Black Oak Down! (Advice?)

[Gary Fowler]

Id do like others said and start at the left, rootball side.

That looks like a pretty steep hill, And I wouldnt want to be up and down that hill with a saw in hand.

Looks like you got quite a stable of equipment. Pretty stout backhoe and CTL. Use one of them to control, and help pull the thing back down the hill as you cut it up

I didn't notice that the OP had a backhoe. Just lift the tree with the backhoe and cut it anyway you like.

 

[MossRoad]

The rootball is on the right of the picture, I believe...

I'd do like others have suggested and cut off the stuff to the left of the bridge first, and let it fall down, out of the way, which will also relieve some pressure on the left side of the bridge.

Next, I'd move about 32" in from the left (I cut 16" firewood, so 32" would be two widths for me), cut down from the topside no more than 1/4 of the way through the log to avoid a pinched bar.

Finally, I'd cut up from the bottom the rest of the way, being careful and going very slow so as to be able to see how the log will start to bend down as the bottom cut starts to open. Hopefully, the log will just set down onto the bridge, and the whole thing with rootball won't come sliding down the hill at you. It probably won't, but hey, pretty much everything unexpected can happen. Caution is your best friend.

Then repeat again until you have cleared the left side of the bridge.

 

[4570Man]

The op has enough equipment this will be a piece of cake. My CTL would pick up that whole tree and drop it in a more convenient location for cutting up. Without looking up the specs I’d assume the OPs skid steer would too.

 

[CobyRupert]

The last time I cut a tree between supported ends there wasnt enough clearance under it to finish from below. With all that weight, the top kerf closed before I could withdraw the blade. So that didnt go so well... This one is a little different but I thought Id ask the more experienced here how they would cut this. I really dont want to cut above my shoulder height.

Thanks,

John

For horizontal logs: Use a wedge or two or three to prevent the kerf from closing up on your saw.

...and/or for getting your saw out when it does.

 

[jmc]

OP here. Cleaned it up without incident. Started on the left (lower) side and worked my way up. It kept all the cuts at a safe height.

This tree was 22-24 inches in diameter- probably too much weight for my TBL. A lot of length was beyond the picture. Heres the parts you couldnt see.

Thanks All, for the suggestions. They helped.

 

[Egon]

Good Show!

 

[MossRoad]

Glad it worked out for you. :thumbsup:

 

[crazyal]

I'd be glad it hit your abutment and not your bridge. Glad you got it removed safely.

 

[jmc]

I'd be glad it hit your abutment and not your bridge....

OP here.

I had the same thought and so did my helper. It would have broken off the overhanging two feet of those 3 inch x 8 inch creosoted oak decking timbers. And the place in Terre Haute that made them went out of business. The original hickory decking the contractor used had mushrooms growing out of them after about 5 years. These replacements are at 18 years and some moss is just starting on the ends.