Floating a Tree Stump with a B3030

[WaxMan]

I don't know if this is commonly known on removing a tree stump, but last year a storm knocked down a large tree right across our pool yard, fence and all. It was a big old maple tree with a big A**stump. About a month later, one Friday afternoon, I figured I'd just dig the stump out that day. Well that Friday turned into Saturday then Sunday. I dug all around that stump and I could not get that puppy to give an inch. Nevermind an inch, I could not even make it jiggle. Then I remembered when our in-ground pool was installed, the guy said make sure you always keep water in it because he has seen ground water float a concrete pool before. I thought maybe it would work on the tree stump, so I filled the hole with water. Once the hole was filled with water, it just took a few tugs here and there and the stump came loose. I could float it from side to side anywhere in the hole but it was still too heavy to get out. I ended up flipping it over in the water and scrape most of the dirt off the bottom, but not without dropping it quite a few times and creating some tsunamis with me getting wet. It was a big ordeal but the water worked.
I thought I would share what finally worked for me.

 

[Stick895]

G**D***! That's a big ***** stump! And a dang nice pool house!:thumbsup:

 

[creekbend]

Good job and good thinking. :thumbsup:

 

[buck12]

Great job. That was a monster. I am going to make sure my wife does not see the picture of your outdoor area. She wants the pool, pool house, and outdoor fireplace. Your beautiful back yard would make her jealous and lead to me being poor

 

[Gary Fowler]

That is a very nice looking place you have there. That was a good idea on getting the water in an around the stump to loosen up the soil, let some of it wash off etc to lighten the load. That stump was about as big as your tractor from the looks of it. Glad you were able to get it out. THEN what did you do with it?

 

[Deano]

Awesome work!! Nice pool area! Did you put the stump in the pool and wash it off??!!:laughing:

 

[20 20]

Nice job nice looking place and good idea, especially if ya like mud. I wouldn't say the stump itself is huge but definately big for that machine.

 

[savageactor7]

Good to know that the water was a big help...I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the pics too.

 

[xtn]

If it's too heavy to lift, fill your loader bucket with water and then scoop it up. It will be floating in the bucket, thus weighing nothing.

xtn

PS - That's humor, in case you were thinking of correcting me.

 

[AStanton]

If any woodchucks were living under that shed, I think you gave em a huge headache. Like your cement pond and chimney.

 

[rimshot]

Glad that method worked for you however I don't think it could help me. A stump that big would bee a challenge for even a big tractor but it seems to me you are still going to have to cut through several of those lifeline cables known as roots. Maples are of course a hardwood and until you get around the stump and cut off all those cable like roots that stump is going to stay tethered to the earth just like a boat stays tied to a doc.

I can see where that method you used might help me in a different way. I like to undermine some of those big stumps and if I could get a blast of water under there like the errosive effect from a garden hose I believe you could jet the earth clean away from those roots. In my case however my soil is gravel and the water can practically race into the soil. In other words it just would not pool before it would be traveling down and away. The stumps I have dug I am afraid would fail to float any way because of all the weight from the gravel it comes out of the heavy earth soil attached to those roots.

Pretty clever effort and glad you got that old stump out.

 

[Ductape]

Did you WAX the stump after you washed it ???

 

[dodge man]

I'd have used explosives and taken the easy route.

 

[jmc]

Wax Man,

They should make this thread a "sticky". It's a great concept.

I think that your advantage is turning the solid ground that helps resist stump removal into mud. So the lesson here is dig around the stump to make a moat and if the stump still won't come out, return later after a good rain. (Since most stumps aren't within a garden hose radius of the house)

John

 

[J_J]

It is a known fact that trees roots will loosen up during and after a good rain. A good wind will wreak havoc in a rain soaked forrest.

So if you are going to remove a tree or stump, just soak the tree roots about 24 hr before digging or pulling the tree over.

 

[DKCDKC]

Excellent idea. I have some big oak stumps I'd love to remove. I'll give it a try.

 

[Grateful11]

Nice job with the stump. I love the pool area.

 

[WaxMan]

That is a very nice looking place you have there. That was a good idea on getting the water in an around the stump to loosen up the soil, let some of it wash off etc to lighten the load. That stump was about as big as your tractor from the looks of it. Glad you were able to get it out. THEN what did you do with it?

Thank you,
What I did with the stump.
I went out back and dug a hole for it. Like you said, it was as big as my tractor so I made sure I dug a hole that big. My wife comes out and yells WHAT ARE YOU DOING ??!!
"Nothing ......"

 

[bcp]

I like to undermine some of those big stumps and if I could get a blast of water under there like the errosive effect from a garden hose I believe you could jet the earth clean away from those roots.

Ever tried a pressure washer?

Bruce

 

[tractchores]

Thank you,
What I did with the stump.
I went out back and dug a hole for it. Like you said, it was as big as my tractor so I made sure I dug a hole that big. My wife comes out and yells WHAT ARE YOU DOING ??!!
"Nothing ......"

Remember wnere you burried it because at some point when it rots youll have a tractor sized sinkhole. Cool technique and nice place