your take on pruning with spurs on

Ekka · 15th January 2008, 10:17 PM

This post has a video in it of a fan palm I spurred to take down though livistona video post but gives you an idea of what the head is like if you were to set a rope from the ground ... it's a livistona palm, more supple than the washingtonias you guys have and the fronds bend over easily.

dannyboysfc · 15th January 2008, 10:49 PM

Good video Ekka

I've been up in several fan palms, all Washingtonia Robustas as far as I know. My concern is, and maybe this should be posted somewhere else, that on a 70 foot tall Robusta with a good 20 feet worth of dead fronds it is dangerous to climb and take these of from underneath. However at the same time it seems almost impossible to put a rope in the top and set a cambium saver or other false crotch in order to climb to the top and work my way down.I haven't encounterd this yet but it is a likely situation to see.

YouTube - Trimmer Trapped in a Palm

I don't wanna end up like this guy or worse. Others have died from this. My best solution has been to climb using a cambium saver with the cambium saver prussik along with a lanyard so the in the case of a large amount of dead fronds falling on me hopefully I could unclip my lanyard and decend on my climb line to escape from under the fronds.

bigshea13 · 16th January 2008, 05:56 AM

ive never trimmed a palm. idont understand what was happening. how did he end up like that?

newguy18 · 16th January 2008, 06:55 AM

the fronds broke lose and pinned him.

Quintrex · 16th January 2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigshea13

ive never trimmed a palm. idont understand what was happening. how did he end up like that?

Sometimes the whole ring of dead fronds can dislodge and fall in one piece.
I have heard of a person in the USA who suffocated in this way.

Sean Freeman · 16th January 2008, 08:59 PM

Imagine being below this skirt and having the whole thing slide down on top of you trapping you and crushing you. BTW this guy has already removed more than 60% of the fronds down from the head to where he is!!

bigshea13 · 17th January 2008, 09:37 PM

ah ha. i see now. thanks for the insight.

Ekka · 17th January 2008, 10:01 PM

Poor bastid, must have drawn the short straw for that job.

Therrin · 17th January 2008, 10:11 PM

Something's confusing me here...

How much does a frond weight???

Ekka · 17th January 2008, 10:18 PM

Mate, inside that mess it's so dusty with fibres and shit you can hardly breathe, you cough and carry on.

Then it's hot, and all the fronds are interlocked, to push one off you have to push a whole bunch off and it wont happen.

Then the buggers have barbs on them stabbing you, it's a God Damned torture chamber under there. The fronds might only way 200lb for entire group mass but there's a lot more than that going on.

Each individual dead frond might weigh 1lb tops.

Therrin · 17th January 2008, 10:26 PM

That sounds crazy! I didn't know they were that bad.

I was trying to imagine, like Sean said, a skirt sliding down around my head... it really wasn't all that bad

But YOUR description...Yikes! So the whole thing can just break loose all as one piece and trap people... sounds pretty dangerous.

Me... I'd put my line way up over the top and do em top to bottom

Ekka · 17th January 2008, 10:33 PM

Just shit sticks mate, aint a tree and is visually disgusting, LA embarked on a campaign to remove thousands of them due to maintenance, hazard (falling fronds), vermin residence and low contribution rate to eco benefits (shade, Co2, pollution etc) ... trees and even large shrubs can do so much better.

So piss them off and replace with better things. I hate the buggers, loathe them, they are absolute junk.

newguy18 · 24th January 2008, 02:07 PM

yeah lets rid the world of palms.

dannyboysfc · 26th January 2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Freeman

Imagine being below this skirt and having the whole thing slide down on top of you trapping you and crushing you. BTW this guy has already removed more than 60% of the fronds down from the head to where he is!!

That looks like a pretty tall one, how did he get to the top to start working down?

Sean Freeman · 26th January 2008, 05:17 PM

Using the bigshot or hand throw (if you're good and strong!! and no power lines about!!!) get the throw line over and through the centre of the head pull back one line with a pulley and your climbing line fed through the pulley...your line has to be long enough to reach the ground doubled (if your using a dynamic climing system) pull the 1st line back till the pulley is set above the dead fronds visible to you on the ground and centred. The 1st line is then secured to either the trunk a porty or something bomb proof!
Climb up (after satisfying yourself the set up is stable and secure!

) on reaching the point above the dead fronds attach a false crotch around the stem of the palm...this is what you'll work off...lanyard into the head, and change your climbing system from the pulley on the 1st line to the false crotch...if you've thought ahead (anchor hitch or similar) you should be able to detatch the pulley and keep it on your saddle then the 1st line can be dropped safely from the palm. Because you are cleaning the palm you can either move the f/c down with you or with enough throw line retrieve from the ground at the end.

Yes i know sounds so easy, and yes i know its not! But that is the method I would employ to do such a nasty job....really I'd be wanting to fell the buggers, or work from an EWP...in reality I wouldn't get to do the job as Eric often points out very dangerous for very little pay!!

dannyboysfc · 26th January 2008, 07:23 PM

Yeah, sounds easy.

Thanks for the info, if I ever have to do one thats the way I,ll do it. It just seems like it would take a bit of time to get that line set to where I feel comfortable.

View Poll Results: Is it ok to use spurs when prunning ?
ok if used for power line clearence ?	2	3.28%
Ok if the price is cheaper for homeowner ?	2	3.28%
Ok if used a ladder for the frist 20 feet so mark arent seen?	1	1.64%
If spurs make the climb safer it is OK ?	8	13.11%
Only hacks use spikes to prune trees ?	50	81.97%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 61. You may not vote on this poll

15th January 2008, 10:17 PM	#151 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,869	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on This post has a video in it of a fan palm I spurred to take down though livistona video post but gives you an idea of what the head is like if you were to set a rope from the ground ... it's a livistona palm, more supple than the washingtonias you guys have and the fronds bend over easily. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

15th January 2008, 10:49 PM	#152 (permalink)
dannyboysfc Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: California Posts: 121	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Good video Ekka I've been up in several fan palms, all Washingtonia Robustas as far as I know. My concern is, and maybe this should be posted somewhere else, that on a 70 foot tall Robusta with a good 20 feet worth of dead fronds it is dangerous to climb and take these of from underneath. However at the same time it seems almost impossible to put a rope in the top and set a cambium saver or other false crotch in order to climb to the top and work my way down.I haven't encounterd this yet but it is a likely situation to see. YouTube - Trimmer Trapped in a Palm I don't wanna end up like this guy or worse. Others have died from this. My best solution has been to climb using a cambium saver with the cambium saver prussik along with a lanyard so the in the case of a large amount of dead fronds falling on me hopefully I could unclip my lanyard and decend on my climb line to escape from under the fronds.

16th January 2008, 05:56 AM	#153 (permalink)
bigshea13 Mature tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: hiding Posts: 386	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on ive never trimmed a palm. idont understand what was happening. how did he end up like that?

16th January 2008, 06:55 AM	#154 (permalink)
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,629	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on the fronds broke lose and pinned him. __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related

17th January 2008, 09:37 PM	#157 (permalink)
bigshea13 Mature tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: hiding Posts: 386	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on ah ha. i see now. thanks for the insight.

17th January 2008, 10:01 PM	#158 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,869	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Poor bastid, must have drawn the short straw for that job. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

17th January 2008, 10:11 PM	#159 (permalink)
Therrin The Tree World Bandit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lancaster, Ca Posts: 1,254	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Something's confusing me here... How much does a frond weight??? __________________ Ken Fessia I.T.S.A. Tree Service (661) 916-4703

17th January 2008, 10:18 PM	#160 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,869	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Mate, inside that mess it's so dusty with fibres and shit you can hardly breathe, you cough and carry on. Then it's hot, and all the fronds are interlocked, to push one off you have to push a whole bunch off and it wont happen. Then the buggers have barbs on them stabbing you, it's a God Damned torture chamber under there. The fronds might only way 200lb for entire group mass but there's a lot more than that going on. Each individual dead frond might weigh 1lb tops. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

17th January 2008, 10:26 PM	#161 (permalink)
Therrin The Tree World Bandit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lancaster, Ca Posts: 1,254	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on That sounds crazy! I didn't know they were that bad. I was trying to imagine, like Sean said, a skirt sliding down around my head... it really wasn't all that bad But YOUR description...Yikes! So the whole thing can just break loose all as one piece and trap people... sounds pretty dangerous. Me... I'd put my line way up over the top and do em top to bottom __________________ Ken Fessia I.T.S.A. Tree Service (661) 916-4703

17th January 2008, 10:33 PM	#162 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,869	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Just shit sticks mate, aint a tree and is visually disgusting, LA embarked on a campaign to remove thousands of them due to maintenance, hazard (falling fronds), vermin residence and low contribution rate to eco benefits (shade, Co2, pollution etc) ... trees and even large shrubs can do so much better. So piss them off and replace with better things. I hate the buggers, loathe them, they are absolute junk. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

24th January 2008, 02:07 PM	#163 (permalink)
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,629	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on yeah lets rid the world of palms. __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related

26th January 2008, 05:17 PM	#165 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,645	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Using the bigshot or hand throw (if you're good and strong!! and no power lines about!!!) get the throw line over and through the centre of the head pull back one line with a pulley and your climbing line fed through the pulley...your line has to be long enough to reach the ground doubled (if your using a dynamic climing system) pull the 1st line back till the pulley is set above the dead fronds visible to you on the ground and centred. The 1st line is then secured to either the trunk a porty or something bomb proof! Climb up (after satisfying yourself the set up is stable and secure!) on reaching the point above the dead fronds attach a false crotch around the stem of the palm...this is what you'll work off...lanyard into the head, and change your climbing system from the pulley on the 1st line to the false crotch...if you've thought ahead (anchor hitch or similar) you should be able to detatch the pulley and keep it on your saddle then the 1st line can be dropped safely from the palm. Because you are cleaning the palm you can either move the f/c down with you or with enough throw line retrieve from the ground at the end. Yes i know sounds so easy, and yes i know its not! But that is the method I would employ to do such a nasty job....really I'd be wanting to fell the buggers, or work from an EWP...in reality I wouldn't get to do the job as Eric often points out very dangerous for very little pay!! __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran

26th January 2008, 07:23 PM	#166 (permalink)
dannyboysfc Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: California Posts: 121	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Yeah, sounds easy. Thanks for the info, if I ever have to do one thats the way I,ll do it. It just seems like it would take a bit of time to get that line set to where I feel comfortable.