Need Tree Cutting Advice

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Call some wrecker service and have them pull on the base and just let the tree come down natural. Probably cheaper that hiring a tree company. I am assuming you have the saws to make firewood out it once it is on the ground.

The trees I hate is when you have them cut through and they start to fall then a gust of wind blows the top the other way and the trunk separates from the stump and now you have a tree standing upright with the other tree tops holding it there.

They can drive you to drinking about as quick as raising teenage girls.

Tom

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Dave, You need one of the tree climbing cool cats.

 

[Docsknotinn]

ROTFLMAO /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Both of those are good ideas. I personally like the second one better /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I could use a few dozen of those guys ! Dave

 

[dmartin88]

Thanks for the feedback, neighbor was going to call someone today for an estimate to see what it would cost to just drop the tree to the ground, we have saws/tractors, etc. to take it from there.

If the cost is too much, will try to pull the stump with a chain to let the tree fall to the ground first, sure don't want to be near the tree with a chainsaw if we can help it.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[Youare]

After reading all the advice given in this thread I agree that this type of tree has the potential to seriously injure, even kill a person. Anyone who has done any amount of wood gathering by cutting down trees has created a situation like this at one time or another.

It is one thing to "hang" a tree up and another to cut down one that has uprooted as this one has. Nine times out of ten the first thing that is going to happen when the trunk is cut from the root system is the roots are going to quickly return to place from where they once grew. This can trap the unsuspecting chainsaw operator.

Judging by the amount of lean this tree is going to push backwards against the stump. If I were to tackle this situation I would make a notch on the underside of the tree, not a 45 degree notch but a 90 degree one. Then the top cut would be a slow cut parrallel to the notch cut until the tree starts to rotate on the material left for a hinge.

Once the stump has settled back into the ground if the tree has not dislodged itself and fell to the ground I would determine if the tree could be rolled out of the tree or trees it is hung in. By cutting the remaining hinge away on one side the tree is free to pivot and will some times roll out of the one it is stuck in. As long as you leave some material for a hinge you have some control over it's fall and it will not slide backwards.

Throwing a rope you around the top and pulling sideways will many times release the hung tree. The slower you can make it fall the less damage it will do to things on the ground or in it's path.

If you lack the experience to asses the situation the best thing is to hire a professional. The cost is far less than the damage or injury it can do to you or anything else.

Good luck

Randy

 

[slowzuki]

I looked at this pic and the responses and it neat to see the various techniques developed. I'm not an experienced chainsaw operator, ie, the trees I cut are down but heres my 2 cents!

I'd chop some roots with an axe, mostly cause I wouldn't get hurt doing that! Then I'd throw a rope over and yank on it a bit. If that didn't work, I'd run my 8000 lb warn to a tree strap high up and yank on it. It that failed and a tractor was available I'd work the stump some more and try pulling it around.

Lastly I'd pick up the saw and use some of the techniques people have described, I think I'd switch to an axe when getting close so I could hear the fibres breaking, and I'd probably hold a loader bucket against the stump so it didn't spring back. Happy sawing!

I think the old guys here call those things widow makers!
Ken

PS I thing this would be a good app for those wire saws with 2 ropes attached so one could stand 30 ft away!

 

[Docsknotinn]

If I tried that with my loader bucket My 2210 might not land untill it hit Fla /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif lol. Honestly with a root ball you want equipment that is far enough away not to get hurt or stuff you can drop and run from. One thing is for sure, none of us would be happy to have this in our yards. Cutting slow at the end so you can see it split is key. I should try to post a photo of a split trunk That I cut with a leaner on it, Scarry stuff. I like one of the other guys ideas about cutting at a angle as well. He was also totally right that cutting a tree with a root ball is a whole different ball game than cutting one thats hung up. Still like the winch idea. Dave

 

[riptides]

Dave,

With all the rain we have had the last two days, be more carefull around that root ball. I'd really examine it closely before I'd go near it with a saw.

Be carefull, OK!
-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[dmartin88]

Thanks, to be honest, if it would come down and only end up with a broken garage window, it might be a good thing! Seriously, my neighbor is out of work right now so not really looking forward to paying someone to take this down but we just don't feel safe doing it ourselves. If it was on the ground, we could have it cleaned up in no time!

I've offered to loan him the money til he gets a job just to make sure he doesn't end up in the hospital. He was to have someone there today to give him an estimate so will get an update to see what is going on.

 

[Egon]

Where is Paul and his Ox when you him ???

Looks just like something I did the day before yesterday. Ended up cutting down the tree holding the first one up.

Doing that one myself I think I'd stay with an axe.

Egon