall, and they want deadwooding or trimming for property clearance. The typical work flow is the set a TIP, get up high in the crown,haul up rigging and lowering ropes, set rigging as needed, descend to the area that needs work, do the work, get back up to the TIP and remove the rigging and get out of the tree.
Honestly, by the second or third one I'm pretty much screwed. Even on the first one I need to catch my breath at the top before doing any work. It's a real struggle to get 4 or 5 trees like that done in a day, and even if I can push myself to it I'm too exhausted the next day to do anything but light work. It's not such a problem on big removals because you tend to do only the one big removal in a day if it's technical work, and you're on spikes too. I can keep a 4 or 5 man crew on their toes with big removals, but for trimming work I'm definitely the weakest link in our production.
What I'm wondering, for you guys who are using wraptors is how do you organise the climb? Setting a TIP and getting in the tree is pretty straightforward enough, but once you set your rigging and descend to the work area, are you taking the machine with you? How are you doing this? Are you using a base tie off and having a groundie lower it down to you when you need it? Or lowering it off to the ground yourself then having it sent back up again on a messenger line?
It would be sweet to have that whole deal of being able to get in the tree quickly and without personal effort, then be able to get back to the ground to give a hand with cutting up, dragging or just getting a cold drink but I haven't worked out how you get the machine back down to the ground again when you might be working 60~80' below the TIP. Any and all insights appreciated.
Shaun
Honestly, by the second or third one I'm pretty much screwed. Even on the first one I need to catch my breath at the top before doing any work. It's a real struggle to get 4 or 5 trees like that done in a day, and even if I can push myself to it I'm too exhausted the next day to do anything but light work. It's not such a problem on big removals because you tend to do only the one big removal in a day if it's technical work, and you're on spikes too. I can keep a 4 or 5 man crew on their toes with big removals, but for trimming work I'm definitely the weakest link in our production.
What I'm wondering, for you guys who are using wraptors is how do you organise the climb? Setting a TIP and getting in the tree is pretty straightforward enough, but once you set your rigging and descend to the work area, are you taking the machine with you? How are you doing this? Are you using a base tie off and having a groundie lower it down to you when you need it? Or lowering it off to the ground yourself then having it sent back up again on a messenger line?
It would be sweet to have that whole deal of being able to get in the tree quickly and without personal effort, then be able to get back to the ground to give a hand with cutting up, dragging or just getting a cold drink but I haven't worked out how you get the machine back down to the ground again when you might be working 60~80' below the TIP. Any and all insights appreciated.
Shaun
