How would you have removed this tree

quicksandfarmer · Mar 5, 2016

I don't see why there's even a debate, he took the tree down the only way possible.

I would have done it exactly the same, except I would be wearing hearing and eye protection and gloves. The most difficult part would be explaining from my hospital bed how I managed to destroy both buildings, the deck, and the utility pole. (There wouldn't be video because the tree would have crushed the camera too.)

2ndhalf · Mar 6, 2016

I would have made the cut on the back side, away from the notch, above the notch about 2 inches and slanting down toward the notch. That way I wouldn't have to use wedges. I think he was lucky, thats all. I have dropped and watched my brother drop 100's of trees in his tree service. Who has their saw on the side the tree is going to fall? He is just lucky it didn't pinch the saw.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk0JSn5WDTE

cat fever · Mar 6, 2016

I fell big trees all the time getting my firewood. To pin point it that close was just luck. Even the wind changing directions at the wrong time would have made a big difference in the outcome. But in the end he can brag about a great outcome.

mapper · Mar 6, 2016

when I say he was a professional faller I am talking about a logger, not a tree service person. Notice the flat butt on the log, this is the way that they work it here, that tree did not fall that way by chance. He did cut it from the back side, and used his wedges to make sure it wasn't going to lean back on th saw. He also stopped cutting when there was an inch or so of hinge wood left and started tapping on the wedges at that time. I have seen this technique used years ago when I worked as a forest technician for a timber company, we are around fallers who could pretty much lay trees wherever they chose to. As one told me years ago, you can put a tree anywhere in about a 180 degree arc in the direction the tree naturally leans in.

Now how would I do it? I would hire a tree service that was licensed and bonded, to come out and take it down in pieces. Any damage they would be responsible for. The going rate around here for that is about $8-10K.
I will not comment on the lack of safety gear, looks like his hardhat was laying on the deck nearby.

sea2summit · Mar 6, 2016

All you safty sallies need to observe that the safety equipment is on the deck. I think he made some very deliberate decisions not to wear it. He also wasn't wearing his fellers belt which is also on the deck (where he gets the wedges from). He wanted to be able to GTF out if he needed.

redman135 · Mar 6, 2016

High risk. The slightest puff of wind at the wrong time and you would have some expensive damage, both house and reputation.

2ndhalf · Mar 6, 2016

Logger or not, he was lucky. No tree service would have taken the risk he did, they would have climbed that tree and pieced and roped it down.It was probably his or his buddie's house though so he could take the risk he did. I still say you don't need those wedges on a tree that size. On much larger trees I have seen wedges used. I can also drop a tree where I want it but as others have said, there are a lot of factors that makes that a risky venture. The wind up in a tree is much different than the wind down on the ground. Possible it was a no wind day that day.

Ed of all trades · Mar 6, 2016

Luck, nope. He did his best but he was thanking God for his blessing right after the tree fell. He knew that he could make a mess but that God had helped him to fell that tree exactly where it needed to fall. Ed

motownbrowne · Mar 6, 2016

2ndhalf said:
I would have made the cut on the back side, away from the notch, above the notch about 2 inches and slanting down toward the notch. That way I wouldn't have to use wedges. I think he was lucky, thats all. I have dropped and watched my brother drop 100's of trees in his tree service. Who has their saw on the side the tree is going to fall? He is just lucky it didn't pinch the saw.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk0JSn5WDTE

The slanting back-cut thing is not a good method. It has no benefit, it prevents you from using wedges, and makes it unnecessarily difficult to line up the back cut with your hinge. If you're felling trees, there's no reason not to have wedges on your belt. They are great tools. What exactly do you think making the back cut on a slant achieves?? Google it, it's been thoroughly explained why it's not safe.

Regarding this video, I agree with the poster who said that the guy is a professional felling this tree at his home or the home of a friend. No way Joe Schmoe takes this one on and nails it like that.

2ndhalf · Mar 6, 2016

motownbrowne said:
The slanting back-cut thing is not a good method. It has no benefit, it prevents you from using wedges, and makes it unnecessarily difficult to line up the back cut with your hinge. If you're felling trees, there's no reason not to have wedges on your belt. They are great tools. What exactly do you think making the back cut on a slant achieves?? Google it, it's been thoroughly explained why it's not safe.

Regarding this video, I agree with the poster who said that the guy is a professional felling this tree at his home or the home of a friend. No way Joe Schmoe takes this one on and nails it like that.

I did google it and I wouldn't make the back cut the way they did in all of the unsafe videos., they were much too sharp a slant and right to the point of the notch. The cut should end up above the point of the notch so that you still have a hinge.... and yes, so I don't have to use wedges. No need on a smallish tree like that. If it were a windy day or even a slight risk of that tree going the wrong way, we would climb it and put a long bull rope in the top and pull it along with the notch.... not trusting a wedge to send it the right way... not around houses... in the woods maybe ok. I agree he looked like he had droppod a lot of trees in the woods.