We had some nasty wind yesterday and when I walked out to the woods, this is what I found blocking one of my trails. A large branch from a dead elm came down, lodged between a couple of smaller trees and hung up in some other trees. My "heavy equipment" is listed in my sig line. I came down with a cold that has settled in the back of my throat along with a sore throat so work on that branch will have to wait until later. It should be fun getting that down. The branch is around 9-10 inches in diameter where it broke from the tree and it is solid.
I have been thinking of pulling it out, I do have a Maasdam puller that I can use and a couple of snatch blocks
With the maasdam puller and blocks you should be able to set up a simple z rig and put tremendous pulling force on that branch.
That is what I was hoping. As it sits now, I can only get at one end of it. I don't like the idea of cutting on the part that is 20 feet in the air and hung up on other trees. The branch is tightly squeezed between the two small trees.
You cut the low end, with the understanding that once weight is removed, that end will lift up. Move to the other side and cut some from it. Back and forth until it's short enough to remove from the other trees.
Sorry sometimes I don't do to well translating. It's also called a 3:1: Incidentally you can do almost the same thing with a truckers hitch: And in action:
If the top is hung up in other trees the butt shouldn't move much if you cut it off. I'd removed as much weight as possible then give it a pull using one of the mechanical advantage systems I showed. Repeat until tree is freed up and top is on the ground. Use sea saw method mentioned. If the top isn't hung up proceed with sea saw method like MikeInMa indicated. Care should be used the butt could move fast if the fulcrum has been misjudged.
As long as it wasn't over my head at the first set of trees it is hung up in, I'd cut half way thru from under at the left arrow, from above half way thru at the middle arrow at which point with a little luck the top half of the branch is on the ground without much fanfare and then lift the log at the arrow on the right or just drag it out.
If the top is well hung up, can you safely fell one of the smaller trees its wedged between Erik B? Can you undercut the limb on the high side of where its wedged and let hung up end drop to the ground? Thus loosening the lower end. You can then pull or continue undercutting rest of limb til free?
billb3 I believe the spot where you recommend the first cut would be at head level or close to it. I would have to go out and take another look. All of this work will be done on slightly sloped ground, just to make things interesting. First I've got to get well. I will be going into urgent care later this morning. Thanks for your suggestions.
You are right buZZsaw BRAD, today will be nice followed by 2 days of heavy rain. It is hard enough to find nice days to work outside without having to worry about being sick. At least I have the next 2 years of wood already in the shed.
