AIE - Arb Tools - Cambium Saver

Tools & Equipment

cambium_saver1.jpg (19642 bytes) Cambium Saver (Friction Saver)

A device used by tree climbers to help prevent bark damage to trees and also to reduce friction on climbing ropes.

Traditionally, a rope is passed over a branch, with one end attached firmly to the climber and the other attached to a sliding locking device which the climber uses to ascend the tree. As the climber pulls his rope, it slides over the branch and produces friction (the climbers weight is pulling the rope against the branch). A number of trees can suffer major bark damage as the rope cuts into their thin bark. Scots Pine, Sycamore (Maples), Plane, etc can suffer serious wounding to the point of being partially ring barked. In some cases, as with Sycamore, the bark slides of easily to leave large barkless areas. Such damage is obviously unacceptable and so the professional climber uses a cambium saver to prevent such damage.

cambium_saver3.jpg (14392 bytes)

The Cambium Saver consists of two steel rings fixed to each end of a flat webbed strop. This is placed over the branch and the climbers rope is then passed through both rings. As the rope is now pulled through the loops (during climbing), the webbing remains static and no damage occurs.

But, you may be wondering, how do you get the cambium saver in position in the first place, as its installation must have required the ascent of the tree? And how do you remove it from the tree once the climber has finished work and is standing on the ground?

Installation high into the canopy requires the use of a throw line. The procedure is a little complicated but explained on Buckingham's webs site (visit here for their photographic procedure). However, if the climber wishes to climb up the trunk and into the canopy by repositioning his rope each time then its a case of first using a ladder and then carefully selecting rope positions to reduce bark damage until he reaches his work position anchor point where the saver is installed.

Removing the saver is fairly easy, providing the climbing rope has a knot or braided loop on one end of his rope. With the climber standing on the ground, he/she pulls on the non-knotted end of the rope. As the knot reaches the saver it passes through the large steel ring but not through the small ring. So as the climber continues to pull, the saver is pulled down with the rope. A thin cord attached to the knotted end will allow the climber to pull the knot back and forth until it slips through the ring.

cambium_saver2.jpg (22747 bytes)

Link to Buckingham's web site.
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