Total vanity, but need answer

June 1 2013 | Me

[Fawn]

I need to know if this tin wrapped around the tree is going to attract lightening.

I put it up so the cats cannot climb it. It is a VERY tall palm tree. I plan on putting another one around the tree next to it....unless it draws lightening. Can someone tell me if it does?

[Tijeras_Slim]

I can’t think of anything else to use....any suggestions?

Cat specific land mines.

[Marine_Uncle]

What you did is ok. What you do want to observe is as the tree grows, you may want to replace or add to the length of the foil, so you don’t damage the underlining bark.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Only if you connect wires to them and connect those wires to other nails pounded into the ground.

Being grounded is the key. Lightning is looking for high concentrations of free electrons (static electricity) on the ground. There would be no high concentrations of electrons on your nails pounded into the tree.

[TexasCajun]

If the cat(s) have been in the habit of climbing the palm, odds are they will make the leap from the fence from what I see.

[Fawn]

Thanks...guess I’m going to remove it...

[bunkerhill7]

You have constructed a giant Tesla capacitor antenna

that will electrocute anything within 50 yards and

simultaneously tune in Radio Havana.

[Cicero]

Not likely. But it will probably squeeze the trunk, cut into it, and kill the tree after a few years, unless you have it nailed on in a way that allows it to expand.

[Revolting cat!]

I can’t think of anything else to use....any suggestions?

[Doogle]

"...yea da steps will take a day, the railings maybe two, but when I get done, you won't recognize it and the firemen won't come near it"

[Fawn]

Thank you..

[Fawn]

It’s a vinyl fence and we put chicken wire on top. I guess I’m batting a thousand with all the wire i’ve put in the yard.... anyway....cats can’t really hang on to vinyl and chicken wire.

[M Kehoe]

I need to know if this tin wrapped around the tree is going to attract lightening.

Probably not. I live close to you, BUT anything is probable in the lightning capital of the world.

5.56mm

[Fawn]

Not likely. But it will probably squeeze the trunk, cut into it, and kill the tree after a few years, unless you have it nailed on in a way that allows it to expand. A BIG PLUS. I wanted that tree gone, but the landscaping company said it was too tall and too many wires...so dying is a good thing.

[bgill]

I’d be more afraid of the metal heating up in the summer and cooking your tree. It looks tight so in a couple years it’ll be choking the growing and expanding trunk. Doesn’t look like a good idea whatsoever.

What’s the problem with cats climbing them? If it’s to keep the cats in your yard then trim the limbs so they can’t escape. Put up some wire strands on brackets angled in toward your yard so it’s difficult for them. Think jail yard without the razor wire. That worked for our cat. Or put up an electric fence wire. One small zap and they’ll never do it again.

[Average Al]

Just put some stick’em on the tree trunks so you can catch the cats before they climb up in to the trees.

If you want to wrap the trees wrap them with some vinyl.

[Conspiracy Guy]

The high tension power lines and your neighbor’s CB or HAM radio tower in the background are much more attractive targets for lightning. You’re good to go.

[Marine_Uncle]

RE: "Thanks...guess I’m going to remove it..."
Why?
My comments where to encourage you to keep it on the tree. Every couple years just keep an eye on the girth of the tree forming. And if it appears the tin foil might be biting into the bark. Just unwrap it and add a foot or of foil to the one end and loosely re-wrap it.

But you decide what course you want to take. I see nothing wrong in keeping it on the tree.

[Fawn]

I got another brilliant idea! I’ll wrap it in electrical tape! LOL

[GeorgeWashingtonsGhost]

This got me thinking.. If you wrapped a garden hose in a spiral fashion around the trunk, would a cat think it was a big snake and avoid it? Whatever your cat is afraid of, THAT is what I’d put there.

[cripplecreek]

Its no more likely to attract lightning than a flagpole or metal chimney. I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

If you wanted to try something else, cats aren’t real fond of sticky things on their paws.