How to cut up this fallen tree

[woodlandfarms]

We had a big windstorm and have a number of large trees down, all pulled up by the rootball. My concern on all of them is snapback with the rootball. My neighbor has some sort of specialty certification in tree removal (he works for the government managing large tracts of land) so hopefully he can help, but with the holidays he may not be avail.

Anyway, just wondering how you would tackle this. Oh, rootball is around 10 foot from the ground up. Photos do not give the thing justice.

 

[jerrybob]

Had a few of those over the years......here's some good advice from another forum........

http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=32768.0

 

[MinnesotaEric]

We had a big windstorm and have a number of large trees down, all pulled up by the rootball. My concern on all of them is snapback with the rootball. My neighbor has some sort of specialty certification in tree removal (he works for the government managing large tracts of land) so hopefully he can help, but with the holidays he may not be avail.

Anyway, just wondering how you would tackle this. Oh, rootball is around 10 foot from the ground up. Photos do not give the thing justice.

That tree stump doesn't look like it is going fall back into the hole when it gets cut but may roll toward the trunk or side to side. Since you have a tractor and the tree is on a downslope, chain the top of the root ball from the upside of the slope to your tracker and put the chain on a bit of tension. Then I suggest plunge cutting the middle to the bottom leaving a trigger on top so my saw cannot bind.

Practice plunge cutting after watching some YouTube videos as it is an essential saw-handling skill. This issue of plunge-cutting is to start on the bottom front part of the chain and then roll the tip into the cut and allow the saw to cut itself in. You must understand how the saw handles because if you don't understand how to plunge cut, the saw tip will kick back and potentially cut the operator.

When you make a plunge cut , you cut through most of the trunk from middle to bottom in this case, leaving a bit of material on top. The material on top is the trigger. Nothing will happen until you cut the trigger from the top down in a second cut.

If the root ball rolls back into the hole, no big deal. If the root ball rolls side to side, you are prepared to get out of the way. If the root ball tries to roll toward the trunk down your slope, your chain prevents that from happening.

 

[clemsonfor]

I would just limb it then start from the top bucking it up. If there going to flip back sometimes they do it before you even get to the stump, you can watch it. it will be down then get almost neutral to gravity then the next on it will flop up.

But depending on how you take it apart i think it may go foward as well. I would just under cut it near the trunk.

They are scary but just watch your footing and have a clear excape path with no trip hazards and use a big saw with a longer bar to stand clear and be ready to let go of saw if need be. tTHey can hurt you but just keep your eyes open adn you will be fine. Now if you have never used a saw or use one once a year to cut a UTV full of firewood i may be hesitant but i have run a good bit of saws and cut a lot of firewood and i would just look at that thing and just go to work!! I should post a pic of the last tree i cut! it was two huge white oaks tops all tangled and one hanging up. Still havent finished it but most would of just trimmed the branches and been done on it.

 

[Cord]

I would just limb it then start from the top bucking it up. If there going to flip back sometimes they do it before you even get to the stump, you can watch it. it will be down then get almost neutral to gravity then the next on it will flop up.

But depending on how you take it apart i think it may go foward as well. I would just under cut it near the trunk.

They are scary but just watch your footing and have a clear excape path with no trip hazards and use a big saw with a longer bar to stand clear and be ready to let go of saw if need be. tTHey can hurt you but just keep your eyes open adn you will be fine. Now if you have never used a saw or use one once a year to cut a UTV full of firewood i may be hesitant but i have run a good bit of saws and cut a lot of firewood and i would just look at that thing and just go to work!! I should post a pic of the last tree i cut! it was two huge white oaks tops all tangled and one hanging up. Still havent finished it but most would of just trimmed the branches and been done on it.

2nd. I wouldn't worry about it too much. If it's going to move, there will be indications before it does.

 

[davesl708]

My method would be to buck the trunk back to five feet of the stump. Use the tractor to stand the stump up then make the final cuts. This way you will be in control of the stump all the way.

 

[MMagis]

That one looks simple, nothing to worry about there. Personally, I start at the top and work "down". The cut at the base is the last thing I do. That way if anything is going to move, it's going to do it a little at a time as the weight is reduced.

 

[Egon]

How it gets cut may depend on what the tree will be used for and the size of your tractor.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Well, lots of stories on this. First, the property was ravaged by the previous owner (meth dealer, needing quick cash). Illegally logged, so every tall fir or cedar is rare so loosing this was a bit of a blow.

Second, it is nice and straight. I hate the thought of firewooding it but in the end I know it has no value to a logger. I have a few things I might want to do with it so I am going to try and keep it as long as possible. I do have an alaskan sawmill.

All the advice is appreciated. I had not thought of the plunge cut but makes good sense. I guess you guys are right that if it starts to move I will know it long before it happens. Still its a lotta tree and I have to respect that for sure.

 

[Ed of all trades]

Hook a chain to the root ball so it can't fall toward the tree and use a chainsaw. It will let you know when it is going to flip back and you can just get out of the way. I have done many and it is not as bad as it looks. Ed