Rod Bracing.

[Arborist]

I have to rod brace a large oak with three week forkes in it.

I looked through the suppliers listings to see if they sell the rod and washers but they only sell eye bolts which are no good.

 

I went to the local forge and ordered 16mm fully threaded bright drawn steel rod and galvanised nuts, As per BS3998 1989 (I know there is a new one out but at the moment I haventgot one to hand and I dont think that it will be that dis-similar)

 

For the washers the Brittist Standard says that they must be cut from 6mm plate and in the shape of an oval and the width at the shortest axis at least 2.5x the bolt diameter.

 

where do you guys get your washers from? or do you just use round ones.

 

It also says in the standard to countersink the washers so i guess mark around the washer and then neatly chissel the bark out, is this right.

 

Its the first time that I have done any rigid bracing so ill take some pics.

[Roni Macdonald]

Have you considered Cobra bracing system, much less damage to the tree.

[Arborist]

Yeah, im installing Boa above higher up in the crown but the rods are to go through the week unions to hold them together.

 

The cliant wants to keep the tree at all costs and in a few years time will be retrenched.