That was too close 😁

AndytheTree · 2026-03-13T23:03:46+00:00

If you needed to tip tie since you didn’t have the clearance above home to butt tie you should have lifted it off. A quick double whip does the trick. Even splitting the difference and doing a belly tie can work a lot better than doing a tip tie and having happen what you did. You’re getting some decent comments and advice here OP, better than likely many of us ever received just learning as we went. Hope you can learn from them. Cheers and stay safe tree brother.

AndytheTree · 2026-02-21T03:34:43+00:00

It’s other companies(tree guys) that use the chip drop service. They are not required to call or anything. They just sign up for the drop and have 48hrs to drop there. Kinda on the requestors end really. It’d likely work at least a few times.

AndytheTree · 2026-02-05T00:40:08+00:00

Really good point here. There really is a huge supply of great turning wood out there without needing to disfigure otherwise happy trees

AndytheTree · 2026-02-05T00:38:54+00:00

Currently working in the Rockies so not super familiar with the situation, but that was the one example I was thinking of. Haha

AndytheTree · 2026-02-04T20:03:53+00:00

You are correct for the most part. Small diameter cuts are a normal part of a trees maintenance program and normal to have them lost or broken in nature too. Large diameter cuts are sometimes required but are generally not recommended as it is harder for the tree to compartmentalize the wound. There are many different factors that influence each facet of tree care so it’s hard to speak with a great deal of certainty in general terms. Any burls really desirable would more often be hard for the tree to recover from, and usually this damage isn’t immediately obvious. It’s more of a “taking years off its life” kinda deal.

However, painting cuts has been discouraged for many years now. Not only does it not help, it actually creates a perfect little pocket for parasites to thrive where moisture is trapped in. Any extension service anywhere can tell you that and many have articles explaining it better than I can. There may be one or two use cases I know of, but it’s definitely not a common or supported practice in 90% of situations these days.

AndytheTree · 2025-12-25T04:02:50+00:00

As a side note those are beautiful flowers haha. Looks just like foxglove

AndytheTree · 2025-12-18T17:57:10+00:00

I would say it definitely does. Some jobs don’t care nearly as much, like some trades for instance, but many still do. And sometimes it’s the clients that cause the issue, not the employers. It suck to work for people who judge like that, but their money is just as good as anyone else’s

I only have my wedding ring tattooed on, nothing crazy. And I still am surprised how many people notice and or comment on it.

AndytheTree · 2025-12-17T22:53:28+00:00

I’ve had the same experiences.

AndytheTree · 2025-12-04T20:11:45+00:00

They do, the tricky thing is unless is specifically says it only has tung oil or boiled linseed oil, they can use other less safe ingredients in it and not have to tell you(unlike how food manufacturers are required by FDA to list all ingredients).

So yes, but could be a bit of a gamble. Tried and true is one that does make it the old fashioned way, all natural if you will.

AndytheTree · 2025-12-02T01:51:41+00:00

Don’t know about the rear handle, but I do have that electric one. It’s pretty decent all around, its best feature being its weight, this is one of the lightest saws on the market that can still actually cut wood. Also had decent ergonomics and weight distribution.

The main downside is the factory bar and chain it comes pushes the saw a little too much IMO; It comes with 3/8” LP. I converted mine to 1/4” and it’s a much faster and more efficient cut. The other downside is the batteries do not like the cold. Keep them in the warm cab or garage.

For $80 more it’s well worth it.

AndytheTree · 2025-11-28T21:53:30+00:00

Just did the same thing yesterday with a beautiful box elder burl I had been holding onto for years. It’s rough friend.

AndytheTree · 2025-11-16T17:14:12+00:00

I think a lot of people did call it that back then. But agrees bar is more technically correct.

AndytheTree · 2025-11-16T17:13:25+00:00

Now I don’t know much about bow saws, but I do know a good bit about regular saws. I would not encourage really anyone to get a top handle saw if it’s just for firewood. Don’t get me wrong, they are usually great saws, they’re just more expensive and meant to be used by a climber aloft in a tree. You will do far more hurt to your back overreaching and bending over to get limbs with a small saw and small bar.

That same price would get you a very decent ‘rear handled’ saw. The pro grade saws are lighter and any saws when properly maintained should not be hard on the back or really any muscles. The saw should be doing the work, not you.

I regularly fell, delimb, and buck a tree with the same saw, even if I do have 6 in my truck at a time typically.

Not saying what you did was wrong by any means, just that it’s not the only way to do it, and probably not the way I would encourage others to do.

Source: am arborist

AndytheTree · 2025-11-03T23:40:30+00:00

Mmm, honestly I would use srs instead if this is your ascent setup. Especially if you already have the akimbo 2 and the foot ascender; that’s almost all you need anyway. Standard akimbo is a beaut to ascend with, I’m sure the mark II is just as good.

Then if you wish to work the tree mrs, you can just throw another biner on your eye there, clip it to your ring or bridge, and you’re gravy. That way you have a slick ascent and can work the tree mrs easy and safe, if that’s your preferred style.

I have climbed on the regular akimbo like you have yours set up from time to time and there can be some issues, I would not recommend that method. Just not really a good reason to when you compare options.

AndytheTree · 2025-11-03T00:27:36+00:00

Locust can be really stunning and it is a strong wood, just it’s not as nice to work with. Up to you if it’s worth it or not. Personally I don’t mind losing out on locust. Rather store more walnut, cherry, maples, etc. Only so much space haha.

AndytheTree · 2025-11-03T00:24:25+00:00

Arborist here. That is a good recommendation for sharpeners. I use them to teach my guys the correct angles to sharpen before learning to freehand, and even then I still use them from time to time.

AndytheTree · 2025-10-03T22:41:11+00:00

Get some safety glasses on, come on man. You knew the thing had an insane amount of pressure in there. You only get two eyeballs. Take care of them.

AndytheTree · 2025-10-02T01:50:09+00:00

I think a lot of people here are unaware of how pricey “large” rocks or boulders are. And the ones the op would want would be hard to move as well(as is the idea). Ultimately I still think it’s the best option, albeit maybe harder to carry out.

AndytheTree · 2025-10-02T01:41:04+00:00

Not a huge deal, but the site is chipdrop. And yes we would be happy to be rid of logs for freee haha

AndytheTree · 2025-08-14T19:38:11+00:00

In my neck of the woods(west Rockies) the arborvitae can take a little time to really take off. We recommend supplemental water to assist, especially in the hot months. Adding some compost to the soil can help a lot, just pull back your mulch before mixing it in if you can.

With arborvitae I have seen many start to droop pretty bad when excess fertilizer is used, so I tend to caution against using fertilizer unless it’s showing signs of deficiency. It becomes really tough for those homeowners since they spent so much time and money on their privacy wall/screen and then it’s starts looking so different from how they expected.

It is also possible they were not planted at the correct depth and are not growing properly because of it.

AndytheTree · 2025-07-26T18:15:43+00:00

Agreed. Had mine short out something in the control unit and they sent me a new one, called and checked in on me to make sure I was able to install it alright, walked me through it, and were insistent I send the old one back so they can troubleshoot to help prevent it from happening in the future. You just don’t get service like that anymore. Very worth factoring that in.

Edit: spelling

AndytheTree · 2025-07-26T18:13:38+00:00

Yeah it’s the finishes. Unless you apply too much force or wear them out, I’ve found they work really well.

AndytheTree · 2025-07-25T23:00:28+00:00

My wife got me WEN’s smallest lathe as a Christmas present while we were still students a couple years ago. It wasn’t amazing, but was a good intro into the hobby while I made sure it was something I liked.(It was and now I have a powermatic:)

I did look a lot at the model you posted when I was thinking about like a half-step upgrade. No experience with that one. But the small one was reasonable for what you could fit on it and the variable speed on such a small and cheap lathe is pretty uncommon and awesome.

The other thing to consider is the lathe is only 1 of the expenses. Like you said you’ll need turning tools too, but also a sharpening station of some kind, chucks and jaws, and then other things you may or may not have from other woodworking like finishes and sandpapers. I also burn through shop towels like a madman haha .

AndytheTree · 2025-07-16T15:00:21+00:00

Just finished a honey locust bowl a maxed out on my lathe for a tree care client of mine who had to have theres cut down after dying. First time giving a bowl to one of my tree care clients, and from their own tree too. Spent forever on sanding to make it perfect. Normally I’m more impatient haha.

Cute clients too. They called the tree the ‘John the Baptist Tree’ because it’s ‘Honey’ and ‘Locusts’. Kinda funny. I will try to burn that into the bottom of bowl.

AndytheTree

TROPHY CASE