Tree would not fall

Oldtrout · Apr 20, 2009

Some people should not own a power saw,wedges and a felling lever should be sold with the saw.

tallyho8 · Apr 21, 2009

I had a friend who cut a dead tree a couple of years ago. He cut almost through it and it didn't fall. He was going to let it alone till it fell but he needed to clear it out the way to run a power line.

So he put in a wedge and hit it with the maul. The shock broke off a dead branch which landed on his head and killed him instantly.

Dead trees are dangerous.

Richard · Apr 21, 2009

I don't know if this is more or less dangerous... Since I have a full sized backhoe/loader, I've come to start using it to help trees. Before I do anything to the tree, I'll decide where I (think) I want it to fall, set the hoe on the opposite side with the bucket up in the air, arm crowded in. I'll make my wedge cut, START to make the felling cut but will leave a larger hinge in there than I would if I were simply cutting the tree down. I'll then go hop on the hoe which is still running and simply extend the hoe forward using this pressure to force the hinge point and quite easily, push the tree in the intended direction. The hoe has a roof on it so I actually feel just a bit more safe inside it than standing next to the tree with my naked head wearing a little plastic helmet (which by the way I'm still wearing even though I'm inside the hoe)

I've come to learn that so far, I've even been able to help 'steer' (for lack of better word) the direction of the fall by a couple degrees. The backhoe teeth will seem to help grasp/claw the tree and I can push a little to the left or a little to the right.

I'm knocking on wood but thus far, I've been able to do this every time without any incident

I would not suggest this with a smaller machine nor one that does not have a steel roof on it.

czechsonofagun · Apr 21, 2009

Rope is the best. It puts a distance between you and the beast. Anchor it to a tractor or another tree and it will be there when you need it.

jimmyj · Apr 21, 2009

When we see a tree that we worry about, we tie a chain around it as high as we can and then attach the chain to a long cable. Then we run the cable through a snatch block tied to some sort of other anchor like another big tree.

Then, when the cut approaches felling depth someone pulls the cable to influence the tree into the right direction. This of course is all contingent on having something big enough to pull the tree with. And it adds tension to the tree which makes me nervous too. Some trees are best left alone I guess.

Richard · Apr 21, 2009

jimmyj said:
Some trees are best left alone I guess.

I agree with you there!! I had a situation a number of years ago where the Japanese Beetle (??) ransacked nearly all of the local pine trees. Early summer you could see some dead trees (brown) off to the side of my house and by the end of summer this line of brown dead trees had worked its way all across the yard and killed every pine near me. The problem I had with that is these were within range of hitting my home so they HAD to come down while they were still managable and not rotted out.

I'm the first to admit the ordeal I went through to get them out was one of the most nerve racking things I've ever done. I probably took 30/60 minutes per tree just looking at it, trying to ascertain where it would fall and then set up my machine to push towards that goal (pun somewhat intended

)

I was VERY relieved when it was over and I had the last one on the ground where I could now pull it to my burn pile.

Oh... I might add that I DID happen to ask a logger who was logging the farm if he wanted them. Although he said "sure" I went on to say that he could have them as long as he didn't run roughshod over every other living tree that was near them as they had done on the farm with total disregard to other trees. I didn't care for any value for them OTHER than to simply respect the other things nearby. (with me knowing I'd have SOME casualties, just not my entire yard)

What I found interesting was he immediately said "nahhhhhhhh, no interest then" which helped underscore to me that they weren't really putting ANY effort into protecting the other trees on the farm like they said they would when they gave their sales pitch. Fortunately, it's not my farm so that wasn't my issue.

By the time I personally got done doing it, I ended up with a single young tree that bit the dust. I did not oblitherate my back yard (woods) like they did the rest of the area. No way they would have left as little damage in my area as I did.

pitt_md · Apr 23, 2009

Oldtrout said:
Some people should not own a power saw,wedges and a felling lever should be sold with the saw.

Yup everyone should know everything. I am not a lumberjack by trade. I have used a chainsaw for over 35 years without a problem. If you got nothing better to add than the above garbage then keep it to yourself.

SPYDERLK · Apr 23, 2009

pitt_md said:
Yup everyone should know everything. I am not a lumberjack by trade. I have used a chainsaw for over 35 years without a problem. If you got nothing better to add than the above garbage then keep it to yourself.

Yup. Understood. He did mention "felling lever" tho, and without knowing exactly what that is I do use a method that it seems to imply.

- -When I have a tree situation with intact hinge like you described I have always been able to get them to go ahead and fall by sticking a pry bar into the fell cut and lifting upward . I use one or two of the 24" flat tipped prybars that HF sells in sets. Stick them into the cut about 1.5 to 2 inches and lift smoothly and firmly on the handle. I cant remember a single time this has failed with a hinged teeterer, regardless of size.
larry

Treemonkey1000 · Apr 23, 2009

I can't resist putting my 2 cents worth in. Always always carry a few wedges and hammer. The plastic wedges are great for forcing a tree over even away from a lean or weight of branches on one side. Those are just as important as Safety glasses and chainsaw chaps.
Next I like to give myself a little extra cushion of safety by having a rope up on a tree to pull. That can be accomplished with a ladder or slingshot a small line up to pull up a larger line. In my case I use climbing spurs often. Which leads into me agreeing with one of the comments some people should not have certain tools. I have had to bail out a few situations where Joe Homeowner put on a borrowed set of spurs and climbing belt. Then about 15' up the tree they realized it wasn't a good idea. Or they nearly cut off something other than a limb.
Again another thing to look out for is the dead tops and branches. Those will kill you as mentioned. With those folks that like to push the tree's over that is not a bad option. Still plenty of dangers in doing that. There is another thread in here some where showing what looks like a large oak having crushed a backhoe.