What Tree Removal Tools and Equipment Are Commonly Used by Arborists?
Arborists are trained and certified to work with trees of all shapes, sizes, and species. They use a wide range of equipment to properly and safely perform tree services like cutting, trimming, and removal.
For example, arborists rely on climbing and safety equipment such as harnesses, carabiners, and helmets with visors. They also use wood chippers to turn branches and limbs into mulch.
Aerial Lifts
Arborists use an array of tools for tree pruning and tree removal in Rosebud. These include axes, pruners and saws. For high-reach tasks, they employ extendable poles equipped with pruning blades. When climbing trees is not possible or safe, professionals turn to bucket trucks.
For rigging and lowering operations, high-strength ropes and a system of pulleys are employed to securely secure the tree section being lowered, minimize potential hazards, and control the direction of the load during the lowering process. Arborists also prioritise safety and wear specialized PPE.
Trailer-mounted booms have become a staple in the rental fleet of almost all equipment rental companies. They enable anyone to perform tree work without having to climb the canopy, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries. For determining which type of lift to purchase, consider the number of workers who will be on the platform at one time, their approximate weights and the size of tools they will need to bring onboard.
Wood Chippers
Uppercut Tree Services use wood chippers to turn tree waste into mulch. This equipment helps to clean up felling sites and dispose of logs in a much more efficient way than simply loading them into trucks. It also makes the process faster and more environmentally friendly.
In addition to these essential pieces of equipment, ISA Certified Arborists also use tools like resistograph and sonic tomography to assess trees without harming them or disturbing their health. Additionally, they utilize soil probes to determine the health of a site’s soil.
Ironically, despite what people may think, the tools and cutting process are not the most dangerous part of the job. In fact, it is the climbing that can be treacherous if proper safety protocols are not followed. That is why it is crucial for homeowners to see a tree service crew in action before hiring them. It’s important to make sure that the workers are wearing personal protective equipment including helmets, eye protection, gloves, and steel-toed boots.
Stump Grinder
In a stump grinding service, Arborists use gas-powered equipment to cut through and grind tree stumps and roots into a mulch-like material. This is essential because leaving a tree stump can take years to decompose and can attract pests and diseases that affect nearby trees. Moreover, it is unsightly and creates trip hazards in your yard.
This can be a dangerous task, and Arborists are required to wear safety harnesses, carabiners, and pulleys to ensure their security while working on the ground or in the air. They also utilize a hard hat to protect their heads from falling branches and other debris.
This type of equipment can damage underground lines, so it is important that the operator checks for buried pipes before operating it. In addition, onlookers should stay at least 75 feet away from the blade during operation to avoid injury by flying debris.
Pole Saws & Pruners
Arborists need to be able to reach high branches and foliage with the right equipment. That’s why they use a specialized tool called a pole saw. This is essentially a chainsaw on a stick and allows them to do work at height without having to climb the tree.
This enables them to prune, shape and tidy the canopy of a tree, as well as clean up after storm damage or for maintenance tasks such as thinning. These are all essential services that require a great deal of skill to perform correctly.
Using a pole saw requires a level of expertise that most people do not have and can cause muscle fatigue quite quickly. It is also important to ensure that you are wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes a helmet that meets the EN ISO 20345:2011 standard and chainsaw trousers with Type C protection.
Grapple Truck
Arborists are required to wear a variety of safety equipment when working with trees. They use specialized tools to prune branches, trim trees and even remove trees. This enables them to provide professional tree services safely and efficiently.
For example, an ISA Certified Arborist will use a chainsaw to cut down a stump after removing a tree. They may also use a stump grinder to grind the resulting unsightly stump below ground level and prevent it from regrowing.
Another piece of essential equipment for tree service is the grapple truck, which allows an arborist to grasp large tree limbs and trunks and move them to the chipper or truck for disposal. This is especially useful for larger logging jobs and cleaning up after storms. It can even be used for debris removal on construction sites.
Instruments
Arborists use a wide range of instruments to perform their jobs. Some examples include climbing ropes, which are used for safety during a tree removal process, and climbing spurs, which are metal spikes that attach to climbers’ boots to allow them to stab into trees for support and maneuvering. Arborists also use hard hats and eye protection equipment to protect themselves from falling branches and flying debris during a job.
Other tools commonly used by arborists include chainsaws, which are powerful machines that can cut a wide range of materials and can help with both cutting down and trimming large trees. They also use rigging equipment, such as harnesses, ropes, and carabiners, to ensure they’re safe when working high in a tree canopy.
Lastly, they also use a stump grinder to grind down tree stumps after cutting them down. This equipment is useful when removing large stumps from the ground, and it allows them to remove those stumps quickly and easily without having to dig up or haul them away.
