Any advice for a novice tree lopper?

[Spencer74]

I am 100kg and never been a fan of climbing trees ... but I reckon I can save some $ by lopping 2 trees in my garden. One is 12m high and the other about 18m and neither have many branches so reckon I could have a crack. Apart form the obvious (full length clothing, safety glasses, calm day), can anyone offer any advice? I am planning to attack it using a ladder and with a good quality saw rather than use a chainsaw at heights. Interested in what sort of safety gear might be available for hire. Even as I write this I am thinking of getting a pro in and saving $ elsewhere .....

[bitingmidge]

Even as I write this I am thinking of getting a pro in and saving $ elsewhere .....

Good advice!

P

[DJ’s Timber]

Good advice!

P

[m2c1Iw]

Spencer74,
There is a good reason why tree loppers (they actually like being called Arborists) pay one of the highest workcover levies. I know a good one in Adelaide PM me.
Cheers Mike

[bsrlee]

If you are DIY tree lopping on trees that big....

1: life insurance paid up, check accidental death cover.
2: will up to date & copies filed where they can be found
3: comprehensive 3rd party damage insurance paid up to date
4: kiss wide & kids, tell kids to look after Mum.

At 12-18 meters tall, you would be advised to get a day rental on a cherry picker, along with a chain saw & some ropes. Cut it into manageable pieces one at a time & lower each bit - you tie off to the next lower section of tree, not the cherry picker - unless you want to be a feature story on the local news. Manageable means less than 600mm/2 ft - what you could lift one handed.

You cut almost 1/2 way thru from one side, then from the other side an inch or two higher up so it doesn't jam the saw blade as it breaks loose.

[billbeee]

Spencer,
No cranes,
no cherry picker
no chain saw
no workers comp
no public risk
no Angelina Jolie
no sweat!
Cheer
Bill

[wheelinround]

Spencer I know you said no chainsaw but limbs knock ladders like matchsticks

pay for pro its costly and you will live to enjoy life

Saw fellow who had fight with chainsaw in Central Coast hospital not a pretty sight.

[seriph1]

My recommendations:

Watch: The Man Who Knew Too Little (Spencer references)
Buy: Life Assurance with Acc. Death Cover
Pay: Your Ambulance membership
Call: Everyone you care about
Update: Your will
Get: Someone else to do it
Let: The Mrs. watch so she can tell us all how it went

[DavidG]

If you decide to do it please get some one there with a video camera.
Funny pix are always appreciated here.

[Spencer74]

OK, some good counsel there ... I will stick to the bamboo (ref my other thread) - although it seems that my chances of success will be similar - but my chances of serious injury somewhat less.

[Barry Hicks]

Spencer, the only advice I can offer if you decide to DIY - make sure you sit on the correct side of a saw cut!

Silly as it may sound, I knew a priest in a little Western Qld town who decided to lop some trees in his church yard and fell out of the tree he was working on along with the branch he had just cut through. And yes, he sat on the wrong side of the cut.

Someone up there must have been looking after him as he only broke a collar bone.

Barry Hicks

[joe greiner]

A hybrid method can save money, and save your life too.

Hire a professional arborist to do the aerial work, without duty to clean up. You do the safer tedious work.

I hired a pro to fell a hickory tree in my side yard. Branches would have hit my roof or my neighbour's fence on the way down. We agreed he'd leave about 3 metres of the trunk standing, and pile the branches for me to cut. He saved labour of cutting the pieces, as well as tipping fee for the debris. Also, no stump removal.

I chopped up the branches for curbside pickup. I excavated the stump, and used a come-along on the trunk to lever the stump out of the ground. I got a decent root ball for turning stock, and a substantial amount of timber.

Joe

[Colin Howkins]

Do it yourself and stuff it up by putting the tree into the house - no insurance. So, notwithstanding all the other risks, go figure how much damage a tree can do going through the roof, and can you afford it

Colin Howkins
Graceville Qld

[Terrian]

Even as I write this I am thinking of getting a pro in and saving $ elsewhere .....

Start small and work your way up (ie: tackle that 2m high shrub first, then work up in 1m hights)

Seriously, get someone in who knows what they are doing, and has full insurance cover.

(mind you, if the trees are out in the middle of a 10 acre paddock, they might make good practice, never do a job like that by yourself though)

A couple of years ago, the neighbour and myself dropped an 60' tree that was in my backyard, I went up and took off all the branches with a 12" bar chainsaw, then he went up and cut the trunk off in 10' sections (I got to be the rope boy) Both of us have had previous experience with dropping trees though, still not a job for a first timer !!

[Barry_White]

If you decide to do it please get some one there with a video camera.
Funny pix are always appreciated here.

And it's worth at least $500.00 on Funniest Home Videos.

Don't do it.