Big Thanks to Hipa Parts for covering the cost of the lift rental so we could get these trees down safely. If you want to check them out. click the link! www.hipastore.com/collections/chainsaw-chains

thankfully you cleared the evidence, no trace at all to be discovered... as long as she doesnt watch this.

Arborist here… well done, but next trees you work on try wearing a helmet. Safety 101! Stay safe everyone!❤❤❤

After getting estimates from 22k to over 85k to top the dead ash trees along my 900 foot driveway I rented a JLG 80' straight boom to do the job with my sons. I rented it twice once for a week and once for a weekend total cost $ 3,700.00 plus diesel and money for my sons time. I'm a painting contractor and we use lifts all the time for commercial jobs and we are all certified on all aerial equipment., We topped over 20 trees plus six on my neighbors driveway. I'm not knocking the tree experts but was something we could do our selves.

I've done a lot of tree work in a lift! Best upgrade, a pole saw! Game changer

Nothing like waking up to a video with the Captain! Tree trimming! This is awesome. Thanks for sharing!! Never a dull moment 😊

Pro tree guy here to say good job! Resourcefulness is rare these days and you figured it out without killing yourself.

Nothing like tree-trimming at 6:30 in the morning with the Captain! Glad to see you painted the trees - but you forgot the smiley face! Picasso you're not....but still a good job!! Another awesome video with giggles included! Thumbs up! Stay safe! Jim

Good morning sunshine! That lift is a game changer! Great job getting those limbs & trees cut down! Much love from Henderson Ga USA

Nice to have the lift for the trees maintenance job. That's a lot safer and easier than climbing a tree to do that job. Good luck trying to get in position for the rental project Mike.

This is possibly my favourite type of video to watch. Cherry picker work is cool

A great thing about older tractors, they don't have all the "safeties" that prevent you from actually using them safely. Like standing up to see what you're doing. I've got a new one that shuts down if you get out of the seat for a second to look. (And sitting on that cinderblock that works as a "bypass" is getting uncomfortable).😉 Thanks for the video, take care!

I was tooting Dixie on level asphalt with that same lift... I can only imagine how many tunes you were tooting on unlevel soft dirt.. love the cliff hanger as a finish

Usually they say do not paint anything on a cut branch as it will trap moisture and cause problems and that trees can take care of themselves.

Those boom lifts are so handy. I used one last year for the first time, and it was a hoot. Sadly, the one I rented was a tow-behind model, and we lost so much time just having to move the blasted thing 5' in one direction or another. That was the really exhausting part of the whole operation, so the next time I do it... which I hope will be soon.... I'll be very sure to rent a drivable life like you've got. The danger of being catapulted is very real, but being able to move the machine quickly and easily to get that one oddball limb.... so worth it!

Mike,as usual your commitment to doing what you want to get done is always impressive.every cut you make is an improvement to the homestead.great video, great job.just keep doing your thing.😎😎😎👍👍👍

With a little grinding , welding , and painting that grapple should be better than new - its a great addition to the backhoe 👍🇺🇸

That’s a big job done Mike, at least you don’t have to worry about those trees falling on anything ❤

I have used a boom like that at work. I was going to rent one for some work around the house from a place less than 5 miles away. They wanted $ 1600 per day and another $ 600 to bring it out and pick it up. Decided just to hire out the job and they only charged me $ 1500 to come out and do the job. Even hauled off the tree parts. I think they recovered some of the cost as they told me they sell the ground up tree for mulch.

great video as always Mike,you have shown us what needs to be fixed on your grappler can't wait to see how you modify it to suit your needs, and when you almost hit the raised beds it reminded me several years ago i had a small riding mower and my wife at the time had this big wild rose bush that was just on the top of a small incline,as i was mowing up the incline the mower decided not to turn the way i wanted to and i ended up with a big spot of dirt where the bush once was, this happened early in spring but she didn't notice until end of august,she asked me what happened and i started laughing and said you have been bugging me to trim down the bush so now it's trimmed, i got lucky because when she noticed it had already been growing back for several months. that's the only year she didn't get flowers 🤣,great video Mike 👍👍👍👍👍

I wanted the top 10 feet of my 40 foot tall tree trimmed off to shape it a little .. One tree company told me $580 dollars ... I said that I can rent a lift and easily do it myself ! Well a few weeks passed and another company was cutting down my neighbors tree - so I asked him what he would charge me to trim it and no need to clean up the limbs and leaves .... he looked at it and said $80 dollars and they would clean and rake up the front yard ! I gave him $100 and THANKED HIM !

The lift was the right thing for the job the grapple sure looks promising you are right great buy 👍👋🇨🇦

The bought the dewalt battery saw and I love it Mike! It’s 14” and you can cut some pretty big stuff with it still!👌🏻👍🏻👍🏻 we use roofing cement on the branches to keep the bugs out! But that stuff looks like it will do it for you! 👍🏻

You are a brave man for taking that fill gallon of paint up in that boom lift. I'd spill 1/2 of it

Glad u mentioned the catapult effect ,we had a fella have this and he,s not with us now

That worked out well, and was a lot safer than climbing that rotten tree. Since you said you had never done that before up in the air, I would have thought you would have worn a helmet, earmuffs, overalls or a long sleeve shirt and chaps, gloves or at least some of that. Being an amateur doesn;t make you LESS likely to have an accident. I've used heavy gear for 5 decades and had my accidents with angle grinders, planers and tractors, so I have learned that it does pay to look after your body with safety gear. At least you wore glasses and ear plugs. Thanks

Neil, DDD, was wearing one of your t-shirts, he was expecting to work like the bat signal and you'd magically appear to assist him 🤣😂🤣

What a blessing Mike happened across those manlifts for you you and Matt!!

Thanks for another great video. I would love to see you build the grapple as it would be a great fabrication series. All the fab you have done in the past has been great.

A little trick I saw the tree surgeon that did some work around the my place of employment is to fill a plastic bottle with a squirt top (think liquid dish soap or water bottle) and fill it with you tree wound dressing so when you are aloft in the tree by the method of your choice you don’t have to worry / dealing with an open can of tree wound dressing and as the man who owned the company and did most of the high work said having to clean up the mess from a gallon of goop as he called it can be real expensive if you have an accidental fall of the bucket of goop onto a roof, car, side of a house/building etc. He used a round brush similar to what you would use scrubbing parts etc and kept that in a piece of pvc pipe with a cap on one end and had strings tied to the bottle with the goop in it and through a hole in the handle and had dog leash clips on the other end to act as lanyards Have a good day and a better tomorrow

Love those little electrics! For the big stuff I bet a few well placed wedges would give you greater control.

In the future Mike, seriously think about using wedges with a hammer set into your cut to help the tree stay moving in the right direction

Tip: when you go up in these lifts, always put your phone in your pocket 👍

Good morning, thanks for sharing

Good morning and good job Mike

The trees don't need the sealer. Don't cut right up on the trunk though. If you cut to the outer part of the ring where the limb meets the trunk it will heal, if you cut right up to the trunk you've pretty much killed the tree at that point because it won't heal as well if at all.

Awesome, monday morning who start very well with you , thank for sharing 👍👍👍👍

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, ideas and videos. Certainly looks like the proper way to trim your trees. Sure beats a pole saw or rope saw. Hopefully the Admiral doesn’t watch your channel too closely and you put the basket back in the proper spot. If it was me I’d probably put it back guarding a weed. Wishing you and your family the best.

😃😃😃 Yep!, never going to find that again. Been there many of time I like the way you just watch it fly off.

Nice job Mike, the right equipment sure does make the job go easier 👍🏻

I went from a grunt to a climber, then handling all the big equipment, next was solo contract work to ownership, for 45 years. Line clearance, graduating to residential, working over million-dollar estates in states with the redwoods on the west coast zig-zaging Texas and finnaly Michigan. Now, I take up residence mostly in a massive Hackberry tree rocking chair and spoiling the family. If you ever need advice, I'm sure you know a way where we could talk other than here. Feel free to do so, ~M.M. (I subbed your channel for your honesty/humbleness.)

Captain you got a lot done in a short time! Thanks for sharing! Kevin

With the saw dust flying looks like you did a great job sharpeing the chains .

Good luck Mike 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

I hope the Admiral didn’t hurt you too much Mike 😂🤣 superb, thoroughly enjoyed this episode ( as always ). Can’t wait for the next one. Best wishes from Britain 👍👍🇺🇸🇬🇧

Another outstanding job Cap!!! 👍🇺🇸

Thanks for sharing Mike!🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻👍🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🙋🏼✌🏻✌🏻

Great job Mike great video thanks

Love the content as always. Had me actually laughing which is hard to do. Keep doing what you do its working

I can’t believe you didn’t get the AnchorSeal tinted to match each tree, one poplar, one cherry

When you top the tree will rot start at the cut surface since it is generally flat as opposed to cutting a limb it is perpendicular to ground so water runs off. We have had to top some oaks after the drought we had here in Texas. I hope they will survive the surgery. I use the anchor seal on cut logs to slow dry which helps decrease splitting. Doing a great job on the trees. The lift is a game changer.

I knew I wasn’t crazy…. I thought about doing this very thing several months ago. I’m going for it now

That wild cherry tree will most likely die? If not it’s just going to continue to rot. Like you said, the compaction and root damage is the problem. The signs of a tree dying top to bottom is always a sign of root damage/compaction As far as sealing: useless! as an arborist we stopped painting scars in the 80’s But love your channel

topping trees can save them, sometimes tree reacts strangely. half of the trees at our complex need dead strategically cut out of them. dont envy you Capt limbing, topping trees out of man lift. the POS man lift we 'borrow' from our roofer drifted,swayed, shook horribly. still beat a ladder or being up in tree. the grapple sure going come in handy, cant wait to what Capt upgrades are in store

Loved it! Good job! 👍🏻😁🍀

Like the video Mike .

Well now almost having the right tools for the right job make things go almost smoooooth! Glad to see you took the time for the harness. I sure like the new attachment for the 555. Keep up the good work, Border Line Genus CK Mike!!!

Love your enthusiasm. Next steps (1) buy a Stihl pole saw (it is much, much safer and faster); (2) You own land. You are going to do a lot of cutting. Ditch the Ryobi and buy an entry-level Stihl or Husqvarna. Great video.

I need to rent me a lift about half that size. I have about 20 Ash trees around the house and buildings that have succumbed to the Emerald Ash bore. Only a 5 or 6 can be safely cut down from the ground, and I'm getting tired of picking up dead branches with every wind storm. They also could be starting to rot at ground level, making a real problem if they come down whole from high wind.

Hi Cap’n, I am with you on the mods for the grapple, altering the geometry somewhat so you can have a root rake like leading edge. Lots of work in that though. I laughed at your reaction to the “ near miss” with the garden. You certainly understand shwambo! lol. That was something different to watch, loved it.

Hi Mike & it's is Randy and i like yours video is cool & Thanks Mike & Friends Randy

Add a few gussets on the grappler Mike and it’ll be as good as the heavy duty ones, my friend! You have the knowledge brother! I’ve seen it!👌🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Small gussets in critical places means a lot towards the strength of everything! 👌🏻👍🏻👍🏻

I have a tulip tree in my front yard we grew from a seedling from my brother's parent tree. My mom always called it a pickle tree because of how the bloom looks after the flower dies off.

Grapple sure did come in handy!

Good morning Captain Kleeman

15:34 You crack me up brother! 🤣🤣 Love your channel Captain. Thank you! 👍

nothing more peaceful in a lift than an electric saw with a sharp chain.

Good morning Mike

Thanks Mike. When I'm not in a hurry I cut my tree off in Firewood lengths (24") on the way down LOL...

As a boom lift technician, I would suggest that the only way the oscillating "suspension" functions is when the boom is close to the center of the end of the chassis OPPOSITE the oscillator (steer end). This keeps all tires in hard contact with the surface giving it great traction. They intend operators to relocate over rough terrain in this "stowed" position and THEN swing out to the targeted work area. This often takes a little preplanning. Hope this helps in your future adventures. Patrick Jensen.

Kleeman Khronickles continue......Admiral's Tree Trimming Services is on the job today....looking all professional and safe. The Admiral's Garden Overwatch Services might have been a little lax but they'll recover. Great channel, great content.

The Anchorseal IS used to seal log ends after cutting to slow moisture leaving. It's supposed to help stop end checking. It's also perfectly suited for what you used it for!

Your a regular old Bob Ross with that paint brush Mike

I collect clear 2 liter soda bottles. I cut the bottoms out of them and stick the funnel shaped tops over plants in the spring / early summer time period... It protects the plant from birds and cold snaps. you can leave the covers on until well after the plants pokes leaves out the bottle top. The original concept uses a french word called Cloquet and were made of glass.

no need to hold the gallon on the railing, use a 16 oz paint cup after shoving in a gallon-sized freezer baggy then pull the opening over the rim (makes for a good CHEAP liner). Can reseal the goop without having to pour it back into the can until the job is done. It's also a lot harder to drop the cup over the railing because it's designed to be hand-held while on a ladder 😉

+1:55 it looks to me like you've got the chain stop flipped the wrong way and you're advancing the chain in the wrong direction. The way you're doing gives you a much less precise sharpening. The chain stop is supposed to be flipped over to the right so that it presses against the back of tooth you're sharpening, not pressing against the front of the tooth that's way over to the left. With the stop pressing against the back of the tooth you're sharpening, each tooth face is positioned consistently in relation to the grinding wheel. On the other hand, if you flip the chain stop over backwards (pointing to the left) it's pressing against a tooth face about 4-inches away from the tooth you're sharpening. But that distance is not consistent because of uneven stretch in the chain as it wears (and because of small variations in how the chain links and teeth are manufactured). So because that distance varies slightly, the grinding wheel is not going to sharpen each tooth in a consistent manner. Also, with the chain stop flipped the correct way (pointing to the right), it works better to turn the chain advance knob clockwise rather than counter-clockwise. That way the moving chain automatically lifts the chain stop over the cutting teeth as the chain moves from left to right. There are multiple KZfaq videos that demonstrate the correct way to use that kind of chain sharpener, even ones for that Harbor Freight tool.

Great job

Excellent use of that lift to take care of trees in a safe manner! That new grapple is going to save a fellow some serious work.

"Uhh ohh the tomato plants"!!!! That is funny!!! Just FYI for a simple explanation, yes when you prune the dead out of a plant, you "change the growth energy". It signals to the plant to put the energy into something else, other trying to grow a dead branch. A arborist like August Hunike could explain it better, but that is the basics.

Enjoyed your video

Leave it to the Captain to change the term "Painting happy little trees".

Jack of all trades (Master of none?) LOL. Great job Mike. That JLG came in handy for sure.

Thumbs up 👍

A buddy of mine has access to a 100ft truck and man oh man that was a game changer! We took out a 60 to 70ft walnut that was over my shop and pool area. It cost me a meal for him and 150$ in diesel to fill the truck up upon return! Took a day and aside from 1 blunder from me that damaged my fence slightly, it was event free. I'm guessing 3-4k if I'd of paid someone. Although a lot less work for me. I just really like doing those kind of things and I'm tight lol.

This was a fun video. Side note: I've had lots of woodchips delivered lately and have spread them around. I think that paving the road and area around the youtube yacht would look good, tidy it up and keep down the weeds. Just an idea but we all know that Mike does Mike. lol

Hi Mike. In my area it costs around $2000.00 to have a tree removed. Granted, there is a lot of liability involved but being able to take care of that yourself safely, is a money saver. I was wondering if you could make a bracket for the front hydraulic hoses, and mount it to the loader arm, similar to what's on a skid steer. That would hold those hoses out of harm's way and provide some support when connecting and disconnecting them. Just a thought.

Good Morning Captain Love your channel as always you make my day and laugh every time I watch your channel,hope you have a beacon and tomato sandwich soon😉

The polar you anchorsealed, that branch is not going to make it. When reducing a crown, it is advisable to take branches back to the bar branch ridge at an intersection that is roughly one third the diameter of the branch. The rule is about vigor and supply of the branch. Smaller branches are not supplied enough energy to heal the giant wound. The tree will naturally prune itself to the location that can make that supply. Otherwise, you end up with a number of water sprouts that just steal energy from the tree as it rots from the inside. Your corrective pruning is to encourage healing and closing the wound as quickly as possible. Ask an arborist.

You are painting little happy trees!!

I'm a logger, from Coo's Bay Oregon. Oh yea, " Where are my kids, anybody seen my kids? Where is Buckin' Billy Ray when you need him? Ain't nothing like sharp chain. Why is he standing up, you say? When you can't see, you stand up, I say.

What’s the Admiral’s number. Need to be open and transparent here Captain 😂😂 Lift is awesome for tree trimming for sure💪 Nicely done Mike!!🤗🇺🇸

Looks like that grapple is going to work out just fine. If you wait until some welds break before doing anything, you might be adding work (modifications on top of repair)….since you already know that you are going to reinforce some areas with gussets. 🎉

About 6 years ago I hired a tree service to clean up some damage in my pecan grove. I've got 15 big old pecan trees that my grandfather planted in 1928 or '29, and windstorms had caused some branches to break off way up high. When the guys trimmed up the broken branches to be flush with the tree trunks, they didn't use any sealer on the exposed wood. I asked about that, and the boss told me that they don't do that any more; they just let trees heal up and scab over on their own these days. That was news to me, but I've done the same thing with other types of trees on the property since then, ones that were close enough to the ground for me to deal with, and haven't had any problems as a result. We're in eastern NC.

TWO HANDS ON THE SAW ALWAYS!

Nice job cool show 👏👏👏👍👍👍👍😃

I didn't see anything either so think you're safe Captain 😂🤣, best thing to use on tree cuts is molten tar, makes a lovely seal and keeps burrowing insects out.

Great intro.

With the grapple on my Kubota, for picking up smaller stuff I find it earlier too dump the bucket and pinch it from the top plus you can lightly rake with the teeth to make piles, and when it comes to small limbs, grapples pick up piles much better than individual limbs.

Mike you do need to be careful with any tree cutting but you did fine. Enjoyed the video you are a good guy… John

You could have used asphalt fence paint as well. Yes, 85 feet up is fun, working on lights and watching birds fly by with a look of "what are you doing up here in my world?"