arw01 Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 On the wife's bucket list since she was young is to light this tree. The tree is 55' high and approx 35' in diameter. I plan to light from the top down with draping strings, 16-17 sets of RGB lights of 50 each, and another 16-17 sets of standard LED (if they ever show up) that would be split at 25 so I can light to top half separate from the bottom half. For the first time up the plan is a bucket truck, but I would like to figure out a way to not need the bucket truck to put them up and down each year. Ideas? Brainstorms? What ifs? To complicate it more, the tree splits the trunk: Since then I have hired an arborist to clean out the inside of the "mega tree". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viennaxmas Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Can you put a couple of pulleys up in the tree similar to die of the mega tree designs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Santas Helper Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Buy a bucket truck/lift.A pulley system will get the lights up but they won't end up on the outside of that tree IMHO. Especially at the top.Tell her to add a bucket lift to that bucket list. And I'm serious. That's a serious tree with a lot of long branches up top. It won't be easy or even possible without a lift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyD Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Hire a tree-trimmer with the proper safety equipment to place the strings up into the tree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckeyelights Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Sky hook? Someone on a lift is the only way to get that high, whether it's you or hire someone. My guess is after a couple phone calls to get an estimate, then let her know how expensive it'll be and it'll be very expensive, she'll revise her bucket list. In the meantime, pray for lightening LOL. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallleyes Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 I have hung strands of lights about 35 foot up. What I did was use roof snow rake poles that you connect together. I used heavy #9 wire and made hooks and used electrical tape to fasten them to the end of the strings. On the end of the poles I cut to pieces of wire about six inches long and taped them to the top of the pole making a fork to hook the lights. Just need to do it on a calm day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arw01 Posted October 11, 2014 Author Share Posted October 11, 2014 I had considered some long poles, maybe a 20' 1/2 emt with another 10' section attached, would get me 1/2 up the tree or let me re-position strings that might not have been in the right spot. With the pulley's I figured I would need to have a guy wire that would let you pull it out away from the tree at about a 45 degree angle so you would not end up with them in the tree as mentioned above. Maybe next week make some more calls around and see what I can find for a late on a Saturday it's not going to go our rate.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgrant Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 At the equipment rental places, they have available bucket type trucks or lifts that will get you up there but that's still a long ways up. I asked about one out here and it was $150/day. You could hire in a crane type for more money. If you went to all the trouble, then hang a ton of lights on it and make it worth the effort and cost! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arw01 Posted October 11, 2014 Author Share Posted October 11, 2014 $150 would be great if I can find a place down in that range. The first couple of places I called wanted like $500 a day to get 60 feet into the air so you could move around the tree a bit without having to come down and then move it and then go back up! Still waiting on a load of leds and strobes and all my spt-2 wire from christmas-leds.com, between supplier issues, shipping delays, port closures, more delays, my July items are showing up in likely November, it's bad.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainyoregonchristmas Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 In our town the fire crew puts lights up in a tree taller than that using the ladder truck. They do it for the community tree and list it as a "High Rescue Training" session. Might ask them if they'd be willing to give it a try. Could be a good way to form a partnership with a capable crew and get your lights up too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Santas Helper Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 In our town the fire crew puts lights up in a tree taller than that using the ladder truck. They do it for the community tree and list it as a "High Rescue Training" session. Might ask them if they'd be willing to give it a try. Could be a good way to form a partnership with a capable crew and get your lights up too. That's a good point. Community points often go well with city service like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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