Lumberjacks! I need advicePlease!

[mark02tj]

Years ago when this wasn't part of my back yard, this old Pine tree held targets for all sorts of firearms practice.

I don't know, so I'm just throwing this question out there.... If there is a chance of some sort of metal (ie - lead) being in the tree from shooting at it, does that present some sort of potential hazard as well? I don't know what effect a .45 slug would have on a chainsaw chain?

 

[square1]

If I tie a cable about 15' up on the tree and put tension on it in the direction I want it to fall (pulling with tractor)

Google "Barber chairing" then reconsider this approach.

Start with this one:

BARBER-CHAIR TREE KILLS LOGGER | Logging and Transportation Safety

 

[Brad_Blazer]

I don't know, so I'm just throwing this question out there.... If there is a chance of some sort of metal (ie - lead) being in the tree from shooting at it, does that present some sort of potential hazard as well? I don't know what effect a .45 slug would have on a chainsaw chain?

Significant risk' Wear your PPE's, take it easy and watch out for the harsh feel of metal on the chain.

 

[garacuda]

I don't know, so I'm just throwing this question out there.... If there is a chance of some sort of metal (ie - lead) being in the tree from shooting at it, does that present some sort of potential hazard as well? I don't know what effect a .45 slug would have on a chainsaw chain?

I thought about that one too. There's about every caliber you can imagine imbedded in that trunk up to about chest high, most of that wood is dead now, thus my concerns. I do have a 4x4 tractor with a FEL so I'm nt too worried about flipping the pulling tractor, and the wifey will be applying a light pull with a cable longer than the tree is tall. (it's probably 70'-80' tall but few limbs)

I'll try loading the photos from work here in a bit, they just won't take from the home PC for some reason.

I'll be back............

 

[newbury]

<snip> but it knocked off some good sized limbs high up the hemlock as it passed by. Good sized ones too, as in 4 inch stuff. Those limbs broke off and fell down like spears and worse. <snip>

Like I wrote, other trees will reach out and try to save their falling comrade!

The best advice I can offer is hire an insured professional to drop it then you can spend your time to cut it up afterwards instead of repairing the house or fence. It will be money well spent. Speaking from experience, unfortunately.

My son got bids for falling a large (~ 3' DBH) maple next to our house. The LOWEST was about $2K, 2 others were about $5K. That's my retirement income for a month. I plan on buying equipment. I've already got the saws (35CC for upper works, 60CC for a little lower, two 90CC (660's) for bucking and a 120CC (088) for cutting the base. We should be able to do it. If I didn't already have the saws and some exeprience it would be better to just pay thru the nose.

Significant risk' Wear your PPE's, take it easy and watch out for the harsh feel of metal on the chain.

Remember pictures like this:

chaps are worth it.

 

[s219]

If you cannot put a proper notch and back cut to control the direction of fall, then you probably should call a pro. I'd be glad to offer advice with some pictures, but I normally see questions like this here and think its a sign the poster should call a pro. If you do need to cable the tree, it takes a lot of experience and sense to do right, otherwise you can make the situation WORSE.

 

[garacuda]

Okay, the pics did fine on my work PC. My thoughts are that I will be notching the dead side out on the same side I will be pulling from, leaving me to cut live tree to fell it. It's just goofy looking enough to make me want to ask for thoughts from others who have been there-done that. I've dropped a lot of trees, and knocking on wood, so far no problems.......but, I'm ever cautious, especially when something looks..........funky. The "barberchair" was a new one on me however, I can see it happening easily when a tree is being pulled and the saw stops before cutting far enough. I'm thinking I'll notch the crappy side with an older chain because I'm sure I'll hit some lead, then use a fresh chain and a full tank to make the back cut. If you can, visualize me trying to drop it in the opening between the trailer and the wood stake in the photo. (trailer will be moved)

I've got about a 35' wide window between the house and the neighbors fence to drop this bugger in and it's not very wide at the top. I think my shooting into it years ago stunted the limb growth. ;-) I'm not worried enough to call a "pro", or some may say not smart enough to, but I would like some thoughts now that I finally got some pictures to load.

Thanks to all so far, it's all good sensible advise.

 

[radioman]

wow -- that tree is gone.... its mostly hollow. I wouldnt worry about barberchairing much.. nothing in it to split up the middle. I see it already has a lean and its gonna go in that direction. Do you have a nearby tree? If so why not hook a cable to the base of tree for a tension point and put other end of cable high up in dead tree far up as possible. tension cable lightly. make your front cut shallow as its hollow tree and then tension cable as much you dare, but dont over do it. then do your back cut.

 

[square1]

I can see it happening easily when a tree is being pulled and the saw stops before cutting far enough.

It can happen at any time on any tree. Adding tension by pulling before completing your cuts and trees with a lot of lean dramatically increases the chances. Good idea to have the rope / cable hooked up and ready to pull before starting your cuts, but no tension until your clear of the danger zone.

 

[CobyRupert]

Yeesh! That dead rotten wood looks unpredictable.
Though it's a trade-off and makes it harder to get away from the tree if things go bad, it would lessen the chances of things going bad if you could make the cut up higher where the tree is good and not rely on rotted wood for the holding wood/hinge. You don't want to cut through the hinge when directing a tree (or anytime) and want it to be reliable to steer the tree down.
Again, put a safety strap or chain in a belt fashion around the trunk above where you're making the hold the trunk together from splitting/barber chairing.
Falling a tree gone wrong (Barber chair) - YouTube