Best Way To Remove This Tree

   / Best Way To Remove This Tree #71  
Properly done with a chainsaw, that tree would
have been safely down hours before nightfall.
 
   / Best Way To Remove This Tree #72  
John,

You bring up a good point and of course, you are absolutely right in pointing out the flaw in my reasoning. I'll stop making that comparison and just leave it as is. Those who have a backhoe can decide for themselves how safe it is. Those who do not have one, will just have to enjoy the pictures and see how the rest of us take out trees.

Doug,

I agree with you that I would like to avoid an argument. The entire reason for being here is to share ideas, help each other out and learn from what everyone has to offer.

I offered a method to take out a tree that I feel is much faster and easier than using a chain saw. I've taken out trees with chainsaws and dug out roots too. Given the two choices, it's not even close as to which method I'm going to use.

Do you have a backhoe or know how to operate one?

I ask this because I question wether you have a valid opinion based on personal experience with both ways to do this, or if you are comfortable with your method and don't believe me when I offer another?

You have twice said that the tree removal with the backhoe did not go as the operator had hoped. Would you be so kind as to explain what happened that brought you to this conclusion?

I'm not seeing what you are seeing and the only way I can learn, or improve, is to learn what I've done wrong and correct it. I have no desire to die or become injured doing something as meaningless as remove a tree. Nor would I want that to happen to anybody else.

JHT,

I agree that it would have been fairly easy to have that tree, or any other down on the ground much faster with a chainsaw. But then there is a stump in the ground. How fast could you take out the stump with the same tools?

That stump AND tree came out quickly and safely in one operation. What you are missing is that the job isn't even half way done if you just cut down the tree. The REAL work is getting out the stump.

To everyone,

I might be coming at this differently than what most of you are used to. I am more of a commercial operation than a home farm hobbiest. I'm not going to spend a day or weekend messing around with a stump if I can get the entire tree from standing there, to the burn pile, in an hour or less. I've taken out more trees than I ever wanted to, and I'll continue to take them out for the next year or so. In my part of Texas, trees are like weeds and it's not even possilbe to walk through them in many areas.

I do not intend to offend those who disagree with me, but if you've never done it this way, how can you say it's wrong or more dangerous?

Thank you,
Eddie
 
   / Best Way To Remove This Tree #73  
EddieWalker said:
You have twice said that the tree removal with the backhoe did not go as the operator had hoped. Would you be so kind as to explain what happened that brought you to this conclusion?

...
Hi Eddie .. I have many hours on a back hoe although I no longer own one. Not near as many hours as you probably have. Now .. please read Obed's postings again or see my post #70 in this thread where I quote Obed. The tree felling was a surprise according to him.

The point is an issue of safety, efficiency and enjoyment .. in that order. Cutting corners when dealing with trees is asking for a bad afternoon, thats my point, zall.

Peace friend.
 
   / Best Way To Remove This Tree #74  
obed, one other word of caution. Be extremely careful when pushing on any trees with your hoe or FEL any dead limbs can break off and fall on you or your tractor and with no FOPS can result in serious injury or death.
 
   / Best Way To Remove This Tree #75  
Good Job Obed!

Obviously there are differing opinions being shared here. Don't necessarily take one persons advice over another- after all it is your choice! In my opinion, and from my experience of removing about 25 trees last summer/fall ranging from 10" dia to 22" dia, things occur slower not faster during the critical time of the tree actually falling. I admit I am not a professional timberman, but when I cut the trees I have had many more unexpected surprises. With my backhoe, I have never yet had a tree not do what I wanted or thought it would.

That being said, I probably would not tackle anything larger with my hoe.

I would disagree with anyone who thinks you could cut a tree down and then dig out the stump nearly as fast as you can using Eddie's method. As a matter of fact, I have some stumps to remove (tree was already cut) that I am not sure I can now get out with my hoe.

Be Safe! Jason
 
   / Best Way To Remove This Tree #76  
DAP said:
Hi Eddie .. I have many hours on a back hoe although I no longer own one. Not near as many hours as you probably have. Now .. please read Obed's postings again or see my post #70 in this thread where I quote Obed. The tree felling was a surprise according to him.

The point is an issue of safety, efficiency and enjoyment .. in that order. Cutting corners when dealing with trees is asking for a bad afternoon, thats my point, zall.

Peace friend.

Hi Doug,

Thank you for explaining you reasoning. I appreciate it as I seem to end up in these disagreements with a few posters who tell me why I'm wrong, but don't have the ability to explain why. If I sounded rude in my earlier post, I apologize.

I'll let you post stand as is, since it can be interpeted different ways. If Obed wishes to clarify it, than I'll leave it up to him.

I agree that safety is everyones fist priority, and if he, or any others, don't feel safe taking out a tree with a backhoe, then they shouldn't.

I feel that way about taking down trees with a chainsaw. I've done quite that way without a problem, but that doesn't mean there won't be one. Chainsaws scare me. Table saws scare me. Big drills scare me. Heights scare me. And most of all, SNAKES SCARE ME!!! I deal with all of the the best I can, but I also avoid them all as much as I can. :)

Thank you,
Eddie
 
   / Best Way To Remove This Tree #77  
One other note of caution! Different species of trees obviously have different root sytems. The trees I removed were mostly ash, cherry, and hackberry. The cherry were the easiest to remove and I didn't do as much digging on them before attempting to push them over.

I would suppose different soil types would also affect how well rooted the tree is also.

Jason
 
   / Best Way To Remove This Tree #78  
JasonL said:
One other note of caution! Different species of trees obviously have different root sytems. The trees I removed were mostly ash, cherry, and hackberry. The cherry were the easiest to remove and I didn't do as much digging on them before attempting to push them over.

I would suppose different soil types would also affect how well rooted the tree is also.

Jason

That is a good point. Also when pushing a tree over you must make sure not to be so close where the root ball can come up under your tractor, stabilizer arm, etc.
 
   / Best Way To Remove This Tree #79  
Obed... great job on the tree. Thanks for the pictures too. Whenever you get around to doing the tree from the original post... I'd love to see the pics of it also.

Thanks and be safe!
 
   / Best Way To Remove This Tree
  • Thread Starter
#80  
DAP said:
In fact, this did not go at all like the operator had hoped, planned for or counted on. I'll say he even was lucky he was not seriously hurt given what he claims actually happened.

DAP,
My description of where the tree fell wasn't very clear. Actually, overall I was very pleased. The top of the 30 ft tree landed about 6 feet away from where I wanted it to land. The tree landed parallel to the road right beside it instead of the top landing in the middle of the road where I wanted it. However, the tree landed exactly where I was pushing it with the bucket. When I realized that, I wanted to reposition the backhoe but it was too late. Having the top miss my mark by only 6 feet left me pretty happy for my first attempt. I did take the advice from this thread and try my luck on a small tree. There wasn't anything unsafe. But I appreciate the input to be cautious.
Obed
 

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