Make the bands
Here are the supplies you will need for making bands:
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- Stainless steel embossing tape (1/2 inch wide)
- Stainless steel springs
- Surgical scissors (also called 'trauma shears')
- Diameter tape
- Narrow permanent black marker
- Needle nose pliers
- Hole punch
- Digital calipers with resolution to 0.01 mm
- Adhesive, masking, or similar tape
- (Optional) Tags, nails, and lengths of wire as needed for attaching tags
SAFETY NOTE: The steel tape has sharp edges, especially when cut. You can easily injure yourself while working with it. We suggest wearing gloves whenever practical while making the band. And have a first aid kit nearby.
The procedure for making a band is the same for every tree. However, the length of each band depends on the individual tree size. The measurements to be used in making the band are determined by the circumference of the tree.
With a new coil of banding material, cautiously remove the wrapping tape. Don't let the material escape and uncoil. The free end of the material will become the head of the band. Cut a short piece of banding material whose length is twice the width of the band, or about 25 mm. This piece will be the clip – make two of these for each band.
Lay the head end of the band across and perpendicular to the piece of the band for one of the clips, so that the visible ends of the clip are equal in length (Figure 1).
Figure 1 (Credit: Jess Parker/SERC)
Fold both ends of this band piece up and around the upper side of the band (Figure 2). This is called the clip. Fold the other piece similarly and set it aside; you will use it when installing the band.
Figure 2 (Credit Jess Parker/SERC)
Position the clip so that the end of the band extends past the clip by about half the width of the banding material. Fold this tip down and around the band and over the clip (Figure 3).
Figure 3 (Credit: Jess Parker/SERC)
Then fold the band just to the right of the clip back (Figure 4). The split portion of the clip should now face away from you. With the hole punch make a hole in the facing part of the band, about 1 cm from the end. This hole will be used to attach the right end of the spring.
Figure 4 (Credit: Jess Parker/SERC)
Continue to fold the back portion of the clip, to be flat against the band (Figure 5). Make sure the edges of the hole are smooth. If there are little bits of metal protruding, they can be removed with needle-nose pliers.
Once the hole is cleaned up, take a short scrap of band material and make sure it can slide freely back and forth through the clip. If the opening is too tight you can open the clip slightly to allow the band to pass.
Figure 5 (Credit: Jess Parker/SERC)
Now you will make the window. In the following description, the clip or head end of the band is assumed to be to your left.
From the head end of the band, measure a distance of 4 cm. This will extend beyond the hole you just punched. Make a cut here, perpendicular to the band, going only about half the width of the band. This will be the left side of the window.
Now measure from this cut to the right another 10 cm. This will be the right side of the window. At this point, make another perpendicular cut half the width of the band. Then, without removing the shears, pivot them to form a right angle to your left and cut parallel to the edges of the band until you reach the first cut (Figure 6).
There may be some slight irregularity at the beginning of this lengthwise cut. This is acceptable, but the right end of the window must be straight and perpendicular to the edge of the band. If some of the band gets wrinkled or bends up at the pivot, try to flatten it with pliers. Note the window can be shorter in width if the tree is smaller than 20 cm DBH – however, the window width must never be less than 8 cm.
Figure 6 (Credit: Jess Parker/SERC)
From the head end you have made, measure a distance along the banding material equal in length to the circumference of the tree, plus an additional 20 cm. For example, a tree with a diameter of 35 cm has a circumference of 110 cm. For this tree the desired length of band material is 110 + 20 = 130 cm. Use the surgical scissors to cut the banding material to this length. Make sure the cut is perpendicular to the edge of the banding material. We will call this end of the band the tail.
To pack the band for storage and taking to the field, lay the band out with the clip facing up. Starting at the tail end of the band, roll the band up. Wrap a piece of tape around the roll, near the base of the clip – this will help to protect the clip from damage until you install it on the tree. With the permanent marker, write the ID tag number of the intended tree on the outside of the rolled-up band, about an inch back from the clip (Figure 7).
