Tales of the unexpected.

[skyhuck]

I was thinking this morning (while dismantling a dead Elm) that there is a lot knowledge that those of use who have been in the job for years take for granted.

 

I thought it would be nice to start thread where we could all post things (how ever obvious they may seem) that we have leaned through experience.

 

Then people who are new too the job can benefit from the experience of others.

 

And no doubt even the most experienced will still learn something new.

 

So to start the ball rolling heres one.

 

Watch out for "dead wood" on dead trees.

 

Sounds illogical, but if a tree has some "dead wood" and then the whole tree dies, most of the tree is normally very solid and can be climbed safely, BUT any "dead wood" from before the tree died is very unsafe.

 

This is very relevant on dead Elms as most of the tree is like iron and stronger than most live trees, but not any old "dead wood".

 

If the tree still has most of its bark the "dead wood" is pretty obvious, but once the tree looses all its bark its more difficult to spot, often a thickening of the branch collar is a good indicator.

 

So come on guys lets have your top tips of things that they may not teach at collage

[sean]

Thats a great idea.......have often thought that there is not enough info from the guys who actually work with trees day in and day out.

 

Properties of wood between species. (does it tear, snap, brittle, flexible)etc etc

How different trees have responded to pruning.

How different species of tree has responded to fungal invasion.

 

Anything and everything we all know. This could be the beginning of the Arb Talk book Arborists.

[Steve Bullman]

hmmmm where to start!!!

[Ian C]

Nice one Dave, like you say it sounds daft but when you think about it, it makes total sense!

 

Heres mine..................if you need a slash, never piss it to the wind:thumbup:

 

 

Also.........why you working on a sunday? money grabbin tw@t lol

[Ben90]

Never assume that any job, no matter how small, will 'only take half an hour'

[Marc]

Be carefull when using outboard cuts:biggrin:

Put your sapwood cuts above the hinge when in the tree, this will prevent tearing just as effectivly than placing them below, still give the same control/result but without the risk of possibly getting your saw stuck in the small kerfs of the sapwood cuts.

[Mozza]

Dont think its all fancy machinery and shiny karabiners, its hard graft, the sooner you realise that the better imo.

[skyhuck]

When felling multi stemmed trees ALWAYS check that the union is not included, as you can end up putting in your gob, then as you make your back cut you may sever one stem allowing it to fall backward.

 

If your in any doubt cut down through the union and fell as two separate trees, boring in for the back cut of the first stem.

[Mozza]

PUT THE JOCKEY WHEEL UP PROPERLY!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

Simple i know,but not doing is one of them frustrating things that happens all to often

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

When starting out, family, friends and neighbours will all say "oh great, I'll tell such and such about you 'cos they have a tree needing this and a hedge needing that" or "Oh, I'll put some leaflets up for you" and other similar gestures. Ignore the lot. None of these will come good on their word or earn you any money. A reputation built on the formula of flippin hard work and doing a better job than everyone else is what will make ends meet. No shortcuts.