Potentially bracing a dual stem Beech

[MyMateMorris]

Hi All, I’m looking for some advice with Cobra Bracing. I’ve got client who has the beautiful Beech tree that is dual stem with a V - union. In the union there is a cavity full of water. On side of the union looks in okay health however on the other side you can see the heart wood and I guess the consequences of included bark.

 

I’ve had a good chat to the client and advised we do something about this. Neither of us really want to take the tree down as it generally looks pretty healthy but as there is a shed directly next to it in the direction of which way the tree would fail I said I will have a look into bracing of the other stem.

 

I’ve watched some videos on how to fit the kit and I think its something ill be able to so I’m just interested in how some of you gauge the spec of the kit to get and how many connections between the stems you might make?

 

I’ve linked some photos to help you get a better idea of the tree, the picture in leaf was taken during the summer last year.

Any help is much appreciated!

 

 

[Ledburyjosh]

https://www.europeanarboriculturalstandards.eu/etcbs

[Mike Hill]

Personally I would fell that.

 

If thats not an option,then I would install a semi static cable. 5mm wire rope between two lag bolts and a buckle guy.

 

You dont need the dynamic properties of Cobra on that job ,you need something to physically hold those stems together.

[Tree monkey 1682]

Years ago I was trained or more to the point the college I was at did a demonstration of the cobra set up, was a good bit of kit and better than invasive than the old type.

Doesn't look like you could take any weight off the tree. 

Be interesting how you get on with it ? 

[Ledburyjosh]

Cobra can be installed as a static system by omitting the dildo.

 

If done this way its ideally needing to be installed taunt, and on the lower 1/3 of the stems above the union. All in that link above for the bracing stanards

 

Installing it taunt lower in the canopy can be a ballace... a harken to pull the stems together can help or a custom set up with two spliced loops on either stem with a turnbuckle to wind them together... all fun to make up

[MyMateMorris]

1 hour ago, Ledburyjosh said:

Cobra can be installed as a static system by omitting the dildo.

 

If done this way its ideally needing to be installed taunt, and on the lower 1/3 of the stems above the union. All in that link above for the bracing stanards

 

Installing it taunt lower in the canopy can be a ballace... a harken to pull the stems together can help or a custom set up with two spliced loops on either stem with a turnbuckle to wind them together... all fun to make up

I was also wondering if I could have multiple connections between the two stems. And any idea on how I gauge what tonnage to get? 

[Mike Hill]

7 hours ago, MyMateMorris said:

I was also wondering if I could have multiple connections between the two stems. And any idea on how I gauge what tonnage to get? 

 

You are chasing a pointless outcome with Cobra in this instance.Its literally the wrong medium to be using,however if you still persist then buy the biggest and preload it by pulling the stems together with a big ratchet strap before you bury the tail. It will still stretch once loaded negating its effectiveness .

 

Type up a disclaimer ,get the customer to sign it and put it in a very safe place.

[Mick Dempsey]

There’s a lot to be said for turning cabling/bracing down.

 

You’re creating a product that can fail and liability can be pointed at you.

 

Its clearly been reduced, probably multiple times, it’s fatally flawed, in a few years it’s coming out, either through failure or someone’s going to get bored spending money on it.

 

I’d price for removal and nothing else.

Just my 2 cents.

[Dan Maynard]

Is that not reaction wood around a crack in the first photo? Add that clue to the shape and my guess is it cracked a few years ago and was chopped in half to stop it failing.

 

If this is the case then it's currently enjoying the extra few years which that drastic option gave it, so an option is repollard and continue to monitor.

 

I've never installed Cobra bracing but I've found it in plenty of trees having been neglected and gone brittle. Doesn't seem to me to have the longevity needed to work with trees.

 

Mikes steel cable seems a better option, those stems are too short to swing about much anyway so it's not going to be dynamic.

 

One day it will need to come down though.

[Mike Hill]

Cobra used to be the new hotness,I know its earned some Arborists alot of money in Scandinavia. It seems to have a built in redundancy that means it has to be monitored and replaced after ( I think) three years.

 

Cobra is literally the same stuff as those cheap petrol station tow ropes of the 1980s,just a different colour and x10 the price.