Tree would not fall

pitt_md · Apr 20, 2009

I have been dropping trees for a long time and never seen this happen before.
I had a large elm tree that died I would estimate to be 40' tall. It appeared to be pretty much straight up and down. I notched it on the side I wanted it to fall to then went to the other side to make the finish cut. As I was cutting I could see that almost nothing was left holding the tree up. I got my saw out and got out of the way. The tree rocked back and forth but did not fall. I didn't dare try to cut any more but didn't want to leave it fall on someone or one of my dogs when I let them out. I waited for about a half hour and it didn't do anything but rock back a forth. As I was clearing more trees along the new fence line about 3 hours later it fell over.

MikeInEburg · Apr 20, 2009

That's when you get out your wedge and pound into the final cut... My experience is that standing dead trees tend to have more of a mind of their own when it comes to this sort of thing.
Mike

Uncle Doug · Apr 20, 2009

You made the right call to wait it out if it's falling in any direction would not endanger people, livestock or property. Sometimes thats all we can do. If a situation becomes to risky then pull back and re-evaluate.

I have worked in the petrochemical industry for 30 years, they last 10 years they have taken great strides in training workers in risk assessment of almost every task. Sadly in most non industrial jobs where OSHA does not regulate has not been as proactive in risk assessment.

greenmule · Apr 20, 2009

Oh yeah,thats what we need osha rules for your property.
You can't make life accident proof.And if you could,you wouldn't want to do it.
Its all about common sense,[some of us have very little of it],and getting wiser with experience and age. Some people stop and look both ways at stop signs,some don't,just the way it is.

But,the man cutting the tree knew what he should be worried about with out any police telling him,so...

jimmyj · Apr 20, 2009

I find elm trees to be such awfully stringy things. I cut them pretty regularly as they are all dying off in our area and some are very large. The wood hinge can hold the darned tree up even if it's tiny and the tree top is huge. It's unnerving sometimes.

Hard to split too!

studor · Apr 20, 2009

I think you needed three things -- Wedge, sledgehammer,and a place to run

tommu56 · Apr 20, 2009

I was watching ax-men the other night and they cut a big square out and put a hydraulic jack in and jack it over I might try that next time I get a tough one l;ike you had.

tom

Ductape · Apr 20, 2009

I'm with Mike..... drive a couple felling wedges in your back cut and she'll come right over.

Conservation · Apr 20, 2009

I had the darndest hung tree the other day. Not huge, but funny. It worried me the way it was leaning against some healthy trees. I finally decided on a single diagonal cut. The tree slips down, which I expected, and then planted itself just like it was born there. With a 4 1/2' trunk next to it. Twice more of the same thing, and I was trimming branches, and shaking my head. I have found that stepping back and assessing the situation keeps you out of the most dangerous ones. Some of them will just be sweaters no mater what though. Good for pucker factor.

rcrcomputing · Apr 20, 2009

pitt_md said:
I have been dropping trees for a long time and never seen this happen before.
I had a large elm tree that died I would estimate to be 40' tall. It appeared to be pretty much straight up and down. I notched it on the side I wanted it to fall to then went to the other side to make the finish cut. As I was cutting I could see that almost nothing was left holding the tree up. I got my saw out and got out of the way. The tree rocked back and forth but did not fall. I didn't dare try to cut any more but didn't want to leave it fall on someone or one of my dogs when I let them out. I waited for about a half hour and it didn't do anything but rock back a forth. As I was clearing more trees along the new fence line about 3 hours later it fell over.

Exact same story, but I was digging it out with the BH. I went in the house to for the night. Obviously the tree wasn't going anywhere.. Woke up the next morning after the storm to a tree on the house. Then I fixed the hole in the roof and cut the tree up standing on the roof.