In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Felling Curved Trees

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by Kimberly, May 4, 2017.

  1. yooperdave

    yooperdave

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    You have to remember that the worst case scenario in felling trees is loss of life.

    It's nice to ask for advice; probably wise. But to proceed thinking you have CYA is just not in the realm of common safety.
    Yeah, you can learn from you tube vids how to change a light bulb on your car or what ever, but you are dealing with your life.
    Kinda devastating consequences.

    Doesn't matter that you don't accept my advice. But others on here have also told you to not put much faith in the YouTube vids..

    Good luck.
     
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  2. bogydave

    bogydave

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    Fell it the way gravity is pulling it.
    If that's not an option, tie it off & pull it the way it has to go
    If too big to pull, start at the top & work your way down.
    (keep a good, stout, straight even hinge when pulling )
    I'm a big fan of "Wedges"

    If it has to go, & you're not comfortable doing it
    Call the "Pros"

    I too have watched videos that do it different than I would do it
    BUT,
    standing under the tree with a saw
    is way different than watching a 2 demential video
     
    Last edited: May 5, 2017
  3. Gasifier

    Gasifier

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    How big is the tree Kimberly? Could you provide a couple of pictures. With a truck or tractor, a long rope can be your best friend if you need it to go a certain way.
     
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  4. milleo

    milleo

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    Don't cut the tree...You are not qualified and you already hit the trailer with the other tree you cut...You atr going to hurt yourself...
     
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  5. Kimberly

    Kimberly

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    OK.
     
  6. Kimberly

    Kimberly

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    Then I may as well quit burning wood since there is no one else to do the job.
     
  7. Kimberly

    Kimberly

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    I would be more than happy to have someone else drop the trees and I do the bucking and hauling and splitting and stacking. However, there is no one else. Maybe I should post on Graig's List "Wanted, someone to fell trees only". I looked at the tree again today and think it would go well but now there is another problem.

    poplar_curved.jpg
    poplar_curved_two.jpg
    poplar_curved_three.jpg
     
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  8. bogydave

    bogydave

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    Betting you can hook a long rope to that hung up snag & pull it the rest of the way down.
    Branches all look to be on the same side of the poplar
     
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  9. Kimberly

    Kimberly

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    With the hickory now out of the way, I can think again about dropping this poplar. I know it is not easy to see things when you are not standing under the tree but thought maybe some photos might give an idea. The photos below were taken 90 degree apart around the tree.

    P5080026.jpg P5080027.jpg P5080028.jpg P5080029.jpg
     
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  10. bogydave

    bogydave

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    Big enough to cut the wedge
    Plug cut the back cut to a good hinge & leave
    a few inches to hold the tree
    Then finish the back cut ?

    The Snag is now firewood? :)
     
  11. Kimberly

    Kimberly

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    Close, the main truck still needs to be bucked.
     
  12. Eric VW

    Eric VW Moderator

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    Get a rope up as high as you can (20' plus?), cut the notch, put some tension on it with the 8N in the direction you want it to fall, then make the back cut. Those few twists and turns in that trunk are so spread out....that tree will go where you tell it to go. Getting over the drum beating in your chest is the hardest part! :thumbs:
     
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  13. Horkn

    Horkn

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    I hear using a bow saw works best for felling curved trees.:picard:
     
  14. yooperdave

    yooperdave

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    Of course! Perfect!
     
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  15. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

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    Well.. is it a left-handed, or right-handed bow saw? It needs to match the tree curve, eh? :D
     
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  16. JCMC

    JCMC

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    Once had an old woodsman tell me that a tree can be generally dropped in any one of three directions.
     
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  17. Horkn

    Horkn

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    Typically not "up" though.
     
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  18. Kimberly

    Kimberly

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    My interest lies in it not dropping on top of me.
     
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  19. Kimberly

    Kimberly

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    I have watched videos where skilled woodsmen have dropped trees that were leaning in the opposite direction of lean; that skill is not me and I would not even attempt that. I was just wanting to try and learn how to judge where this tree wants to naturally go and let it go there even if it is not where I want it to go. My object is to try and drop this tree without it coming down on me. I wish I had someone experience that could come out and work with me to learn this stuff.
     
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  20. Eric VW

    Eric VW Moderator

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    Read below...