Drilling and trees

americangym · 27th March 2009, 02:56 AM

Hi,
I would like to know if I drill into the trunk of a tree in order to place an eye bolt through it (the center of the tree) will it kill or severely damage the tree?

Sean Freeman · 27th March 2009, 07:01 AM

There are many caveats that go along with any bolting/static cabling job relating to the health and vigour of the tree at the time of installation, presence of wood decay fungi (if known), cleanliness of the equipment.....

However.......the impacts on the physiological and biological function of a healthy tree of drilling through its stem to install say a 10-18mm bolt would IMO not be so great as to kill the tree....healthy trees are quite capable of growing aorund and compartmentalising relatively minor ruptures like those from a drill bit.

(WLL) · 27th March 2009, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by americangym

Hi,
I would like to know if I drill into the trunk of a tree in order to place an eye bolt through it (the center of the tree) will it kill or severely damage the tree?

what are you drilling for, swing, cable? avoid drilling threw crotches. are you drilling completely threw the tree or just deep enough for a eye lag? what metal will you be installing in the tree? welcome to Tree World!!

treevet · 27th March 2009, 06:21 PM

Sometimes you have to hurt a tree to help. This is a perfect example (injections are another). If you have a co dominant situation and it is mildly threatening to split apart then maybe a dynamic cabling system is sufficient.

But if you have a fractured juncture from pressure from growth of the 2 opposing stems pushing each other away from each other, or just movement then you may have to resort to a more drastic system. Drill Holes may be necessary to install the static cabling system above. Still after that you may have a worry about the "barn gate" effect of the co doms moving even though cabled above.

To keep that to a minimum you may choose to install a lag threaded rod through the crotch. The minimum involvement would be just a drill hole on one side and not going all the way through the other side. The lag thread on a hole 1/16 or 1/8" smaller than the hole will keep the bolt stationary and restrict the hinging or sliding of the crotch.

Leif Raukleiv · 28th March 2009, 03:49 AM

In the electricity's childhood it was quite common to use trees to attach wirings, instead of digging down a pole. They used a big steel hook with a porcelene insulator. Now, ignorant loggers may put their chainsaw into it some unhappy day. The whole thing is totally grown in, impossible to see. The tree hasn't suffered at all. I know several examples of that. These trees are mainly pine and larch. Other trees lack the ability of self-healing such a wound and may rot rapidly. So I think the whole question depends on what type of tree we are talking about.

Leif.

Eric Frei · 28th March 2009, 10:14 AM

Imagine that going through the chipper, a ceramic or porcelain insulator!

Even the old story of copper nails is BS, drill away.

Eric Frei · 21st July 2011, 08:12 PM

Got to his thread.

Zip line | zipline (recreational) attachment technique?

27th March 2009, 02:56 AM	#1
americangym I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1	Drilling and trees Hi, I would like to know if I drill into the trunk of a tree in order to place an eye bolt through it (the center of the tree) will it kill or severely damage the tree?

27th March 2009, 07:01 AM	#2
Sean Freeman Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,981	Re: Drilling and trees There are many caveats that go along with any bolting/static cabling job relating to the health and vigour of the tree at the time of installation, presence of wood decay fungi (if known), cleanliness of the equipment..... However.......the impacts on the physiological and biological function of a healthy tree of drilling through its stem to install say a 10-18mm bolt would IMO not be so great as to kill the tree....healthy trees are quite capable of growing aorund and compartmentalising relatively minor ruptures like those from a drill bit.

27th March 2009, 06:21 PM	#4
treevet Monument Status Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Posts: 2,119	Re: Drilling and trees Sometimes you have to hurt a tree to help. This is a perfect example (injections are another). If you have a co dominant situation and it is mildly threatening to split apart then maybe a dynamic cabling system is sufficient. But if you have a fractured juncture from pressure from growth of the 2 opposing stems pushing each other away from each other, or just movement then you may have to resort to a more drastic system. Drill Holes may be necessary to install the static cabling system above. Still after that you may have a worry about the "barn gate" effect of the co doms moving even though cabled above. To keep that to a minimum you may choose to install a lag threaded rod through the crotch. The minimum involvement would be just a drill hole on one side and not going all the way through the other side. The lag thread on a hole 1/16 or 1/8" smaller than the hole will keep the bolt stationary and restrict the hinging or sliding of the crotch.

28th March 2009, 03:49 AM	#5
Leif Raukleiv Mature tree Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Norway Posts: 288	Re: Drilling and trees In the electricity's childhood it was quite common to use trees to attach wirings, instead of digging down a pole. They used a big steel hook with a porcelene insulator. Now, ignorant loggers may put their chainsaw into it some unhappy day. The whole thing is totally grown in, impossible to see. The tree hasn't suffered at all. I know several examples of that. These trees are mainly pine and larch. Other trees lack the ability of self-healing such a wound and may rot rapidly. So I think the whole question depends on what type of tree we are talking about. Leif. __________________ My place - Bjørndalen. http://www.youtube.com/user/MultiVoff

28th March 2009, 10:14 AM	#6
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,990	Re: Drilling and trees Imagine that going through the chipper, a ceramic or porcelain insulator! Even the old story of copper nails is BS, drill away. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

21st July 2011, 08:12 PM	#7
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,990	Re: Drilling and trees Got to his thread. Zip line \| zipline (recreational) attachment technique? __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Do codominant trees grow bigger than single trunk trees?	newguy18	General Tree Chat	6	6th March 2009 10:44 PM
Drilling into a Cottonwood	steelhead1	Ask an Arborist here	8	25th January 2009 10:34 PM
drilling into trunk	Maugy	Ask an Arborist here	3	6th August 2008 03:30 PM
Boab trees and Bottle trees - confusion resolved	Eric Frei	Tree Information and Facts	2	5th August 2007 06:55 PM
The Effects of Excessive Drilling on Wood Decay in Trees by Mattheck and Weber	Eric Frei	Tree Information and Facts	0	27th January 2007 05:30 PM