BOTTOM LEFT:
thimbles

Cabling is a means of providing additonal support within a tree. It is NOT sole support. A qualified arborist should always be chosen to determine if cabling is appropriate and what the limitations are. The arborist will also determine the type of cabling system, location of installation, and appropriate cable size. Once this is established, it becomes the task of the climber to install. The climber (left) begins by drilling a hole all the way thru the trunk or leader. This hole will be 1/16 inch larger than the bolt that will go thru it. The eyebolt is drop-forged. This means it is all one solid piece, not rolled. A drop-forged eyebolt is significantly stronger and will not come apart like an eyebolt found at a hardware store.

Once the eyebolt is secured, he then installs a thimble (left). The purpose of the thimble is to keep the cable from having a sharp bend which would eventually lead to breaking. To the right, the climber threads the 7-strand cable thru the eyebolt and around the thimble. He then seperates the strands and individually wraps one strand at a time back on the cable itself. The strands are wrapped hand-over-hand until all strands are used.

Another cable, called HTS (high tension steel) may also be installed using tree-grips. We use this also, but it is not shown or discussed here.