Egon
Epic Contributor
As stated; who wants to try this.
Attachment not proper.
Attachment not proper.
How would you have removed this tree
- Thread starter Egon
- Start date
- Views: 20844
davesl708
Elite Member
Isn't it the way it is supposed to go?:cool2:
OP
Egon
Epic Contributor
OP
Egon
Epic Contributor
Got the video.
Mendonsy
Veteran Member
This is how not to do it!!
TSO
Elite Member
I've cut down probably 250'ish trees... And I'm pretty efficient. But Dayuuummmmmm was that tight! Thanks for the vid!
mapper
Veteran Member
That guy was obviously a professional faller. My question is what idiot builds a house that close to a tree that large? It appears to be a Doug fir somewhere around the Pacific Northwest, when large firs are left from a dense stand with most of the other trees around them cut, they are really susceptible to blowing over a later. The lack of lower limbs tells me that one was left out of a fairly dense stand. One that size can do a lot of damage, like cut a house in two if it falls on it.
dbotos
Silver Member
I disagree. Any professional would be wearing safety gear (chaps and helmet with face shield, at a minimum) and would have rigged down the tree in pieces rather than risk damage to the buildings. Even if you get it to fall perfectly in between the buildings like that guy did, it could still bounce unpredictably and do some decent damage to one of both of the buildings.
TSO
Elite Member
Maybe he was a non-OSHA-compliant professional?
MF283
Platinum Member
He was just a good 'ol boy that dosen't need the title to do something:thumbsup:
quicksandfarmer
Elite Member
I don't see why there's even a debate, he took the tree down the only way possible. 
I would have done it exactly the same, except I would be wearing hearing and eye protection and gloves. The most difficult part would be explaining from my hospital bed how I managed to destroy both buildings, the deck, and the utility pole. (There wouldn't be video because the tree would have crushed the camera too.)
I would have done it exactly the same, except I would be wearing hearing and eye protection and gloves. The most difficult part would be explaining from my hospital bed how I managed to destroy both buildings, the deck, and the utility pole. (There wouldn't be video because the tree would have crushed the camera too.)
2ndhalf
Veteran Member
I would have made the cut on the back side, away from the notch, above the notch about 2 inches and slanting down toward the notch. That way I wouldn't have to use wedges. I think he was lucky, thats all. I have dropped and watched my brother drop 100's of trees in his tree service. Who has their saw on the side the tree is going to fall? He is just lucky it didn't pinch the saw.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk0JSn5WDTE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk0JSn5WDTE
cat fever
Elite Member
I fell big trees all the time getting my firewood. To pin point it that close was just luck. Even the wind changing directions at the wrong time would have made a big difference in the outcome. But in the end he can brag about a great outcome.
mapper
Veteran Member
when I say he was a professional faller I am talking about a logger, not a tree service person. Notice the flat butt on the log, this is the way that they work it here, that tree did not fall that way by chance. He did cut it from the back side, and used his wedges to make sure it wasn't going to lean back on th saw. He also stopped cutting when there was an inch or so of hinge wood left and started tapping on the wedges at that time. I have seen this technique used years ago when I worked as a forest technician for a timber company, we are around fallers who could pretty much lay trees wherever they chose to. As one told me years ago, you can put a tree anywhere in about a 180 degree arc in the direction the tree naturally leans in.
Now how would I do it? I would hire a tree service that was licensed and bonded, to come out and take it down in pieces. Any damage they would be responsible for. The going rate around here for that is about $8-10K.
I will not comment on the lack of safety gear, looks like his hardhat was laying on the deck nearby.
Now how would I do it? I would hire a tree service that was licensed and bonded, to come out and take it down in pieces. Any damage they would be responsible for. The going rate around here for that is about $8-10K.
I will not comment on the lack of safety gear, looks like his hardhat was laying on the deck nearby.
sea2summit
Super Member
All you safty sallies need to observe that the safety equipment is on the deck. I think he made some very deliberate decisions not to wear it. He also wasn't wearing his fellers belt which is also on the deck (where he gets the wedges from). He wanted to be able to GTF out if he needed.
2ndhalf
Veteran Member
Logger or not, he was lucky. No tree service would have taken the risk he did, they would have climbed that tree and pieced and roped it down.It was probably his or his buddie's house though so he could take the risk he did. I still say you don't need those wedges on a tree that size. On much larger trees I have seen wedges used. I can also drop a tree where I want it but as others have said, there are a lot of factors that makes that a risky venture. The wind up in a tree is much different than the wind down on the ground. Possible it was a no wind day that day.
Ed of all trades
Elite Member
Luck, nope. He did his best but he was thanking God for his blessing right after the tree fell. He knew that he could make a mess but that God had helped him to fell that tree exactly where it needed to fall. Ed
motownbrowne
Elite Member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2013
- Messages
- 2,613
- Location
- river falls, wi
- Tractor
- Kubota mx4700 HST, New Holland TC-29D
The slanting back-cut thing is not a good method. It has no benefit, it prevents you from using wedges, and makes it unnecessarily difficult to line up the back cut with your hinge. If you're felling trees, there's no reason not to have wedges on your belt. They are great tools. What exactly do you think making the back cut on a slant achieves?? Google it, it's been thoroughly explained why it's not safe.
Regarding this video, I agree with the poster who said that the guy is a professional felling this tree at his home or the home of a friend. No way Joe Schmoe takes this one on and nails it like that.
2ndhalf
Veteran Member
I did google it and I wouldn't make the back cut the way they did in all of the unsafe videos., they were much too sharp a slant and right to the point of the notch. The cut should end up above the point of the notch so that you still have a hinge.... and yes, so I don't have to use wedges. No need on a smallish tree like that. If it were a windy day or even a slight risk of that tree going the wrong way, we would climb it and put a long bull rope in the top and pull it along with the notch.... not trusting a wedge to send it the right way... not around houses... in the woods maybe ok. I agree he looked like he had droppod a lot of trees in the woods.
