Logging

[Egon]

Some windblown trees that will make lumber if I can figure how to get them on the ground.

 

[ToadHill]

Very careffully and with a 10ft. pole saw

 

[K7147]

Rule # 1: Don't be standing on that dirt ball when you chainsaw the trunk!

 

[sparkkky]

My tajfun logging winch would get that where you could work it, works good on down falls too.

 

[lopezian]

My tajfun logging winch would get that where you could work it, works good on down falls too.

sparkky, can you elaborate on that for us curious but inexperienced types? Do you mean you would winch that first tree into more of an upright position, or would you try to winch it down?

We've had a lot of downed trees here in Washington state recently. The ones on the ground are not a problem. The ones that are still standing upright are not a problem. It's the ones that are leaning that I find difficult to deal with. In one instance I used chains and a come-along to pull one into a more upright position before cutting. That only works on pretty small trees.

 

[Youare]

I agree with Sparky... a 3PH winch is a great way to deal with trees lkie what you have. I have one on my Kubota and it allows you to work a safe distance away.

The up-rooted tree will need to be severed from the root ball. As already noted that root system is going to want to go back where it was in the ground very quickly once the tree stem is cut. I would notch the bottom side of the trunk with a 90 degree notch. That is make two 45 degree cuts to remove a 90 degree wedge.

The best way to cut the rest of the trunk would be a bore cut through the stem at the same level as the center of the wedge leaving a couple of inches of hindge wood. Continue this cut toward the top of the stem until you have two or three inches of wood holding at the top.

Then finish the cut from the top down. As soon as you make this cut the root system will quickly head for the ground and the tree should rotate on the stump and be pulled backwards by the hindge wood possibily pulling it out of the tree it is lodged in. If it still stays hung you and connected to the stum you will have to carefully cut it free, sometimes cutting one side of the hindge will alow the tree to roll out of the one it is caught in.

The 3PH winch come in handy for pulling the hung tree out. Every situation is different, sometimes a sidewards pull works sometimes pulling it backwards works. Just stay out from under any hung tree, you never know when it could come down on it's own.

Becareful out there.

Randy

 

[Thomas]

Morning Egon.
Yup don't stand on the up roots,and cut very slowly and keep watchful....man I dislike cleaning something like that.

I got three pines that reach the stars,and one pine 18" bar maybe will reach half,the other two pines...I plan to drop one today...gonner make mess for sure when it hits the ground.

 

[sparkkky]

If the root ball would come I would pull it until it lays down.

 

[MossRoad]

Some windblown trees that will make lumber if I can figure how to get them on the ground.

I have a very nice 100' + piece of 1/2 wrecker cable for just such occasions. I'd toss a rope way up over that leaner and use it to pull a piece of chain over the log and thread the cable through a loop on the end of the chain, then put the other end on my tractor or pickup truck or use a comealong and then pull it sideways off the snag. No way to get smooshed that way.

Oh, yeah. Stay off that stump when you cut the trunk. Visions of the catapult in the Monty Python movies come to mind.

 

[Egon]

I have the cable and some snatch blocks.

 

[Slamfire]

If the tree stays hung up after you seperate the roots, wrap a long chain around it several turns, leadin' away to yore tractor from the under side of the tree. Then when you pull, at right angles to the tree, it'll rotate away from you. I hate them broken off trunks, they never happen at a comfortable height.