Widow makers

[nap61]

I decided to drop some of the smaller (4" to 10") pines in what will be my front yard. After sucessfully felling 4/5 trees, a 8" pine did not fall as I thought and got hung up in a smaller tree. I could not push/pull it to get it to fall. Since I was going to drop the other tree, I decided to cut it hopeing they would both fall. I had my "safe" escape route planed and made my cut. I safely retreated to watch them fall. NOPE. They both hung up in a much bigger tree that I planed to keep. I kept undercutting the first tree in 4/4.5 ft lengths until it fell. I then attacked the second the same way. It was not fun. It was scary.
What is the best was to handle:
1. A single "widow maker" that the bottom is on thground and the top is leaning in another tree;
2. How do you handle the situation when you have two "WMs" together?

Norm

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Multiple ways to handle the situation. Depending on how big and heavy the tree is. Small ones like you had I would sling a rope up as high as possible and pull to see if I can get it to slide down from the tree it is leaning into. Also do as you did if the situation allows and cut the second tree. Another method is to set a snatch block up high enough in another tree and try to lift the butt end of the tree that is leaning if it has been sheared at the base already..
Sectioning off pieces is the last resort if I have to.

 

[rswyan]

What is the best was to handle:
1. A single "widow maker" that the bottom is on the ground and the top is leaning in another tree;

Chain the bottom of the leaning tree, hook chain to FEL, and pull in the opposite direction of the way it is leaning, by backing up.

The above assumes that the tree leaning is nowhere near vertical.

2. How do you handle the situation when you have two "WMs" together?

Do number 1 above first, to avoid creating number 2 in the first place.

 

[nap61]

TM,
Thanks for the tips. I hoped you would reply. I was looking for expert advise.

Norm

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Awww schucks I never cut a tree down before....:laughing:

 

[nap61]

RS,
Thanks.

Norm

 

[adjusterr]

I use the same method as RSWYAN stated in his reply, with an added twist, I have an 8 " x 5' locust post with a Y at the top. I hook my chain to the base of the leaning tree, run the chain up through the Y and lean the locust post toward the hanging tree, when you pull on the chain, the post straightens up and in doing so, lifts the base of the tree.

 

[Egon]

If the situation allows one can just walk away and let the wind do the job.:thumbsup:

 

[beenthere]

adjusterr
That sounds like a clever idea. Care to post a pic of your post in action?

nap1
I find hung trees usually require different approaches, as each one may be a bit different. No single answer to all hung trees.

Pulling the tree down is likely the safest procedure, as long as the tree isn't pulled over onto the "puller". As well, not getting into a position where the tree drops and jerks the cable/chain causing damage to the "puller".

Least safe procedures are (1) cutting the tree down that the hung tree is leaning into and (2) bucking sections off the leaning tree. There is a lot of pent up energy in a hung tree and some can release (come loose) at a moments notice (or no notice at all).

Hopefully you have a hard hat on for minimum protection as a widow maker (a loose limb hanging in a tree) may become free-falling at any moment as well.

 

[dmccarty]

If the situation allows one can just walk away and let the wind do the job.:thumbsup:

I did this once with a BIG tree that was leaning into a BIGGER tree. No way no how was I going to try to cut the leaning tree which was at least 24 inches in diameter.

It took 4-5 years but eventually that tree fell.

I did not cause the tree to lean. :laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[Treemonkey1000]

The only problem is leaving the leaners to nature if they are out where the kids are maybe going to play or chances are someone could be around when they fall I would rather take care of it then.. If they aren't going to hurt anyone then let nature do it's thing..

 

[bstrom]

Carefully cut the through the hinge taking care not to get the saw stuck or stand in the way of a possible kickback. Put a long chain around the butt end of the leaner with a slip hook, pull it tight and attach the other end to the draw bar of your tractor, which is a safe distance away. Drive forward in a direction away from the lean direction, pulling the butt of the tree. Down it comes. Works every time, just use common sense. They usually slide right down the other tree in a controlled drop but with trees, there is always that chance that it won't do what you thought it might so study the situation before acting. It's all a matter of common sense and not rushing around without thinking.

 

[Egon]

Drive forward in a direction away from the lean direction, pulling the butt of the tree. Down it comes.

But what if the tree is large and the tractor is small??

 

[bstrom]

But what if the tree is large and the tractor is small??

Call someone with a bigger tractor? :thumbsup:

 

[Cidertom]

det cord

 

[nap61]

Egon,
The trees were in an area that it would be a safety issue to leave them hung-up.

Norm

 

[nap61]

Beenthere,
I did have to dodge a few falling limbs from the larger tree that was supporting the two when I tried to push them down.

Norm

 

[not2old]

I had a large dead pine that got hung up on another tree at about 45 degrees. I bounced on it near the butt to make sure it was fairly secure before taking an 8' step ladder to attach a choker to it and then pulling it sideways with a come-a-long. Came down very gently.

 

[Redneck in training]

But what if the tree is large and the tractor is small??

Friend of mine told me about cutting down big oak on his property. The tree was leaning wrong direction so they climbed up and attached pretty long rope quite high to the trunk and tensioned it with a F250 truck in direction they wanted the tree to fall. It fell the opposite way and pulled the pickup like it was a toy.

 

[tatra805]

Be really careful with the pulling suggestion. You might want to ask the wife first if she can do without you...:laughing:

when the tree slides down the trunk of the standing tree you risk the top pushing the bud forward faster than you are driving/pulling. (have seen this happening more than once)

You dont want the bud to meet you in the back of your head. So make your chain long enough (and then double that length)

As already said here before, trees store a lot of energy and will do unpredictable things. Small tractors are easy toys for them and they might give you a wild ride in an instant.

My experience is that novices almost always underestimate the weight of a tree so google a bit and make an estimate. Then consider if you would handle something more compact the way you want to handle the tree. If not, leave it alone and call a pro. If yes, double your precautions and go steady.

Stay safe :thumbsup:


PS: pulling over a tree should not take more than a man's power. You just have to start it tipping over and gravity will do the rest. (if not, your cut is not finished)The main benefit of doing it by hand is that you can release the rope instantly when something goes wrong. I once saw an ATV becoming a projectile because of a wrongly assessed situation where the tree went the wrong direction and simply tossed the ATV several meters away.