Tree work for the Beginner. How to climb, Set rigging, Spurs, Ropes & harness.

Tree Climbing & Arborist work takes skill & is dangerous. Today Its the basics: Roping, gear, cutting, felling, Pay rates & more. If your thinking about it watch this first!
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[GuiltyofTreeson]

I’ve been a tree guy for eleven years and this was a really good video. I appreciate you looking out for us tree guys and appreciating what we do,

[Andytreewolf]

I been climbing trees for 50yrs. I'm going to be 70yo next month. I climb daily. Hope I can get another 10 years! I do it for the challenges it brings. Pretty much learned by watching. I've had countless guys ask me to teach them, to this day not a one of them has been more than 10 ft up! It's not for most people, You have to really want it! I love my job! As far as wages, I demand what I know that I'm worth! Generally 40-45$ hr. Swing high, swing low, my fellow tree climbers, but most of all, swing SAFE!! Excellent Video, 👍

[leakso]

I've been doing tree work for 20+ years. The single best place to start in this game is on the ground. Spend 2 years being the best groundsman in the company, watch the climbers, ask them questions, learn what they need u to do while they are in the the tree, if they don't have to constantly direct you from above you become more valuable and worth spending quieter times teaching you more, stay off Ur phone, be proactive, but the most important thing to do is be safe, keep people safe. Once u master ground work (including roping down etc) then your ready to start learning climbing... Pay your dues, you will be better at being a climber for it!! Dragging branches isn't fun for anyone, especially if you've just spent a good few hours up a tree in awfull weather or if your feeling under the weather..dragging and chipping is character building, it truly weeds out the lazy workers!!

[huntergreene]

I've been climbing for 10 years, all I can say is start from the ground and move up.

[pauldroz]

Still climbing after 47 years. I got my first job when I was 20 and I'm now 67. When I talk to any new climbers I tell them that if at any point you feel a little uncomfortable making a cut in the position your in at the time, stop and reposition yourself in a more comfortable position for the cut that you're about to make. It's worth it.

[fernandoacosta]

I immediately went and bought all the gear and was a professional within an hour

[jrstrange]

Been climbing 30 years. Can't tell you the number of people who have asked me to teach them to climb. You can always tell the difference between those who want a paycheck and those who have a passion. Those who want a paycheck I show them how to climb, those with a passion, I teach.

[robot_spider]

I got bids to take down a 50-60' maple in my yard. Told them I wanted it "on the ground", I would process it the rest of the way. 2-3 hours of work for them at most. Tree crotched at about 7 feet, so no climbing really required. No powerlines, no fences, no risk of landing on the house or near the street. Multiple quotes >$3500. Bought myself an Echo CS400, safety gear, a few wedges and got to work. Worked methodically. Learned how to undercut limbs so I didn't bind the blade. Took a month by myself to process the whole thing to firewood--half split with a maul, the other half with a borrowed splitter. With saw, oil, gas, a few chains, chipper rental and stump grinder rental, cost about $800. I'm ultra paranoid and made sure I had clear exit paths and kept my site clean as I went. Most fun I've had in my 40 years. If it had required climbing, I'd have hired it out.

[mathewhorney]

Great video !
I have my own professional tree service and have been climbing for 27 years now and I am still doing it at 52 years young. All of my guys start on the ground dragging limbs loading the chipper, then they start to learn how to use a chainsaw correctly and safely once they can use a chainsaw with some sort of professionalism then I put them at the bottom of the tree doing all of the roping and down rigging along with using the chainsaw to keep the grounds crew and the guy up in the tree moving and safe. If a good worker has learned each step :
*The grounds crew work, dragging limbs,
Loading the chipper, properly how to tie arborist knots, even how to properly throw a rope and pull a rope.
* The chainsaw how to safely use it and cut with it in a responsible and professional manner.
*The roping, rigging, and chainsaw work ie managing the guy in the tree, the ground crew and keeping everyone moving.
Then I introduce them to the next big step of climbing!
You see a young guy NEEDS a good background in ALL of these steps to be able to LEAD a team and work professionally and SAFE.
**Note: there is no I in team, EVERYONE works together and goes home together!

[general]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING. In my younger days I was active in rescue work and built my own set of tree-gaffs...and learned how to climb by watching the power company workers climb phone poles. That was way before computers, YouTube, and even before sissor lifts and bucket trucks!.
I realized the skill it took and practiced in the woods behind my house, so when a rescue situation came, I could lend a hand, since, back then; IT was ALL VOLUNTEER! I helped save a bunch of lives! I've lived a life of serving. That's the volunteer side of me, but the professional side is a lot higher tech. I won't get into that. The point I'm making...the fellow in the video asked for people that knew about climbing and such, to tell beginners some sort of advice.
No matter whether you climb with Prussics, or gaffs, you always want to have a conditioned body. If you're fat, loose a bunch of weight before you start or you'll give out half way up the tree or bluff or rock, or whatever you're trying to scale! Then you will put someone elses life in peril by having to come after you! Look at an Arborist! You won't find even ONE that's out of shape! So you have to stay in shape...and round is a shape that will get you killed! Then you need to know your PPE! Know how to wear it...what it does and how to tie it. I slacked off alot on rope work when I turned 25, and spent the MOST of my time, fire fighting...(when I wasn't at my regular job). It was actually SAFER, fighting fire, than rope work was...so all you young people that are seriously considering being an Arborist...keep that little bit of wisdom in the back of your mind!
Again...THANK YOU FOR POSTING!!!

[AugustHunicke]

Have to agree with Rufus. Mentorship (if professional) is the greatest asset for a beginner. Love what was said about passion first. True wisdom right there.

[ChaparralDenizen]

I'm a professional arborist. You guys did a good job covering some important points. Tree work is one of the most physically demanding professions and you have to be 100% aware or you can get injured/die. The pay is not great considering how strenuous it is and the special skills required. Like you said guys who do it do it because they love to do the work, not for the money, and that's why pay tends to be low relative to other skilled trades. Experienced tree workers have a work ethic like no one else I've met.

[weighit]

Keith trimmed a couple of trees for me, was very impressed with his being very safety aware. Dropped the limbs exactly where he wanted them to go and did an outstanding job. Really enjoy watching a PRO do his thing!! Good Job! Real professional workmanship and a nice guy too.

[TheHonestPeanut]

I love cutting trees... On the ground. Machines and wedges are my tools. NO WAY do I want to climb. That's a lot of money, time and skill for that. Any time I hear someone scoff at someone's estimate or complain about what they payed I have to hold back some language. Climbers deserve massive respect for that work.

[domenicdangelo]

Im literally about to climb a tree after my lunch break. I was told that 5 minutes ago, and thats why im watching this videa.

[iAdversiity]

I'm 22 and I started climbing at 20.I only have 2 years of experience and I work near powerlines.This job isnt for everyone but if you do get into just always be careful and stay safe

[torreyintahoe]

I've been a rock climber for 30 years. Just retired from the fire service. I've thought about getting into tree work for a retirement gig but there is certainly a lot to learn.

[TheUserid]

For trees you want to keep the way to get up them without spurs is a thrown line. You have a weighted bag full of shot for a small but heavy bag on a light weight line to throw it up over a strong branch. That line lets you pull a full rope up and then with the rope in place climbing gear lets you get up and down. They also use slingshots and air guns to shoot the weight up but can throw on a large number of trees.

Carry a spray bottle of alcohol to spray down saws and cutters between trees to not spread disease from one tree to another as an infected tree can have zero signs it is sick.

Have a saw dedicated to known diseased trees. Yes it is an extra expense but you are doing your best to not spread things from tree to tree.

One important thing is to always be looking around as you climb as trees can hide ant nests and bee/wasp hives that you can not see from the ground and nothing like being tied to a tree when you disturb a hive of bees. If you think climbing is bad in normal gear think of how bad it is in a bee suit.

[jesusmenchaca]

I’ve been tree cutting for several years. I only use ladders; therefore, I enjoyed this video. Great job guy’s. To all those who are thinking about doing this work, please adhere to their advise. Thank you very much for sharing your expertise. Take good care. God bless.

[billhull]

I have to let my friends know about this. (Stanley & Keith) I was hired to remove some trees. I began today. The customer said he watched a YouTube video to see what I would be doing. He said it was 2 guys and one guy was scared. He described the video and I asked if if ended because of a thunderstorm. He said yes. I told him I knew exactly which video he was watching. I also told my customer not only have I seen the video I have both of those guys cell phone #'s on my speed dial on my cell phone and they both are my friends. The customer was shocked that I knew both of you guys but I loved the fact that he was taking a look at what I would be doing and ran across your video.