Switched from climbing spikes to a rope wrench for removals, night and day on trunk health

I used to strap on spikes for every removal, even if the tree was going to a chipper. About 2 years ago a guy on a crew in Asheville pointed out how much damage spikes do to the cambium, even on a dead tree, because you might not get the trunk all the way to the ground. He showed me his rope wrench setup and I figured I'd try it on a medium oak. Now I only use spikes if the bark is coming off anyway or I absolutely need the grip on a slick trunk. It takes a little longer to get my lines set, but I feel like I'm not wrecking the tree before it even hits the ground. Has anyone else made the switch and gone back to spikes for certain jobs, or is it just me?

2 comments

2 Comments

nora_wells5813d ago

Funny how taking the slow way often ends up being the better deal, kind of like how rushing through life just makes you miss the small stuff. That homeowner probably remembered you as the guy who cared, not the one who was fastest.

the_jesse15d ago

Rode up to a job in western NC last spring on a red oak that was mostly dead but still had this one live branch holding on. I set my rope wrench like normal, got maybe 30 feet up, and realized I forgot my handsaw on the ground. Had to climb back down, grab it, and re-climb. Took an extra 20 minutes but the homeowner watched the whole thing from his porch and ended up tipping me 40 bucks for being so careful. Now I kind of feel like the slower approach has its own perks, even when it annoys me at the time.