Advice on removing an old metal piece on a tree

[El Astro]

Hello everyone,

I came across this in a clients house, the tree has some dead branches up top but nothing too alarming. It also has this ''contraption'' screwed unto the tree.

I don't know if this is some old type of tree surgery or if someone just screwed this unto the tree for some other reason, i am however a bit worried that by removing this the left branch will collapse since it may have some strength into keeping it into place.

What would you do?

[dumper]

Run ! Or cut back to under the steel 

[Stubby]

Someone has braced it because of the included bark in the union . The tree will grow it  into itself . I have seen a whole bicycle included in a tree before . 

[monkeybusiness]

Do not remove!

[Mesterh]

Yeah, dont remove it for sure!

Looks like that left stem will drop at some point, I would be taking that out TBH.

 

[kram]

While the tree may grow around and occlude the metal, that will take time, until that happens it is girdling the tree and killing an area of cambium where the metal is contacting.

If enough of a stem is girdled at any time then it can kill the stem.

 

I would suggest an alternative method of bracing the union and cutting away the metal. Perhaps a cable installed higher up.

 

How big is the tree, whats around it, what is the risk if the stem failed?

[Mick Dempsey]

My policy on this sort of thing is simple.  
 

I either take it out completely or I don’t touch the tree. 

[Mike Hill]

Paint it with Hammerite ,this with make it last longer.

[maybelateron]

59 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

My policy on this sort of thing is simple.  

That sounded like we we heading for a Dirty Harry one liner for a moment.