Widow makers

[nap61]

I decided to drop some of the smaller (4" to 10") pines in what will be my front yard. After sucessfully felling 4/5 trees, a 8" pine did not fall as I thought and got hung up in a smaller tree. I could not push/pull it to get it to fall. Since I was going to drop the other tree, I decided to cut it hopeing they would both fall. I had my "safe" escape route planed and made my cut. I safely retreated to watch them fall. NOPE. They both hung up in a much bigger tree that I planed to keep. I kept undercutting the first tree in 4/4.5 ft lengths until it fell. I then attacked the second the same way. It was not fun. It was scary.
What is the best was to handle:
1. A single "widow maker" that the bottom is on thground and the top is leaning in another tree;
2. How do you handle the situation when you have two "WMs" together?

Norm

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Multiple ways to handle the situation. Depending on how big and heavy the tree is. Small ones like you had I would sling a rope up as high as possible and pull to see if I can get it to slide down from the tree it is leaning into. Also do as you did if the situation allows and cut the second tree. Another method is to set a snatch block up high enough in another tree and try to lift the butt end of the tree that is leaning if it has been sheared at the base already..
Sectioning off pieces is the last resort if I have to.

 

[rswyan]

What is the best was to handle:
1. A single "widow maker" that the bottom is on the ground and the top is leaning in another tree;

Chain the bottom of the leaning tree, hook chain to FEL, and pull in the opposite direction of the way it is leaning, by backing up.

The above assumes that the tree leaning is nowhere near vertical.

2. How do you handle the situation when you have two "WMs" together?

Do number 1 above first, to avoid creating number 2 in the first place.

 

[nap61]

TM,
Thanks for the tips. I hoped you would reply. I was looking for expert advise.

Norm

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Awww schucks I never cut a tree down before....:laughing:

 

[nap61]

RS,
Thanks.

Norm

 

[adjusterr]

I use the same method as RSWYAN stated in his reply, with an added twist, I have an 8 " x 5' locust post with a Y at the top. I hook my chain to the base of the leaning tree, run the chain up through the Y and lean the locust post toward the hanging tree, when you pull on the chain, the post straightens up and in doing so, lifts the base of the tree.

 

[Egon]

If the situation allows one can just walk away and let the wind do the job.:thumbsup:

 

[beenthere]

adjusterr
That sounds like a clever idea. Care to post a pic of your post in action?

nap1
I find hung trees usually require different approaches, as each one may be a bit different. No single answer to all hung trees.

Pulling the tree down is likely the safest procedure, as long as the tree isn't pulled over onto the "puller". As well, not getting into a position where the tree drops and jerks the cable/chain causing damage to the "puller".

Least safe procedures are (1) cutting the tree down that the hung tree is leaning into and (2) bucking sections off the leaning tree. There is a lot of pent up energy in a hung tree and some can release (come loose) at a moments notice (or no notice at all).

Hopefully you have a hard hat on for minimum protection as a widow maker (a loose limb hanging in a tree) may become free-falling at any moment as well.

 

[dmccarty]

If the situation allows one can just walk away and let the wind do the job.:thumbsup:

I did this once with a BIG tree that was leaning into a BIGGER tree. No way no how was I going to try to cut the leaning tree which was at least 24 inches in diameter.

It took 4-5 years but eventually that tree fell.

I did not cause the tree to lean. :laughing:

Later,
Dan