Revolutionary new gear for the arborist

TrevMcRev

Found this

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/TREE-OR-POLE-CUTTING-STEPS-ARBORIST-LOPPING-FELLING_W0QQitemZ200201109035QQihZ010QQcategoryZ3186QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Jeff Darby

Hi Trev,and All,
Those climber's use to be used by electrical worker's? but were much longer..A while back..If anyone knows better feel free to correct me.

good find Trev.....new tool for tree work..LOL...

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Eric Frei

Far out, people whine about the weight of a steel vs ally biner, check that hunk of metal out! LOL

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Tree Machine

Eeek. I like to stay open minded to revolutionary new gear for the arborist, but I think I'll pass on this one.

treevet

New hope for fat arborists, less hope for trees they are used in.

jim1nz

Ha wouldnt be surprised if they were used as a step for 2nd lift production forestey pruning. Would damage the cambium though a...

Yea telephone poles or something seems to be the best bet.

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newguy18

Those should stay in the line man indutry but they might be okay for extremely tall remvals but then again i'm sure footplates would be 20 times lighter.

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old schooler

Done it

A Chain board is a very handy bit of equipment. I still use mine, sometimes.

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shaggs

Perfect use of the chain board Done It!!!

The Workcover tag must have fallen off the one on ebay!!!

Eric Frei

Geez, yours came with a full esky!

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Done it

I also have the Deluxe, "Palm Saw" model.

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newguy18

What kind of saws are those in your pic?never seen those before.

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old schooler

TREE-SURFER

Shindiawa 577 and Shindiawa 357 TH, if I'm not mistaken.

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The Aerial Arborist

Isle of Man Tree Surgeon| All Aspects of Tree Work

What experts say about TOPPING

Done it

Tree-Surfer knows his saws. They're not bad saws, about half the price of Stihl here. I use a Tanaka 340 as much as I can on palms, they're all plastic.
Shindaiwa Chainsaws

Aerial

I posted this idea in the "Welcome" thread, but discussion of it fits more properly here.

Basically my idea for revolutionary tree climbing gear is adapting ice climbing axes for use in tree climbing. Sort of gaffs for the hands, used with traditional leg gaffs.

I've only tried them once (they just came in yesterday) and I think they are going to work great after I polish up my technique.

They set great into the tree. The high carbon blades have no trouble giving great penetration. Removal is the literal sticking point. If set too deep you really have to rock and twist them to get them out.

What do you guys think of this idea? Here they are:

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DBS

Can we see a pic of them in action not just stuck into the tree.... surely there has to be another person arround to take the pic while you demonstrate them in use...

theres an idea.. how about a video???

-Daryl

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Aerial

I'll try to get some shots in action tomorrow.

playfordtree

Those axes look pretty mean looking Aerial!

Where did you pick them up from? What sort of cost involved?

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Therrin

Aerial,

I'm switching over from the "Welcome" thread, but noticed that over there you're comparing a flip line to ice axes as far as fall-safe equipment.

??? Flip lines can't even be compared that way. They act as passive safety...

Your ice axes MUST have a sufficient hold (and it's dubious as to the trees which will give it), and if they ...kick out? (slip out?) then they fail. A flipline left in place and securely connected is Constant passive safety.

Aerial

Thanks for switching over, I put a link to here in there and will no longer post responses in that thread.

I may have my terminology messed up, I'm a complete newbee to climbing trees.

By "flip line" I am referring to the climbing lanyard, the one you flip up to advance up the tree, I guess I got that wrong.

Aerial

newguy18

Aerial,you mentioned you had a hard time using a flip line,might i ask what issues you had and also like i mentioned before most arborists use 2 flip line or the climb line in conjuction with the flip line.Do you have a climb line and if so do you know how to tie a friction hitch?You do know you can climb trees with out gaffs safley without harm to the tree right?

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old schooler

Aerial

Oh yeah, they are some badd-ass axes, I got them on eBay for $168. Quality Ice Axes often go for over $200 a pair.

Brand New, my axes cost $225 each.

Aerial

Aerial

I bought a cheapo "starter kit" on eBay for $129, it had a saddle, a limp "flip line", and The Climbers Companion. Of the three the book held the most value.

The climbing lanyard (flip line?) was thin and limp nylon webbing. All it did was get hung up in the rather rough bark of the Locust tree I took down.

As I mentioned in the "Welcome" thread, all I had was a half inch rope of dubous linage (it looked worn, had knots, and "puffs") so I did what I know to be a bad thing, I basically free climbed the tree, with pole spikes and limp flip. When I got to as high as I could go, I hauled up the retracting lifeline and hooked up. That was a good moment for me. Less good one's were to follow shortly.

The true total story on bringing that dangerous tree down was so amazing that I will reserve it for a thread all it's own. But no one was hurt, maimed, or killed in the process so against all odds it worked.

Aerial

Aerial

Well I'll get some stills when I can, but video will be harder for me, all I have is my cellphone's video capabilities. Think that will work?

Aerial

newguy18

you need to buy a climb line and start off with something fool proof like the taut line or prusik,i'd even advise you start off tail tied until you get the hang of the hitch.As for a flip line it too should be rope and not webbing,wrong material is why you are having trouble with the flipping motion.you should get either 5/8 or bigger but on the finer side don't go lesss than 1/2 rope.Get a book called the fundamentals of general treework by gerald beranek it will help immensley but i also strongly advise you practice ground handling of the saw before in tree use and use a handsaw as much as possible,remeber all it takes is a second for an accident to happen.Also use 2 maybe in your case 3 attachment points while climbing and if you do anymore td's make sure one attachment is set with a wrap.

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old schooler

Aerial

Hooked up with four attach points:



Hanging from one axe (looks like I'm cheating with my left leg, but there is no contact):



I know they are lame shots, I'll do better next time, I promise.

Aerial

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Aerial

If you could define the terms in your quote that I bolded it would be very helpful. (Never mind see edit)

I have bought a couple of climbing ropes that I plan to use for tying off while in the tree to hang the retracting lifeline. I also bought a throwing line and weight to cast up into a crotch to secure them.

I have a Miller safety lanyard (flip line?) and Miller climbing belt coming to replace the starter kit items. I'm hoping they will help me climb traditionally.

I have several questions about my planned usage of these items, and I will be putting them forward for the expert advice I so desperately need.

Aerial

Aerial

Yes I have a pair of Swiss made Jumar ascenders, but I still need to get the foot straps for them.

Right now I am dealing with take downs, complete tree removals, so spiking them up is not a consideration.

I want to study and become a certified arborist so I can save trees as well as topple them. I'm actually a tree lover and hate to kill a tree. I will be much more fulfilled when I can take less money to prune and aerate a tree than to take it down.

Aerial

newguy18

the tautline and prusik are friction hitchs that allow the climber to climb up a tree in the body thrust and foot lock climbing techniques[see the tree climbers companion],Climbing with the tail tied is also a climbing technique so you can tie the friction hitch[see the tree climbers companion],The hitch is slang for friction hitch,tds is slang for take down or removal of a tree,and setting your flip line with a wrap is before clipping your flipline to your harness you take another complete wrap around the trunk so if you would slip it will arrest the fall these videos should show it well enough,

http://www.treeworld.info/f7/spikele...k-etc-897.html
Tree work videos

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old schooler

Aerial

Thank you New Guy. I watched that video a couple of times and I think I get what they are doing. I do have the Climber's Companion and I think it covers the knots involved.

I have to say all of those methods seemed like hard work, until the very last when he pointed out that you could have ground people haul you up!

Are using ascenders and stirrups considered free climbing? I suppose a manned belay with a separate rope would be considered prudent.

Aerial