rbtree
Climbing Up
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2005
- Messages
- 1,924
The video does a fairly good job of showing the tree and the work required.
It was a ~23" dbh silver maple, totally one-sided due to the 120 foot lombardy poplar to one side. AND, it's 40-60 foot wide canopy was over a large cherry, also one-sided. The job called for the GRCS and spectra double braided near zero stretch line...and the Milwaukee Super Hawg two speed right angle drill with Greg Good's custom drill chuck which replaces the hand crank.
First task was setting lines in the poplar, which didn't start off well. Small poplar twigs form tight spaces that causes problems with line setting. Yep, right off, after finally nailing the right spot, I left the throw ball on when I sent up the access line, which promptly got stuck-in both directions. Dang. Set another line, leaned on it, and it was no good, as we broke a good sized limb. Finally got a line set, Wraptored up. Set lifeline for Pat, while setting the rigging line, and moving the stuck line to another crotch as a backup lowering line. Meanwhile, Pat was climbing up, not wanting to bother with the Wraptor. I headed down, and did a bit of cutting while he was getting in position. Came out, and the crew went to work. I was able to get a lot of pictures and videos, and help as needed.
While getting ready took a lot of time, overall, the job went well. Thankfully, we only had to tip tie and lift less than half of the limbs, or the job would have taken forever. AS it was, it took at least 1.4 hours more than I'd bid it for. No worries, as we gained a happy client, and a video, which clearly showcases our rigging expertise. (Sorry about the ego.....) I'd charged $2000 for the relatively small tree, the most I recall for a tree that size that wasn't storm related. It could have been more, but I'm very happy with the price.
On most of the tricky limb lifts, Pat had to really tread slowly and cautiously, and swing out of the potential danger zone, and let Ryan crank up the limb or log. As well, he had to make sure his lifeline would be clear of the path the lowering line would take as the load moved....not an easy task. A couple times, Pat had to reposition a line, or himself, which meant some time climbing up and around, as it seemed the way to go at the time to solve the problem.
And, as explained in the video, Pat had tied off a very large limb, at least 11" and 50 feet long. Thankfully we talked about it, and realized there was risk of the spar failing, which Pat was tied into. The consequences of that would and could have been catastrophic. (he spar was a vertical poplar lead, and only about 10" where the block was attached. In retropsect, I should have back tied that spar to one behind it, always a good idea, and one we've done before. Later, when I derigged the tree, I saw that the rigging sling had been pulled down, about a foot, taking the bark with it.
Last, the job was a referral from Conor Haggerty of Sitkum Tree Service. I met Conor at the Bainbridge Island Tree Climbing Comp. He used to work in Seattle, but has relocated to Port Angeles. So, he's going to refer more clients my way. What a guy!! There's 291 pics of that very fun event here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rbtree/sets/72157644454478123/
It was a ~23" dbh silver maple, totally one-sided due to the 120 foot lombardy poplar to one side. AND, it's 40-60 foot wide canopy was over a large cherry, also one-sided. The job called for the GRCS and spectra double braided near zero stretch line...and the Milwaukee Super Hawg two speed right angle drill with Greg Good's custom drill chuck which replaces the hand crank.
First task was setting lines in the poplar, which didn't start off well. Small poplar twigs form tight spaces that causes problems with line setting. Yep, right off, after finally nailing the right spot, I left the throw ball on when I sent up the access line, which promptly got stuck-in both directions. Dang. Set another line, leaned on it, and it was no good, as we broke a good sized limb. Finally got a line set, Wraptored up. Set lifeline for Pat, while setting the rigging line, and moving the stuck line to another crotch as a backup lowering line. Meanwhile, Pat was climbing up, not wanting to bother with the Wraptor. I headed down, and did a bit of cutting while he was getting in position. Came out, and the crew went to work. I was able to get a lot of pictures and videos, and help as needed.
While getting ready took a lot of time, overall, the job went well. Thankfully, we only had to tip tie and lift less than half of the limbs, or the job would have taken forever. AS it was, it took at least 1.4 hours more than I'd bid it for. No worries, as we gained a happy client, and a video, which clearly showcases our rigging expertise. (Sorry about the ego.....) I'd charged $2000 for the relatively small tree, the most I recall for a tree that size that wasn't storm related. It could have been more, but I'm very happy with the price.
On most of the tricky limb lifts, Pat had to really tread slowly and cautiously, and swing out of the potential danger zone, and let Ryan crank up the limb or log. As well, he had to make sure his lifeline would be clear of the path the lowering line would take as the load moved....not an easy task. A couple times, Pat had to reposition a line, or himself, which meant some time climbing up and around, as it seemed the way to go at the time to solve the problem.
And, as explained in the video, Pat had tied off a very large limb, at least 11" and 50 feet long. Thankfully we talked about it, and realized there was risk of the spar failing, which Pat was tied into. The consequences of that would and could have been catastrophic. (he spar was a vertical poplar lead, and only about 10" where the block was attached. In retropsect, I should have back tied that spar to one behind it, always a good idea, and one we've done before. Later, when I derigged the tree, I saw that the rigging sling had been pulled down, about a foot, taking the bark with it.
Last, the job was a referral from Conor Haggerty of Sitkum Tree Service. I met Conor at the Bainbridge Island Tree Climbing Comp. He used to work in Seattle, but has relocated to Port Angeles. So, he's going to refer more clients my way. What a guy!! There's 291 pics of that very fun event here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rbtree/sets/72157644454478123/